BISMARCK – The North Dakota State Legislature adjourned at 3 a.m. Sunday.
The legislature passed $515 million in direct tax relief, which is about 19% of the state’s surplus of $2.7 billion. The legislature also appropriated $62 million in childcare aid, $5.3 billion for the Department of Human Services, and $3.3 billion for the state universities. Several bills were passed relating to gender, the Legacy Fund, and farming and ranching.
Senate Majority Leader Sen. David Hogue, R-Dis. 38, Minot, said including smaller tax relief bills the legislature passed close to $600 million in tax relief.
“We will continue to push for legislation that protects the rights of the unborn,” said Hogue. “We also implemented for the first time in a long time the tuition freeze. I think that’s related to workforce development.”
“Dissent and disagreement are important facets of the Democratic process as it drives compromise and moderation, something that I am confident North Dakotans wish to see from this body” said House Minority Leader Rep. Josh Boschee, D-Dis. 44, Fargo. “Prior to the session starting many North Dakotans, myself included, were concerned about how extreme this session would be and, unfortunately, those concerns were realized.”
Boschee pointed to bills relating to abortion, transgenderism, and state control over local subdivisions as examples.
The legislature has five legal days left to reconvene if needed.
