Latest news with #NorthDakotans'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota lawmakers approve needs, some wants with $20.3 billion budget
North Dakota House lawmakers meet during the final hours of the session on May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota lawmakers adjourned early Saturday after approving a total state budget of $20.3 billion for 2025-27, with investments including a historic property tax package for homeowners, a new State Hospital and funding to address overcrowding at jails and prisons. The overall budget, which includes federal dollars and other special funds, is a 3.5% increase over the current two-year budget cycle. 'We managed to address all of our needs and some of our wants, and we did it without raising any taxes. We did it without borrowing any money, and we provided record (property tax) relief,' said Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, as lawmakers adjourned about 4 a.m. Saturday. The preliminary two-year budget for general fund spending for 2025-27 is $6.25 billion, an increase of 2.6% over 2023-25. Though legislators started the 2025 session with excess revenue, they're keeping a cautious eye to the future with the state's growth projected to slow amid lower oil prices, declining oil tax revenue and uncertainty about tariffs. Lawmakers also funded investments that aim to spur new oil production and diversify the state's economy. Gov. Kelly Armstrong said he's excited the Legislature passed a property tax package that includes a $1,600 primary residence tax credit and provisions to limit future property tax increases, an idea he pitched at the start of the session. Armstrong said he's also pleased lawmakers adopted a 'bell-to-bell' cellphone ban for public schools, another idea he championed. 'I think those two things will have an immediate impact,' Armstrong said early Saturday. The property tax package is funded with earnings from the state's $12 billion Legacy Fund. Armstrong said if lawmakers allow the fund to continue to grow, it could put most homeowners on a path to paying zero property taxes within a decade. 'What a legacy for our kids and grandkids, to be able to have a significant amount paid toward their property tax,' said House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson. House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, told his colleagues he's glad they spent more time on the 'real issues facing North Dakotans' this year than they had in recent years, referring to culture war issues that dominated much of the 2023 session. 'Let that be the start of a positive trend for our body, and let us commit to resisting the pull of polarization and extremism,' Ista said. Some, including Armstrong, said the Legislature missed an opportunity to do more to address the state's housing and workforce needs. 'But those are tough issues, so we always have more time for that,' Armstrong said. Legislators approved $300 million to construct a new State Hospital in Jamestown, which will replace an outdated facility. The project will provide 140 beds to serve people in need of acute mental health services. Rep. Jon Nelson, R-Rugby, who chaired the division of the House Appropriations Committee that handled the budget for Health and Human Services, said that project is critical for the state. Lawmakers had considered reducing the funding to $285 million, but ultimately approved $300 million. The Office of Management and Budget will oversee construction of the project. 'It was our highest priority in our section with the Human Service budget,' Nelson said. Lawmakers approved other investments in regional behavioral health services, including nearly $13 million to create 24 new in-patient acute psychiatric beds in Grand Forks and $1.5 million for 10 beds in Williston. Legislators also fully funded the Free Through Recovery and Community Connect programs that help people with recovery support. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget includes $28.4 million for payments to county and regional jails, which are housing inmates due to crowding at state prisons. The department is looking to staff and operate unused space in Grand Forks County's new jail expansion for some state prisoners. Armstrong's administration secured a letter of intent from the Grand Forks County Commission to enter into an agreement, with terms still being finalized. North Dakota prisons find extra inmate beds in county facilities amid overcrowding The budget also includes more than $35 million to complete the Heart River Correctional Center in Mandan, the first state prison designed for women. Another $8 million is dedicated for a temporary facility to add beds for the Missouri River Correctional Center and $20 million to design and plan a new medium-security prison that's proposed to be built next to the State Penitentiary. A group of three bills backed by the corrections department aims to keep people out of the criminal justice system and lead to a lower recidivism rate after inmates are released. The recidivism rate was a point of discussion as Attorney General Drew Wrigley backed what he called a truth-in-sentencing bill. Senate Bill 2128 sought to make sure inmates in the state prison system spend most of their sentence behind bars, but it was defeated in the House. K-12 education was a major topic for lawmakers, but proposals to establish private school vouchers or Education Savings Accounts did not survive the session. Armstrong vetoed one bill because it only affected private school students, and lawmakers defeated a more comprehensive bill, in large part due to the high price tag. Lawmakers did approve a bill establishing public charter schools in North Dakota for the first time. Legislators voted down proposals to provide free school meals to all students, an idea that was strongly supported by the public. Lawmakers did include $7.3 million in the Department of Public Instruction budget to make free lunch available to students from families within 225% of the federal poverty level. That's an increase from 200% of the poverty line that was funded in the 2023 session. It means a family of four with an income of about $72,000 would qualify for free school lunches. Free school lunch advocates call on Legislature to act The Together for School Meals coalition has said it's deeply disappointed the Legislature did not pass universal school meals. 'Free school meals is a policy supported by 79% of North Dakotans and championed by over 80 local organizations committed to ending child hunger,' said Amy Jacobson, executive director of Prairie Action ND and a member of the coalition. 'This bill had the power to put real money — an estimated $850 per child per year — back into the pockets of hardworking parents.' The overall Department of Public Instruction budget contains a 2.5% increase of the per-pupil payment for each year of the biennium, raising it to $11,349 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,633 the following year. The Senate advocated for 3% each year. Legislation signed by Armstrong will make public K-12 schools phone-free, requiring personal electronic devices to be stowed and inaccessible during instructional time. The law takes effect Aug. 1. Lawmakers debated several controversial issues that ultimately failed. A resolution urging an end to same-sex marriage passed the House but later was defeated in the Senate. Lawmakers also defeated a bill to require the display of the Ten Commandments in schools and public colleges and rejected a resolution that declared the kingship of Jesus Christ. The Legislature spent a considerable amount of time on policing the content in public libraries and bathrooms at public schools. North Dakota governor vetoes controversial library content bill Armstrong vetoed a bill that addressed content in public libraries and K-12 schools, which expanded on legislation approved two years ago. Failure to comply could have cost the library or school state funding and resulted in criminal charges. 'The bill imposes vague and punitive burdens on professionals and opens the door to a host of unintended and damaging consequences for our communities,' Armstrong said in his veto message. Armstrong signed a bill that prevents K-12 public schools from building new all-gender, multistall bathrooms. Lawmakers added an exemption for existing restrooms after schools complained they would have to spend millions to bring their facilities into compliance. Schools could be fined if they don't comply with the bathroom policy and other regulations in the same section of code, including a requirement for schools and teachers to inform a students' parents if they learn the child is transgender. The governor also signed a bill that amends Century Code to state 'words used to reference an individual's gender mean the individual's sex,' a proposal some critics called discriminatory to transgender and intersex North Dakotans. Landowner groups and local government officials argued with lawmakers this session to maintain local control, though frequently ended up on the losing side of the debate. House Bill 1258 gave the Public Service Commission more authority over setback rules on large electrical transmission lines, taking away authority from townships and counties. Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, represents an area where a large power line is planned. A township created a half-mile setback from residences, and Wanzek said such rules hinder the project and threaten others like it across the state. House Bill 2321, which aimed to strengthen the position of landowners in negotiations with oil and infrastructure developers by helping them recoup legal fees, had support in the Senate but ultimately failed in the House. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, who represents an area where the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline is routed. His other bills to strengthen landowner rights and limit carbon capture development made little headway. On the final day of the session, lawmakers approved a bill that aims to keep North Dakota on the forefront of rare earth mineral development. The Northwest Landowners Association argued the bill is unconstitutional. During the session, House members mourned the loss of Rep. Josh Christy, R-Fargo, who died in February at age 43. Last week, Armstrong signed two bills sponsored by Christy, who had developed a niche in the Legislature on the subjects of artificial intelligence and technology. 'While we continue to mourn, we celebrate the achievements he made and the legacy he left with his service,' Ista said. As lawmakers closed out the session they also acknowledged Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, who was hospitalized late in the session. Lawmakers adjourned on day 74 of the session, which means they have six days remaining of their 80-day limit. Several expressed a desire to save days in case lawmakers need to return to address impacts on the state from cut federal funds. 'It's highly likely that we'll need to get called back,' said Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo. Lee, who chaired the Senate Human Services Committee, said she's watching potential cuts to Medicaid or other human services funding that could require the state to respond. 'Without the money, the state has to be able to step up,' Lee said. 'And we're lucky to be in a position to know that we're probably going to be able to do that.' The state Democrats issued a statement warning of 'misguided and chaotic national policies' that threaten local impacts. 'Already we've lost promised funds for rural infrastructure, mental health care and even the care of disabled persons,' Ista said. The governor can also call a special session, which would not have a time limit. 'We'll wait and see where we're at,' Armstrong said Saturday. 'It costs money to bring everybody back. Obviously, if there's a real reason to do it, we will do it.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UND med school's biennial report says residents generally healthy, but birth rates continue decline
Feb. 6—GRAND FORKS — The UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences' Eighth Biennial Report on Health Issues for the State of North Dakota revealed that North Dakotans are relatively healthier than residents of other states, however, they experience a higher rate of obesity and their birth rates have continued to drop. The 2025 report indicates that, overall, the state's health is good, according to a press release the medical school issued Jan. 31. Of the adults reporting their general health conditions in 2022, they were less likely to report either fair or poor health (14.3%). There is also a lower recorded prevalence of asthma and diabetes, according to the report's executive summary. On the other hand, North Dakota has a higher percentage of individuals reporting as overweight or obese (64.5%) compared to the nation's average, which was 40.3% during August 2021 to August 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the birth rate per capita is continuing to decline. Fewer births were recorded in 2022 than in each of the previous 10 years, the release said. North Dakota residents also tend to have a higher risk for some types of cancer and, considering that the state has a large number of elderly people, has led the U.S. in the number of deaths attributed to Alzheimer's disease, according to the release. The report also emphasizes that unmet behavioral health needs is a statewide problem. The report, which is required of UND's advisory council per North Dakota Century Code, serves as a way to update legislators and health care leaders on North Dakotans' current state of health and their health care delivery system. The report also includes an analysis of the steps the state can take to ensure its residents are able to access high-quality health care at an affordable cost, both now and in years to come, the release said. "The publication of the Eighth Biennial Report underscores the critical importance of maintaining a regular, data-driven dialogue about the health and health care workforce landscape in North Dakota," said Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, UND's vice president for Health Affairs and dean of the SMHS. "Given how this report is published every two years, it provides crucial information to help ensure that our strategies and policies are grounded in up-to-date, evidence-based insights, empowering our state to meet its evolving health care needs and foster a healthier, more resilient future for all North Dakotans." The state has been facing a shortage of health providers as well as an uneven distribution of providers, the release said. Rural and western areas continually lack adequate workers compared to urban areas; this extends from nurses to therapists. "The deficit of North Dakota physicians is in rural areas where we fall behind both the Upper Midwest and the nation in the number of physicians per 10,000 persons," said Mandi-Leigh Peterson, the report's lead author. "The numbers are going in the right direction, though. We've seen a large expansion in the number and types of medical doctor residency training programs in North Dakota, with a doubling of slots since 2011. This will increase the likelihood that young physicians will complete residency programs in-state and thus practice in-state after their residency." Though there is a higher volume of nurses in North Dakota (145 nurses for every 10,000 people) compared to the country as a whole (130 nurses per 10,000 people,) 313 fewer nurses were licensed in the state between 2022 and 2024. For the nurses who have remained in the state, less of them are working full time, the release said. "This eighth report is a great example of collaborative work at UND and helps highlight the essential role nurses play in shaping health care in North Dakota," Dr. Maridee Shogren, dean of UND's College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines, said in the release. "The report explores key demographics, challenges and opportunities, showcasing how the rural nature of our health care systems drive innovation and collaboration to improve patient outcomes. The chapter on nursing in particular is a valuable resource for nursing leaders, academic institutions, clinical partners and legislators, recognizing the vital contributions of North Dakota's nurses to our overall health care system." In previous reports, it was noted that North Dakota had fewer physicians per capita than peers throughout the Midwest and U.S. as a whole. This gap has since narrowed and, in addition, there has been an increase in the number of psychologists and licensed addiction counselors in the state since 2018, Peterson said. A significant development with this year's report is the health care dashboard, which includes demographic data at the county level as well as information on the variety and number of primary care providers in the state. This gives health care leaders, policymakers and the public a chance to better understand their region's health care assets and well as its possible needs, the release said. More information, including data on health conditions throughout the state, is expected to be added in the future.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers weigh library censorship. Again.
(Photo illustration by Getty Images) Throughout my life I have seen the power of books and libraries. As a day care provider, I offered kids storytimes in my home and volunteered as a library storytime reader. While growing up in Zap, North Dakota, my five siblings and I were so hungry for the printed word that we even exchanged cereal boxes at the breakfast table. Later, I brought my own children to the Minot Public Library, checking out books for them and for myself. The library became such a large influence on our lives that my daughter grew up to be a library director. This is why I joined Right to Read ND. We are a nonpartisan group of North Dakota citizens who believe that parents, not the government, should supervise reading choices for their own children. We trust our teachers and librarians to curate collections and provide access to information. We reject censorship and fight to protect our First Amendment right to access materials. Once again, North Dakota legislators are trying to censor materials in our libraries. Senate Bill 2307 would require librarians to remove ill-defined 'explicit' materials from our library shelves. The bill's censorship might even extend to digital materials like ebooks, articles, and audiobooks that many North Dakotans access through their local library. These are three of the many issues we at Right to Read ND see with Senate Bill 2307: First, no one can explain how the bill would be implemented. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Keith Boehm, R-Mandan, was recently quoted in an article in the ND News Cooperative, saying he thinks the bill's requirements would be satisfied if each library purchased a cabinet to house 200 books. So, which books would be locked in the cabinet? The legislator's comment sounds like he already has a personal list of books that he feels are inappropriate. However, using one individual's viewpoint to guide what a library removes from their collections violates North Dakotans' First Amendment rights. If libraries pull those books from public circulation, it exposes North Dakota libraries to potential lawsuits from those who can rightfully claim they are being denied access to materials, which is their First Amendment right affirmed through cases such as the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 ruling in Board of Education v. Pico. The First Amendment protects our right to speak and also our right to receive information. It prevents the government from blocking access, which includes locking books away in a cabinet. Second, it would be costly to taxpayers. Compliance with this bill would require major library renovation especially impacting smaller, rural libraries who would have to remodel to create a barrier between the adult and children's sections. This would be a waste of taxpayer dollars to fund these renovations, funds that could be better used to provide library programs to our communities. Finally, we've already done this. During the 2023 legislative session, House Bill 1205 passed both chambers and put the Federal Miller Test for obscenity into state law. The Miller Test ensures that libraries have age-appropriate materials in children's collections. This law also requires libraries to file a report yearly so the state can make sure they are complying. Legislators are back for more in 2025 with Senate Bill 2307, which elevates the voice of a few over the needs of the many in our local communities. It's time for the Legislature to move on.
