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Senate Transportation Committee advances three bills to name bridges for North Dakota veterans
Summary
The Senate Transportation Committee voted to give a due pass to House Bills 1090, 1091 and 1092, which would name three separate bridges in North Dakota for veterans and include emergency and continuing-appropriation language. Donors will pay for plaques and the Department of Transportation will supply sign supports and installation.
The Senate Transportation Committee on an undisclosed date gave a due pass to three separate bills that would name bridges in North Dakota to honor local veterans.
Representative Karen Anderson, the sponsor who introduced two of the bills, said the measures ‘‘may seem trivial to some people, but . . . it is an honor to be able to sponsor’’ the designations and that family members and friends were supportive. Representative Anderson represents District 19 and identified herself at the hearing as being from Grafton.
The bills would designate (1) a bridge on State Highway 18 as the Specialist Richard W. Orson Vietnam Bridge (HB 1090); (2) a bridge on U.S. Highway 81 north of Grafton as the Specialist David Latrail Vietnam Bridge (HB 1091); and (3) the U.S. Highway 52 overpass near Carrington as the Staff Sergeant Miles Shelley World War II Overpass (HB 1092). Each bill includes a continuing appropriation and an emergency clause.
Why it matters: Sponsors and veterans groups said naming bridges helps ensure veteran service is publicly remembered and gives families a fixed local memorial. Committee testimony also clarified how the program is implemented and funded: community donors pay for the sign face while the North Dakota Department of Transportation provides the supports and does the installation.
Details and testimony Representative Karen Anderson (District 19) described family and local ties for both HB 1090 and HB 1091 and asked the committee for a due pass and emergency clause for each bill. Jim Nelson, legislative director for the North Dakota Veterans Legislative Council, provided biographical details for the service members honored in HB 1090 and HB 1091, including dates, units, honors and burial locations.
On HB 1092, Representative Don Viggasoff introduced the bill and deferred detailed history to the veterans legislative council. Nathan Huntington, a registered lobbyist for the American Legion Department of North Dakota, read prepared testimony summarizing Staff Sergeant Miles Shelley's World War II actions, including a Silver Star citation excerpt and other decorations, and urged approval. Shirley Algerson, historian for the North Dakota National Guard, provided background on the 160th Infantry Regiment and described Shelley's service and local ties.
Implementation and cost Brad Darr, state maintenance engineer for the North Dakota Department of Transportation, told the committee the legislature is the entity to name bridges and highways; the designation is codified into the Century Code when a bill passes. He said practice is that applicants or volunteer groups pay for the sign face, and the department pays for the supports and installation. He described that DOT vets locations to meet spacing, sightline and traffic-safety standards.
Votes at a glance - HB 1090 (Specialist Richard W. Orson Vietnam Bridge): Motion: due pass with emergency. Mover: Senator Klein (recorded). Outcome: approved. Vote record (as read): Chairman Clemens — Aye; Vice Chair Corey — Aye; Senator Hogan — Aye; Senator Klein — Aye; Senator Paulson — Aye; Senator Roll — Aye.
- HB 1091 (Specialist David Latrail Vietnam Bridge): Motion: due pass with emergency. Mover: Senator Hogan (recorded as making the motion in committee sequence); second recorded. Outcome: approved. Vote record (as read): Vice Chair Corey — Aye; Senator Hogan — Aye; Senator Klein — Aye; Senator Paulson — Aye; Senator Romo — Aye; Chairman Collins/Clemens — Aye.
- HB 1092 (Staff Sergeant Miles Shelley World War II Overpass): Motion: due pass with emergency. Mover: Senator Klein (recorded). Outcome: approved. Vote record (as read): Senator Paulson — Aye; Senator Romo — Aye; Chairman Clemens — Aye; Vice Chair Corey — Aye; Senator Hogan — Aye; Senator Klein — Aye.
What the bills do and next steps Each bill would add a name designation to the Century Code, authorize a continuing appropriation and include an emergency clause. Testimony established that donor groups (often veterans organizations) pay for sign faces and DOT installs and maintains the physical signs to DOT standards. Committee members asked about whether the practice should be formalized into policy and discussed succession if volunteer coordinators stop organizing requests; Jim Nelson described how the current volunteer-led process evolved and that the National Guard and DOT remain engaged.
The committee recorded motions to carry each bill to the floor; sponsors or committee members volunteered to carry the bills forward.
Provenance: - topicintro: "We'll open the hearing on House Bill 10 90 ..." (transcript evidence at the hearing opening for HB 1090). - topfinish: "Okay. Motion passes. Someone like to carry this bill? Senator Klein? Okay." (transcript evidence at completion of HB 1090 action).
