House waives 90-day waiting period for military leave and updates veteran definition; emergency clause attached

Senate Bill 21-98, which waives a 90-day waiting period before newly hired state and political subdivision employees may use military leave and revises the statutory definition of “veteran,” passed the North Dakota House 90–4, with the emergency clause attached.

The measure, introduced in the Senate by Senator Baucher and carried to the House by Representative Dan Jonas, removes a provision that required employees to wait 90 days before becoming eligible for military leave. Representative Jonas said the change was prompted by recent wildfires in western North Dakota, when some service members had to use unpaid leave because of the waiting period. "By waiving this waiting period, Senate Bill 21-98 eliminates a barrier that can complicate a service member's ability to meet their military obligations," Jonas said.

The bill also amends the North Dakota Century Code definition of “veteran” to align state language with federal definitions used by the uniformed services and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: a person who "served on continuous, federalized, active, uniformed service duty for 180 days or for the full period for which the individual was called or ordered to active duty for reasons other than training, and who was discharged or released under other than dishonorable conditions," as reported on the House floor.

The House political subdivisions committee recommended the bill as amended. The final roll call recorded 90 yeas and 4 nays; the clerk announced the bill as passed and the emergency clause as carrying.

Votes at roll call are reflected in the formal record; no amendments beyond the committee changes were reported on the floor.