The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee recommended a do-pass for House Bill 11‑48, which would designate the month of May as Military Appreciation Month in North Dakota and require an annual gubernatorial proclamation.

Representative Kathy Fralick, sponsor of the bill, said the measure was proposed by a constituent and modeled on existing state recognitions such as Women Veterans Month. “House Bill 11‑48 designates the month of May as military appreciation month,” Fralick said, adding that she selected statutory codification rather than a resolution so the observance would persist between legislative sessions.

Jason Pierce, a retired service member and commander of VFW Post 756 in Devil’s Lake, testified in support and explained the choice of May: “The reason I picked May, because of Memorial Day, it's the first holiday where people really start thinking about the soldiers,” Pierce said. He also urged recognition of military families, noting the burdens they carry when service members are absent for training or deployment.

Jim Nelson, legislative director of the North Dakota Veterans Legislative Council, and Lonnie Wong, commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs, both testified in favor. Wong noted that several federally recognized Armed Forces observances occur in May — including Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day — and said codifying May as Military Appreciation Month would ensure an annual proclamation and avoid missed observances.

The committee heard no opposition during the public testimony and voted to advance the bill with a do-pass recommendation.

Ending: The bill will move forward with committee approval; sponsors said the statutory designation would make annual proclamations routine and create opportunities for local recognition of active-duty and National Guard personnel and their families.