By: Mary Steurer (ND Monitor)
Progressive advocacy groups frustrated with what they saw as a tone-deaf and unproductive legislative session will host an all-day organizing event May 16 at the Heritage Center.
Called “The People’s Session,” the goal of the event is to hear what North Dakotans’ policy priorities are. Representatives from its organizers — Gender Justice, Prairie Action and the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition — met Thursday morning on the steps of the Capitol to share what they have planned for the conference.
“It’s time our Legislature listens to people across our state and leads with our values that we share — like fairness, privacy, freedom and respect,” said Prairie Rose Seminole, who is vice chair of Gender Justice’s board and also sits on the board for the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition.
A survey of North Dakota residents commissioned by Gender Justice last fall indicates that North Dakotans support policies like expanding reproductive rights, and investing in child care and affordable housing, Gender Justice Executive Director Megan Peterson said Thursday. The survey, which was conducted by firm PerryUndem, gathered responses from 800 adults across the state.
The policy priorities reflected in the survey aren’t what lawmakers spent most of their time on this session, Peterson said.
She pointed to legislation that prevents K-12 schools from having multi-stall all-gender restrooms, as well as a bill that would have required school and public libraries to put “sexually explicit” material in areas children cannot easily access, which Gov. Kelly Armstrong ultimately vetoed.
“Why did lawmakers spend their time on book bans and bathroom bills while families are struggling to find affordable child care, pay the rent and access basic health care?” Peterson asked.
While lawmakers defeated many of the most controversial proposals introduced this session — including a bill to require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in lunchrooms, and a resolution to declare the kingship of Jesus Christ — advocates at the Thursday morning gathering said these bills took valuable time and resources away from more pressing policy issues.
The group acknowledged that the Legislature passed bills this session aimed at improving access to child care, housing and health care, but argued the policies do not go far enough.
“When politicians can’t or don’t want to solve real problems, they create fake ones to divide and distract us,” Peterson said.
She said “The People’s Session” will put together policy proposals for the next legislative session that better reflect what North Dakota residents actually want.
The event is free, but registration is required. It will take place at the Heritage Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Topics of discussion will include health care, housing, schools, LGBTQ issues, reproductive rights and more.
“We hope to take the people’s agenda forward, crafting and refining it into bills through public input, and then put it forward for sponsors to bring to the 2027 legislative session,” North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Executive Director Dalton Erickson said.
For more information about the event, including registration details, visit Gender Justice’s website. Those who aren’t able to participate in person can still submit their thoughts through the registration form.
