Senate clears wide range of bills; key measures on schools, public safety and state funds pass

The North Dakota Senate completed floor action on a large package of House and Senate measures, approving bills on school policy, state budgets and program funding while rejecting a proposal to decriminalize small marijuana possessions.

The votes resolved a mix of policy and appropriations measures. Major approvals included House Bill 1556, creating a Children’s Cabinet work group on out-of-home placement for children with behavioral health issues (46-0); House Bill 15 33 requiring a half-unit of financial literacy for high school graduation (46-0); House Bill 10 16, the Adjutant General/National Guard budget (46-0); House Bill 13 63, a cardiac emergency response plan template requirement for schools (41-5); House Bill 12 25 changing reckless endangerment/habitual offender penalties (26-20); and an appropriation authorizing a NAGPRA compliance grant program for tribes (House Bill 16 03, 46-0). The Senate rejected House Bill 15 96, which would have decriminalized certain small marijuana possessions (13-33).

Why it matters: the bills move policy priorities for schools, public safety and state programs toward implementation and, in some cases, create…