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Committee rejects bill that would bar political subdivisions from adopting hate‑crime ordinances or other speech limits
Summary
The Political Subdivisions Committee voted to recommend 'do not pass' on House Bill 1273, which would have prohibited the state and political subdivisions from adopting policies that limit or prohibit speech, including hate‑crime ordinances.
Representative Matt Heilman introduced House Bill 1273, a short statute that would bar the state or any political subdivision from adopting a policy, order or ordinance that "limits or prohibits the speech of an individual," language the bill specifically noted could include hate crime ordinances.
Heilman framed the measure as a First Amendment protection. "My intent is to protect the First Amendment and people's speech," he said, and he argued that harassment and other criminal statutes already exist at the state and federal levels.
The committee heard multiple opponents who argued the bill is broader than necessary and would undercut local policy options, workplace rules and protections for vulnerable groups. Sergiano Witsky of the Bismarck Human Relations…
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