[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6349502,"mediaKeyId","2238252-c5433b6f4e966730571582098684a7c9","parentId",2238252,"title","House finishes floor actions on multiple bills, passes criminal, education, transportation and administrative measures","audioSeconds",2551,"startMs",3834000,"endMs",6385000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2238252-c5433b6f4e966730571582098684a7c9&start=3834&end=6385","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2238252-c5433b6f4e966730571582098684a7c9/thumbnail_3834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6349502/North-Dakota/House-finishes-floor-actions-on-multiple-bills-passes-criminal-education-transportation-and-administrative-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349502-199b85e7b8eeb7c60f08fd70da2cf9df/orig.mp4?Expires=1774838237&Signature=SZ6YaF6iQuCNPuo1lkdsUXlVUr5oqaNpJDdKNQXIhCTsraQgAjZlhXzZghEI-bgfAy6rbNGP9dghUZ9eW02QeEGDxm498rpbsYojErRU2W5Jk1vPHcsbLvlQmiJzEWFA4Nnt5xnvq0LnMp~XhLOc-AxvhRfdMRqp0eGQZMMVtppAMi7ASHFhkD2fwxu4frhxHBo5fqpSVhQiHypJkEc0NVX4bDsKSl-YUacOGYT1y3FhVGiMW9vs9XghoNhH2j6tBdtHtqdXEVPB3AnzJAG-DdLE35CLrmQyEV4bwFYcNd6y7HRArhfzd~jwU1PC32Z24gC-nc8QhI1SBxJ9BDpwZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of North Dakota","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","The North Dakota House of Representatives completed floor action Monday on more than a dozen bills across criminal justice, education, transportation, administrative and municipal policy. Lawmakers considered each bill on the eleventh order of business and recorded final votes; several measures passed, some failed, and two were re‑referred to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review.

Major outcomes included unanimous or near‑unanimous passage of several judiciary and education bills: House Bill 13-51 (prohibiting explicit sexually explicit deepfake images and videos and adding penalties) passed 93-0; House Bill 13-36 (orders prohibiting contact and sentencing alternatives) passed 93-0; House Bill 12-63 (petitions to seal criminal records) passed 93-0. The House also passed House Bill 10-27 (transferring administration of the State Fire and Tornado Fund from the Insurance Commissioner to the Office of Management and Budget) on a roll call of 87-5, with committee members noting fiscal and staffing questions for OMB.

Transportation and local government measures cleared the floor: House Bill 15-22 (expanding local authority to allow golf carts on city streets during daytime) passed (86-7). An appropriation request using local funds, House Bill 13-31, was approved 88-5 with an emergency clause to allow project work to begin for a turf field at the North Dakota State College of Science.

Criminal code updates also moved forward. House Bill 13-86, which added “computer‑generated images” to child sexual abuse materials and increased penalties in certain circumstances, passed 91-2 after committee amendment. Members discussed concerns about the potential therapeutic use of such materials by licensed clinicians; committee members said the topic was not discussed in depth, but some members asked for caution in future consideration.

A high‑profile fiscal failure was House Bill 13-78, a proposal to require lenders to pay interest on mortgage escrow accounts; the bill failed on the floor, 14-78, after extended debate about costs to financial institutions and unintended tax reporting consequences for borrowers.

Two bills were re‑referred to appropriations for fiscal consideration after floor passage: House Bill 12-55 (public broadcasting funding restriction) and House Bill 11-93 (a peace officer and correctional officer appreciation grant program); HB 11-93 passed the House 70-23 and was ordered to Appropriations under Rule 3-29.

Votes at a glance (bill — description — final vote — outcome)

- HB 11-82 — appropriation for a Dickey County road/culvert project; House committee recommended do not pass; final vote 6-87 — failed.
- HB 13-51 — creates offense for explicit deepfake sexual images/videos and provides penalties and victim protections; final vote 93-0 — passed.
- HB 13-36 — allows orders prohibiting contact and expands sentencing alternative language; final vote 93-0 — passed.
- HB 15-22 — permits cities to allow daytime golf cart operation by ordinance (with highway exceptions); final vote 86-7 — passed.
- HB 13-86 — adds computer‑generated images to child sexual abuse materials statutes and increases penalties for aggravating factors; final vote 91-2 — passed.
- HB 10-27 — transfers administration of State Fire and Tornado Fund to OMB; final vote 87-5 — passed.
- HB 11-25 — real estate licensing/commission language updates (agency prefile); final vote 93-0 — passed.
- HB 13-87 — school closure/segregation options when schools are used as polling places; final vote 85-8 — passed.
- HB 11-79 — study on paid time off for 12‑month faculty at ND institutions of higher education; final vote 82-11 — passed as study directive.
- HB 12-63 — expands petition to seal criminal records and appeals; final vote 93-0 — passed.
- HB 13-34 — designates rhubarb as the state vegetable; final vote 81-11 — passed.
- HB 12-55 — restricts public funding for public broadcasting; final vote 61-32 — passed and re‑referred to Appropriations under Rule 3-29.
- HB 11-93 — appropriation for peace officer/correctional officer appreciation grants; final vote 70-23 — passed and re‑referred to Appropriations under Rule 3-29.
- HB 13-31 — authorization to spend local funds for turf field at North Dakota State College of Science; final vote 88-5 with emergency clause — passed and emergency clause carried.
- HB 13-78 — requires payment of interest on escrow accounts for residential mortgages; final vote 14-78 — failed.
- HB 12-46 — authorizes nonresident coroners or other designated persons to act in absence of a coroner; final vote 82-11 — passed.

Several committee chairs provided fiscal notes and committee recommendations on the floor; where committees recommended “do not pass,” the House sometimes adhered to the recommendation (HB 11-82 failed) and sometimes overrode it and advanced the bill (HB 12-55). A number of bills that passed on final action were sent to Appropriations for detailed fiscal review before any appropriation or implementation steps.

Ending: The House adjourned until 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Bills referred to Appropriations will await that committee’s fiscal review and any subsequent amendments or funding decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Floor Session Feb 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The North Dakota House completed final action on a slate of bills Feb. 3, 2025, passing several measures on criminal code updates, education and administrative changes and sending two funding bills to Appropriations for fiscal review.","taxTitle","House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28308,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":44,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349503,"North Dakota House passes bill limiting public funds for Prairie Public; re‑refers measure to appropriations",823,3011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2238252-c5433b6f4e966730571582098684a7c9&start=3011&end=3834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2238252-c5433b6f4e966730571582098684a7c9/thumbnail_3011000.jpg","/articles/6349503/North-Dakota/North-Dakota-House-passes-bill-limiting-public-funds-for-Prairie-Public-rerefers-measure-to-appropriations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349503-3ed53fb6efc89f0b672796029b0ea54a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774838237&Signature=OwBnQxPz3OwHXVIusPjX-YWfvR0WyW9UkRNGcL2y~hyyfYRR6~L2x7x9-~~1F65VeHV7utZ9FGzOK~ZKgnkdmdvaoJ1RhMQZ91DbAnf8qr6OPOhn1KFpVzbCd8Vo5MesdMYSY4MV0e5pVASAeLrQAtz8VP-nriqBZZh7smTdMU5IUg6vL7h6209YC2~s~ICZYh7KPl4W-HSBJOv5h0aanzxczZVH0NFoDL0g2U-wsnpffT6g3ysW6tsooDYs~qPLYTeTmBjggDmTcOpy5wk5V1EA4mrDyFcIWxclinPkWQijDX0YOMrbYnIKTcoe7WX5Wo2H3s71qxbyZBbIBh3eOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Dakota House of Representatives on Monday passed House Bill 12-55, a bill to restrict the use of public funds to directly or indirectly support public broadcasting, by a 61-32 margin and then re‑referred the measure to the Appropriations Committee.

The bill, introduced on the floor by Representative Jay Johnson, would create a new section of the North Dakota Century Code related to limits on public funding for public broadcasters. Representative Longmeer, chair of the House Political Subdivisions Committee, delivered the committee recommendation of “do not pass,” but the full House voted to pass the bill and send it to appropriations for further consideration of the funding implications.

Supporters argued HB 12-55 is a necessary reevaluation of state support for Prairie Public Broadcasting. Representative Jay Johnson said taxpayers should have a say in whether state dollars fund media outlets and highlighted recent reductions in the governor’s proposed appropriation. Representative Johnson cited the line-item history, saying the current appropriation flows through the Office of Management and Budget and noted the ongoing appropriation in the executive budget was $1,200,000.

Opponents argued Prairie Public provides educational, cultural and emergency services that small and rural households rely on. Representative Warrath, speaking for the Political Subdivisions Committee, warned that removing state funds could destabilize a broadcaster that provides “education and cultural programming” and serves as the emergency alert backbone. Representative Hager, who served on the committee, said many households cannot access streaming or pay for cable and would lose access to children’s programming and local reporting if funding were cut. Representative Hager asked colleagues to weigh Prairie Public’s role in serving rural and low‑income residents.

The debate included questions about reserve balances and charitable gaming revenue at Prairie Public. Representative Hedlund pressed whether the committee had inquired specifically about the broadcaster’s reserve account; Representative Longmeer said the committee did not discuss the reserve balance in detail, though charitable gaming was queried.

Representative Steiner framed the bill as a chance to demand “balanced editorial coverage” and asked whether Prairie Public provides equal airtime on controversial topics; Representative Longmeer responded that the committee did not discuss editorial balance. Representative Jay Johnson and other proponents contended Prairie Public can survive as a nonprofit through donations, sponsorships and other revenue streams.

After the floor vote, Representative Biggus moved that HB 12-55 be re‑referred to the Appropriations Committee under House Rule 3-29; the motion carried and the re‑referral was ordered.

Votes at a glance: HB 12-55 — final passage vote 61 yea, 32 nay; immediately re‑referred to Appropriations under Rule 3-29 for funding review.

The House calendar shows the matter will next receive fiscal scrutiny in Appropriations; no appropriation changes were enacted on the floor. The record does not include further details about any requested amendments to the bill’s text or an appropriations estimate attached to the re‑referral.

Ending: With the motion to re‑refer approved, the House left further funding decisions to the Appropriations Committee; members on both sides urged colleagues to review Prairie Public’s financial statements and sponsorship practices during that next-stage review.","The House approved House Bill 12-55 on a 61-32 vote to restrict use of public funds to support public broadcasting, prompting extended floor debate about Prairie Public’s role and finances and immediate re-referral to the Appropriations Committee for funding review.","actionData","errors"]

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House finishes floor actions on multiple bills, passes criminal, education, transportation and administrative measures

North Dakota House passes bill limiting public funds for Prairie Public; re‑refers measure to appropriations