[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6380596,"mediaKeyId","2131116-800ba5672ad176f817d909178a98aa1e","parentId",2131116,"title","Students, lawmakers push Knife River Flint as North Dakota’s official state rock; committee advances bill","audioSeconds",1302,"startMs",3833000,"endMs",5135000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131116-800ba5672ad176f817d909178a98aa1e&start=3833&end=5135","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131116-800ba5672ad176f817d909178a98aa1e/thumbnail_3833000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6380596/North-Dakota/Students-lawmakers-push-Knife-River-Flint-as-North-Dakotas-official-state-rock-committee-advances-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380596-2ed15428f60bafcce8e361949d638325/orig.mp4?Expires=1776057794&Signature=dQE2HmU~KABNhK4epBkbOYDiKDqaB0uQr54HOaWNBEfHl3UjgjNFK8MA6YMJxz5LZS0xJTLXROJm5Sq0NVJD-1kZAwwrmgqIwg~5XWziOgCqaLphNqqGuuBN6kTeQaUWeoK6vgPDgxPlyrAb9Q0RbyutRPfhuImAvCJ20zVdvcw~1B-S2TncZ2YiRqiEaajmnkEY4h8VVc1S61o36Yq7m6VtglfEeTUFDuWRjNdS47QHFSNFWOzgcpJbL1zO~graa0fmWarSAOHAaSyD2kfg2kVMVQDGShFVKRDBsOf9cFVtUEcX~FttH33FuwSijN9NfsnXR~W8SVyvViCkSqJlKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Political Subdivisions","date","2025-01-16T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 1186, which would designate Knife River Flint as North Dakota’s official state rock, was advanced out of the Political Subdivision Committee by a unanimous 13-0 vote after students from Bottineau Public School, their instructors and supporting legislators testified in favor.

“For the record, my name is David Cawley. I’m a 5th-grade teacher at Bottineau Elementary School,” teacher David Cauley told the committee, describing a student-led election in which the Bottineau Rockhounds club collected 541 votes and Knife River Flint received more than 56 percent. The club’s advisers and a Dakota College at Bottineau geology instructor said the project taught students about civic engagement and the scientific qualities of the stone.

Senator Paul Thomas and Representative Dan Vollmer spoke as sponsors; Michelle Cawley, a geology instructor at Dakota College at Bottineau, testified that Knife River Flint is a silica-rich stone unique to North Dakota and therefore an appropriate choice for the state. Several students addressed the committee with factual points the club had researched: Knife River Flint is found principally in North Dakota, is durable and was used to make tools for thousands of years, and fluoresces under ultraviolet light.

Representative Davis moved a due-pass recommendation and Representative Bosley seconded. After receiving the students’ presentations and the college instructor’s scientific clarification that Knife River Flint is a rock (not a fossil), the committee voted 13 yea, 0 nay to advance House Bill 1186.

Committee members praised the students’ civic-education approach. Representative Killeen noted historical mining sites in Dunn County and the statewide trade of Knife River Flint artifacts; Representative Vosley commended the thoroughness of the students’ process. No opposition testimony was recorded in the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Political Subdivisions Jan 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 1186, sponsored by Representative Dan Vollmer, received a due-pass recommendation after students, college instructors and a senator testified in support of designating Knife River Flint as the state rock; the committee voted 13-0 to advance the bill.","taxTitle","Political Subdivisions, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28896,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6380600,"Committee approves bill to keep raised liability caps for state, political subdivisions",404,2065000,2469000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131116-800ba5672ad176f817d909178a98aa1e&start=2065&end=2469","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131116-800ba5672ad176f817d909178a98aa1e/thumbnail_2065000.jpg","/articles/6380600/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-bill-to-keep-raised-liability-caps-for-state-political-subdivisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380600-8f5fb91dc3c0d829fd401f193cb01541/orig.mp4?Expires=1776057794&Signature=TVLb4JSIxH-61gouSV8SJ8foSqzr2SP7BQxboUwYbBjPxTAVCfLlevbBQw-EwOWqZwga2VjgGlujj40SZwQ8lTBht9J9XpMgUJhi7cbxbtt2j3zRquWsDQCl4RPUhCQc5x1LX1xR4q3WMedu~1S6fFuP0EQ39OuBbx64d6zI-JR-NAS6YqPwcrN7AuRFT4YN0Da6slzp0wnKT5nmhcETXpxuEw4DSpkpNc9GcERCUKl7WCtStXv0If-n3ZH~a5op-TNYyYlZsgPHQAkvOgDvxYyzU96OORI19RHap-bidVrSvhvqF9VZ3gXntIiqoTS-XfWtceLuhic4zahUwfXQDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Political Subdivision Committee unanimously recommended passage of House Bill 1142, a bill that removes a sunset clause and preserves recently raised liability caps for the state and political subdivisions.

“It's a straightforward cleanup bill,” state Representative Brandy Pyle of District 22 said in presenting the measure, which the sponsor said codifies cap increases adopted in the previous session. Pyle told the committee the earlier step increases were intended so local units of government could budget for larger limits without a sudden fiscal shock.

Pyle summarized the statutory outcome: the bill would leave the per-person cap at $500,000 and the per-incident cap at $2,000,000 rather than reverting to the 1977 levels ($250,000 per person, $1,000,000 per incident) when a sunset expired. Jackie Hall, executive director of the North Dakota Association for Justice, testified in support and said the association worked with the bill sponsor, “Naderf,” and counties to reach the negotiated figures.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the stair-step figures and their source. Representative Rehring queried a specific figure on the bill text—$468,750—and Pyle said those numbers came from “Mederf” for the stair-stepping. No opposition testimony was recorded.

Representative Hager moved a due-pass recommendation; Representative Rerrick seconded. The clerk recorded the roll as 13 yea, 0 nay, 0 absent. House Bill 1142 carries out of committee with the committee’s recommendation to advance.

The bill preserves higher liability limits enacted recently and removes the sunset intended to revert caps to their earlier statutory levels; the committee hearing did not include a floor-by-floor budget impact analysis or an immediate appropriation tied to the change.","House Bill 1142 passed committee 13-0 to remove a sunset provision and permanently retain higher statutory liability caps—$500,000 per person and $2,000,000 per incident—that were phased in after a recent change to the law.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6380604,"Committee advances bill extending bonding-election notice from 20 to 64 days",583,520000,1103000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2131116-800ba5672ad176f817d909178a98aa1e&start=520&end=1103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2131116-800ba5672ad176f817d909178a98aa1e/thumbnail_520000.jpg","/articles/6380604/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-bill-extending-bonding-election-notice-from-20-to-64-days","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6380604-7d35e08db0c0488c2a53e684c9886fe7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776057794&Signature=XgCuNFgOoM7exK-jmCxOUkuO6E~0mdGzhHHC7unwhP2G0aPexUH4dNUD68AXMtHYgMzdwfMjWp7QCPHkeVtBJ0CxELDs6ThFoBTV7oS9RjWGf1bW1NPNecXLv511W0-yAYGexXNSc6-avKnBuUl~gX4Ux5yGubiSsc~vp1yVlzj0cNimX~lmxnOCb~dbfjtIhHUr1mQlkYY11WGygQwKL17V0kYO3rxAiiPong6PyD9~RHsEkv675pwukrQwAqvk5i17aeQx8mO6IxgUctpJKUtY2abVIZ1DK5JhhWP5jU7n9PzJk5PjqQGzyY2nNbzNC9Y2OWicPPgdnnRLRWtrbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 1138, which would lengthen the minimum public-notice period for bonding elections from 20 days to 64 days, was given a due-pass recommendation by the Political Subdivision Committee after brief discussion and an 11-0 voice vote with two members absent.

The change “brings the 20 days out to a 64 day,” state Representative Brandy Pyle of District 22 said in introducing the bill, adding that the amendment is intended to make the schedule “standard across the board.”

The bill would amend section 21-03-11 of the North Dakota Century Code to require 64 days’ notice for bonding elections—the same timeline already used elsewhere in state election law. “20 days, I feel, isn't an adequate enough time for an election official to prepare for an election,” North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe told the committee, saying the longer period would help school business managers, city administrators and other local officials prepare ballots, secure polling places and recruit poll workers.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about why bonding elections had a 20-day rule. Howe said he did not know why the 20-day window remained an outlier in code but said the 64-day period would improve public awareness and administrative preparation. Committee members also confirmed the bill does not force bonding elections to coincide with primary or general elections; it simply sets a longer minimum timeline once a governing body votes to place a bond question on the ballot.

Representative Moshenbacher moved a due-pass recommendation; Representative Hager seconded. The clerk closed the roll: the committee recorded 11 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent; the motion carried and House Bill 1138 advances out of committee. The transcript indicates no testimony in opposition and no amendments were offered during the hearing.

The bill now moves to the next step in the legislative process with the committee’s recommendation. No effective date or implementation details beyond the statutory change were specified in the committee hearing.","The Political Subdivision Committee voted 11-0 (2 absent) to give House Bill 1138 a due-pass recommendation to extend the minimum notice for bonding elections from 20 days to 64 days, aligning bonding-election timelines with other statutes and giving local officials more time to prepare.","actionData","errors"]

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Students, lawmakers push Knife River Flint as North Dakota’s official state rock; committee advances bill

Committee approves bill to keep raised liability caps for state, political subdivisions

Committee advances bill extending bonding-election notice from 20 to 64 days