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Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks lawmakers heard a menagerie of issues from constituents
May 17—EDITOR'S NOTE — The following is part of an ongoing series of Herald stories about the recently completed session of the North Dakota Legislature. GRAND FORKS — The 2025 legislative session hit a number of topics and issues affecting all of North Dakota. In Grand Forks, local lawmakers had their own differing concerns brought to them by constituents. The biennial session ended earlier this month after more than 1,000 bills and resolutions were introduced. Throughout their four months in Bismarck, lawmakers say they typically receive a number of emails and calls from the people they represent. Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, experienced a buzz about blackout license plates and alternative energy sources, such as geothermal and nuclear. About the latter, she said she is "optimistic about the future application moving towards long term energy needs, jobs and opportunities this will create for North Dakota." Blackout license plates, gaining popularity in Minnesota and other states, were introduced to North Dakota via Senate Bill 2133 . Rather than the typical state plate design — a bison silhouetted before a setting sun over the Badlands — the new plates will simply be black with white lettering. Cory said she's heard a lot of excitement about them. Purchasing the plates will also put money into North Dakota's highway system. The bill, according to Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, was filed on a constituent's request. Rep. Steve Vetter, R-Grand Forks, said a number of his own bills were based on constituent issues he heard. Some of the bills of which he was a primary sponsor involved false reports to law enforcement, edible medical marijuana and motor vehicle window tints. Property tax was a hot topic for constituents of at least four Grand Forks legislators: Cory, Vetter, Rep. Mark Sanford and Sen. Scott Meyer. Sanford, R-Grand Forks, said it was what he received the most comments about. Meyer, R-Grand Forks, said it might show up again in the next session following the passing of House Bill 1176 this session. "The goal was to not only bring relief to homeowners, but to also bring tax reform in the form of caps," he said. "When massive policy like this is enacted, there will be feelings that we could do more. With that said, we'll have an opportunity to address any unintended consequences in Bismarck next session." Sanford said he also heard frequently from the higher education community because he carries that budget. Rep. Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, also mentioned education, said protecting public education was the top concern he heard from constituents. "There was a large public outcry against voucher and educational savings account proposals that would have diverted public tax dollars to paying for private school tuition," he said. "Simply put, the public was strongly against this plan." Rep. Eric Murphy, R-Grand Forks, said House Bill 1318 was something for which he received a number of "thank you" notes. The approved bill's goal is to provide legal protections for pesticide manufacturers, specifying that a label approved by the Environmental Protection Agency is sufficient in warning users about hazardous chemicals. The bill received protest from some legislators and North Dakota residents. Prior to the vote by the Senate to approve the bill, about two dozen people stood outside the Capitol building voicing concerns about it. Among concerns about health risks, people also worried about keeping companies liable for health issues caused by the chemicals. "This does not remove responsibility for unknown health risks when using a product nor known health risks, but it does relieve them from failure to warn the consumer," Murphy, R-Grand Forks said. "(It's) an important bill for agriculture producers." Sen. Jonathan Sickler, R-Grand Forks, said his constituent comments were about time — literally. "By far, I received the most individual communications from constituents who were opposed to the bill to switch to standard time year-round," he said. "The Legislature heard the opposition and handily defeated the proposed change."
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Young North Dakota legislators join Future Caucus to find bipartisan solutions
From the left: Layla Zidane, president of the Future Caucus, Rep. Dawson Holle, R-Mandan, Rep. Jayme Davis, D-Rolette, Sen. Ryan Braunberger, D-Fargo, and Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, announce the formation of the North Dakota chapter of the Future Caucus on April 1, 2025. The Future Caucus is a group of millennial and Gen-Z lawmakers dedicated to finding bipartisan solutions. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Four North Dakota lawmakers announced they will be joining the national Future Caucus made up of millennial and Gen-Z legislators with hopes of finding bipartisan solutions to common problems. North Dakota is the 36th state to join the Future Caucus, which began in 2013 and includes more than 1,900 young lawmakers nationwide. Co-chairs for the North Dakota chapter are Rep. Jayme Davis, D-Rolette, Rep. Dawson Holle, R-Mandan, Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, and Sen. Ryan Braunberger, D-Fargo. 'These leaders represent the best of North Dakota,' said Layla Zidane, president of the Future Caucus. She added North Dakota has a longstanding tradition of putting people above politics, which is exactly what the Future Caucus is trying to achieve – focusing on real solutions, not partisan fights. 'We're not bringing in outside priorities,' Zidane said. 'But really amplifying the amazing leadership that is already here.' She said members of the Future Caucus helped pass more than 2,000 pieces of legislation across the country in 2024. Holle said he initially ran for the Legislature in 2022 to advocate for family farms, small businesses and helping his community. 'In North Dakota's future, I know that our greatest strength comes from working together, not against each other,' Holle said. 'Too often, ideas are judged not on their merit, but on who proposed them and that is not leadership. That is not service and that is not what North Dakotans expect or deserve.' Holle said the caucus wants to ensure the next generation of leaders is able to come together and facilitate the difficult conversations to find solutions. Braunberger said he hopes the caucus brings people toward the ideological middle instead of the extreme-right or extreme-left. 'We are not always going to agree on every issue, but we're going to come together on issues that we can,' Braunberger said. He added he believes the caucus will make lawmakers more productive by being able to have civil discourse with members of the opposing party. Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, said she and Braunberger don't agree on many issues, but the caucus gives them an avenue to talk productively. 'Not to say that I don't do that with other lawmakers, but being able to do it with people in my generation is different,' Cory said. Even as a Republican in a conservative state like North Dakota, Cory said she has constituents who didn't vote for her and she still needs to represent them. She added she hopes the caucus will help her understand issues from a more well-rounded perspective so she can be a better representative for all of her constituents. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
