[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,76,87],{"_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",6343426,"mediaKeyId","2252328-48d397f87aa68453ae91c799a3577789","parentId",2252328,"title","Committee advances bill letting retired officers use certified private trainers to qualify for concealed‑carry certification","audioSeconds",665,"startMs",4110000,"endMs",4775000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252328-48d397f87aa68453ae91c799a3577789&start=4110&end=4775","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252328-48d397f87aa68453ae91c799a3577789/thumbnail_4110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6343426/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-bill-letting-retired-officers-use-certified-private-trainers-to-qualify-for-concealedcarry-certification","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343426-f741fcd3672db03045b880bb04b95d97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184225&Signature=n0xupoHDgyYPse4~qIwbJsUOOLh~AfFwFHRFiO9C63RaeaPrO6q4trITWHZBlRyPFrF66ef1oy2baHM-f041r3HH1Zd93z7DtohSe8oowu23UPkYrzoqs6QkLxdSo49BZix4OCpP9oMijwADtBB64Q-CpbgnjekvaPUikKzromUdDv8myFzfpw-5VmUmN62FuPXZPJFeBEe3HOzliS09fsWjwc5UKoaXKyz7jZMMmEEoSnCC3sRBtwkz4Asl3GbRb1VCk7bVMtvQUyKid1oYwL8rTku5MTzzbKjcWlpnrmzJxV3H4t9oj06hJMFpy8~3iy~DewYI~2gm~ssz-hYyeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Energy and Natural Resources","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Pat Heiner presented House Bill 15‑89, which clarifies qualification standards for retired law‑enforcement officers who seek to carry under federal LEOSA provisions and North Dakota law. He told the committee the bill allows a retired officer to be certified annually by a concealed‑weapons test administrator rather than requiring the retired officer to return to a former employing agency for qualification.

Support for the bill was broad among law enforcement groups. Sheriff Kelly Leben, Burleigh County Sheriff, said the legislation would remove scheduling obstacles that sometimes prevent retirees from qualifying with their former agencies and stressed that the bill does not change credential requirements: a retiree still must have agency credentials and must qualify annually. \"The threats against law enforcement don't end at separation or retirement,\" he said in supporting the bill.

Stephanie Ingebretson, appearing for the Chiefs of Police Association of North Dakota, and Kelvin Benson for the North Dakota Peace Officers Association also voiced their support. Casey Miller, a chief agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said BCI would be the repository for qualification information and that the attorney general’s office will create a standardized qualification course; test administrators would need to opt in and meet that standard.

The committee debated whether an emergency clause was necessary; the sponsor said the bill could proceed under the normal timetable. Representative Hedlund moved the bill for a do‑pass recommendation, seconded by Representative Olson. The clerk called the roll; the committee recorded a unanimous do‑pass recommendation with a roll‑call vote of 13‑0. The committee chair declared the motion carried and the bill will be reported to the floor for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Energy and Natural Resources-2:30 p.m.- Feb 6, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 15‑89 would let retired law‑enforcement officers meet annual firearms qualification through authorized concealed‑weapons test administrators and have the Bureau of Criminal Investigation serve as the repository for qualification records. The committee voted to advance the bill unanimously.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28890,"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},6343431,"Universities and law enforcement urge carve‑out as bill would allow firearms in many publicly owned buildings",3044,1066000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252328-48d397f87aa68453ae91c799a3577789&start=1066&end=4110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252328-48d397f87aa68453ae91c799a3577789/thumbnail_1066000.jpg","/articles/6343431/North-Dakota/Universities-and-law-enforcement-urge-carveout-as-bill-would-allow-firearms-in-many-publicly-owned-buildings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343431-b4b21986adb1b919eaab62b07f71d2fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184225&Signature=K3Pqip11NgVenllwSb-74kVBRmZs3BF50bgEYSrKWt-yusIEyj6y7gIj5KGLAY-4wFF1C~zukUf6u-RolboEtzVokVgRIulYoiUwXtPZtI61Z3Jb6xXfa4tr7nRtN68D-LGSw5Lx9eXdjVa3~usoYBJigSkjceKk0ougdpeZmVWHle0nYmGOUXhbYaE-pnUG5crkHL1DHOi-uUhvcdOeYNL~Q0lxsmeySXNeOk64~njHxXTrpaM6MSZj~Vn9OMptr2ZbLLus1BKBaO62~qx~vKORUIKwwv7aVlMwio2~UCVwruTCiYDPfscJv6rptckBWdSiZ6Dp7KIWY4Wue6KdTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Pat Einert, sponsor of House Bill 15‑88, told the committee the bill consolidates multiple gun provisions from prior sessions, updates definitions and makes several substantive changes — including raising the knife length that qualifies as a dangerous weapon, clarifying when a concealed‑weapons license must be produced and allowing a digital license — and would remove \"publicly owned or operated building\" from the list of places automatically treated as prohibited for firearms. \"We're going to talk about some gun bills...we felt this year that we would bring back a bill that kind of addressed everything,\" the sponsor said.

The hearing drew extensive testimony in opposition from higher education leaders, campus police and student organizations who said the bill as drafted would remove the authority of the State Board of Higher Education and individual campuses to keep firearms out of campus buildings. Lloyd Halverson, vice president for academic and student affairs and chief of police at Lake Region State College, said removing publicly owned or operated buildings from the statute \"would create an environment where it would be perfectly legal for almost anyone to possess a rifle...in all of our campus buildings, meeting rooms, classrooms, auditoriums, sports arenas, and in all circumstances on campus.\" He said law enforcement would lack a legal basis to act proactively when a visibly armed person appeared at a campus event.

Katie Fitzsimmons, director of student affairs for the North Dakota University System, said the system relies on state law and State Board policy to maintain firearm prohibitions specific to campus buildings and that the bill would prevent institutions from implementing policies that reflect campus realities. \"Our campuses are places where students of all ages go to learn, live, eat, workout, perform, practice, research, connect, and compete...this bill does not allow campuses to adjust firearm policies to their unique spaces and events and...would place our campus communities in precarious and dangerous positions,\" she said.

Student leaders and the North Dakota Student Association urged a do‑not‑pass recommendation, citing suicide risk and campus safety. Christopher Scott, policy advocacy director for the North Dakota Student Association, highlighted mental‑health and suicide statistics and argued the bill would \"jeopardize the safety of thousands of students, staff, and faculty across the state.\"

Some municipal and park officials also opposed the removal of \"publicly owned or operated buildings,\" saying the change would create enforcement confusion where park districts share corridors, concessions and locker rooms with school facilities. Cole Higland, public policy chair for the North Dakota Recreation and Park Association, said shared facilities can be difficult to police and asked that park districts be explicitly included if the language is changed.

The Department of Health and Human Services submitted a requested amendment to add behavioral‑health facilities to the bill’s prohibited places. Jonathan Alm, an attorney for the Department, said House Bill 15‑88 in its draft form \"would allow firearms or dangerous weapons at the North Dakota State Hospital, Life Skills and Transition Center, and the state's human service centers,\" locations that lack metal detectors or armed security; the department asked the committee to adopt an amendment to prohibit firearms in portions of those facilities.

Chief Scott Winkelman of Game and Fish testified he is neutral on the bill as drafted and clarified how written landowner permission functions for hunting, while other witnesses pressed for a mix of carve‑outs and clearer list language for political subdivisions, park districts and school events. Several witnesses urged the committee to preserve current exceptions that allow campuses to provide secure weapon storage and to keep the 2017 statutory carve‑outs that permit limited on‑campus firearm storage under defined conditions.

The committee closed the hearing without a committee vote on the bill that day. Several witnesses asked the committee to add a specific exemption for institutions of higher education and to retain existing storage exceptions enacted in 2017.","At a House Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on House Bill 15‑88, university officials, campus police and student groups urged an exemption for higher education after sponsors proposed removing publicly owned or operated buildings from the list of prohibited places for firearms.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343436,"Committee adopts amendment to clarify rules for hunting from motorized vehicles, citing landowner permission and enforcement clarity",4861,189000,5050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252328-48d397f87aa68453ae91c799a3577789&start=189&end=5050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252328-48d397f87aa68453ae91c799a3577789/thumbnail_189000.jpg","/articles/6343436/North-Dakota/Committee-adopts-amendment-to-clarify-rules-for-hunting-from-motorized-vehicles-citing-landowner-permission-and-enforcement-clarity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343436-1f6c83767971b77af575798da82c80f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184225&Signature=JRn4DpB3vCW3kXHio63FK7dIOpMKm33O9Vi4hrP~HOKMXBZvlW4nH5Rmz5C3PfImhcgZXEqOsC0YKGangKnxjbajxsrvfmoe61o6WsDN7eIynWhbtRS6OxoVMF4wuydaY1ykwmmq5KN1Ir9J8x2Es5veNzsYmnMIqHQsclwC66uKoZoxUVuHQ5J8hvZXkMBseI2LuLJIIM3X3F45YY-1V3vjbwmDoiwyw11ZN32PN-RgRIet-SO5bxNd9xNPdM-8Vvhu4gT0p4uiMpga9tffTPxujxG9rHrWfdWCHKW03RaV07nnxtO3DdpNikxqvgFKTTDqPdbXWP~odimQPxUCZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Cynthia Schreiberbeck, sponsor of House Bill 15‑98, told the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee she brought the bill to clarify an obscure section of code and offered an amended version she called clearer for landowners, hunters and enforcement officials. \"I was not familiar with the section of code we're gonna look at...it was Greek,\" she said, adding the amendment would replace the original bill with clearer language (Representative Cynthia Schreiberbeck, State Representative, District 25).

The bill and its adopted amendment (25.13030.01001) clarify when a landowner or a person with written permission may drive on privately held land while hunting and narrow uncertainty around prosecution of off‑trail driving. Supporter Mike Svalison, who described himself as a private landowner and lifelong hunter, said the current code is difficult to read and that law enforcement and game wardens get many calls \"and they find them difficult to follow‑up on and...decipher.\" He said the amendment aims to \"support private property rights and use\" and to strengthen hunter–landowner relationships.

Chief Scott Winkelman, chief game warden for North Dakota Game and Fish, told the committee the agency is neutral on the bill but explained how the change would operate in practice. He said the amendment would allow a landowner during any season to authorize individuals to drive off an established trail while hunting, except as limited elsewhere in law. \"Current law allows a landowner to give permission [for] small game hunting. This bill...would essentially allow a landowner to give themselves...permission or anyone they choose to to drive off an established trail while hunting anything during any season,\" he said.

Committee members pressed on specific cases. Representative Conmey asked whether the bill’s exception applied to waterfowl and cranes; supporters clarified the existing code treats those species differently during certain seasons. Representative Marshall raised an accessibility question about off‑road wheelchairs and people with disabilities; Chief Winkelman said the bill would not narrow existing handicap permit provisions and might make driving off trail easier for some disabled hunters if they have landowner permission.

Supporters and backers said the amendment preserves current prohibitions that apply when land is posted against trespass and does not expand unauthorized access. The sponsor and the committee ultimately adopted Representative Schreiberbeck’s amendment and later voted to pass House Bill 15‑98 as amended. The committee also placed the bill on the consent calendar for floor consideration and noted Representative Ruby would carry the bill to the House floor.

The bill proceeds to the House with the committee recommendation after a roll‑call vote on passage as amended.

The committee hearing on the bill included public testimony from hunters, landowners and the chief game warden; no law change beyond the adopted amendment was enacted at the hearing itself. The committee voted to advance the amended bill to the House floor.","The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 15‑98 to clarify when landowners or people with written permission may drive on private land while hunting. Supporters said the change improves private‑property clarity and enforcement; a Game and Fish official said the agency is neutral.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill letting retired officers use certified private trainers to qualify for concealed‑carry certification

Universities and law enforcement urge carve‑out as bill would allow firearms in many publicly owned buildings

Committee adopts amendment to clarify rules for hunting from motorized vehicles, citing landowner permission and enforcement clarity