2023 Legislative Summary Bills Passed and Failed - 2023

2023 Legislative Summary

APPRECIATION/PATRIOTIC

PLEDGE of Allegiance:
- Government boards and committees shall offer recitation of pledge of allegiance at beginning of meeting. To include: County Commission boards, School Boards, Governing Bodies meetings to public, Public Service Commission, Emergency Service Commission, and Industrial Commission (HB1120 )
- Pledge of Allegiance to be recited as written. No changes allowed. (HB1172)
Hunting & Fishing: Out of state National Guard members get resident rate on general fishing and hunting licenses. (HB1134)
Vietnam Veterans 50^th Commemoration.
- A concurrent resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the United States combat operations and the release of American prisoners of war in Vietnam. (HCR3007)
US Flag
- A concurrent resolution encouraging North Dakota citizens to purchase United States flags made of hemp and manufactured in North Dakota. (HCR3004)
HUNTING AND FISHING: FAILED
- Allow 501 C 19 (Veteran Organizations) to participate in big game license give aways as allowed by 501 C 3 organizations
- Not Brought through ND Veterans Legislative Council
- (SB2294)

BURIAL AND MEMORIAL

Veteran Memorial Bridges
- "Veterans Memorial Bridge" located in the town of Cavalier. (HB1117)
- Bridge located in Cannonball to be named Pvt. Albert Grass. First Native American from Standing Rock to die in WWI. (HB1351)
- Bridge on highway 30 near Maddock ND to be named PO3 Patrick G. Glennon. ND Vietnam Navy Veteran who was part of the Lost 74. (HB1352)
- Bridge on Highway 81 crossing I94 in Jamestown to be named. "Hidden wounds of war" bridge. Dedicated to those suffering from PTSD and those who lost their battle with PTSD and other mental health issues. (HB1354)
- Bridge on Highway 6 near Breien to be named PFC Ronald C. Goodiron Vietnam Bridge. ND veteran who posthumously received from the Republic of Vietnam the "Republic of Vietnam Civil Action medal". (HB1355)
- FUNDING for Memorial Bridges to be raised locally. No General Fund dollars appropriated.
Funeral Honor Guard Stipend
- State stipend of $50 for military funeral honors conducted by Veteran Service Organizations. (HB1182)
  - Stipend paid if no Federal Stipend or Stipend from Funeral Home is paid
  - $50 per funeral honor guard team-not per member.
Lost 74 (USS Frank E. Evans)
- A concurrent resolution urging the 118th Congress to take favorable action on S. 849 and H.R. 7972, to provide for the inclusion on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall the names of the lost crew members of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans. (HCR3008)

EDUCATION

Active Military Kids/Transfers
- K-12 School kids of military transfers may begin or finish semester online before or after transfer to or out of ND Schools. (HB 1132)
Tuition Waiver
- Dependents of 100% disabled Veteran or surviving dependents.
  - Part time student able to achieve up to bachelors regardless of number of semesters or years required to accomplish. Allow to attend part-time. (HB1196)
  - Certain Dependents of veterans retroactively awarded Service-Connected disability after veterans’ death to be eligible for tuition waiver. (HB1212)
- National Guard members: Grant National Guard members tuition fees at out of ND Schools. Same tuition rate as ND Schools. (SB2094)

EMPLOYMENT/ENTREPRENEUR

Veterans Employment Preference
- Active military may submit letter from commander stating a discharge (DD214) with character of service other than “dishonorable” will be issued. Member to receive 5 veteran points. Letter within 120 days of expected discharge. (HB1222)
- NATIONAL GUARD & Reserve: Current and past members eligible for 5 veterans preference points. (HB1222)
- Electronic Notification: Provide Electronic notice in lieu of Certified Letter for veteran’s preference notice of non-hire and appeal hearing requests. (HB1250)
Public employees leave to care for veteran or military member
- Amend ND Century Code to align with Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) which allows up to 26 weeks leave to care for a family member veteran or military member medical needs. (SB2198)

FINANCIAL

Charitable Gaming:
- Allow charitable gaming donations to State Veteran Service Organizations office for "The administrative and program management expenses of a statewide veterans' organization". HOUSE amended from "operating" to "program management". SENATE amended by adding emergency clause. EFFECTIVE 4/12/2023 (HB1142)
Teachers: Allow military retired to opt out of state teachers’ retirement fund. (HB1150)
Vehicle Excise Tax
- Allow surviving spouses whose military spouse passed away before gaining benefits from VA to be eligible for excise tax (HB1212)
Property Tax
- Allow surviving spouses whose military spouse passed away before gaining benefits from VA to be eligible for property tax credit (HB1212)
Vehicle license plates
- Surviving spouse:
  - Allow surviving spouses whose military spouse passed away before gaining benefits from VA to be eligible for free license plate/vehicle registration (HB1212)
- Choice of specialty plate:
  - Allow 100% disabled veteran, spouse or surviving spouse to choose from DAV plate or Regular ND plate at no cost or pay fee for vanity or specialty plate. (HB1212)
ND Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Program
- National Guard and Reserve to be added as eligible to apply for loan (SB2204)
Create Low Interest Small Business Loans: FAILED
- Veterans, Women and Minorities
- Not brought through ND Veterans Legislative Council
- (HB1420)
Post War Trust Fund Charitable Gaming: FAILED
- 50% of gaming tax paid by veteran organizations to go to PWTF Principal
- Brought through ND Veterans Legislative Council
- (HB1426)
Foreign Influence Tax: FAILED
- New tax on legislative and constitutional measures funding brought by outside ND interests.
- 50% of new tax would go to veteran benefits
- Not brought through ND Veterans Legislative Council
- (HB1452)

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Suicide Prevention
- Access to Death Records:
  - Allow ND Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner to access complete Death Records of past or current military service members. Purpose is to Assist in prevention of veteran suicide. (HB1326)
- Suicide review commission:
  - Create Suicide review Commission. Assist in suicide prevention. A member of a ND Veteran service organizations must be a member of the review committee. (HB1390)
Not Veteran Specific
- Diabetic Drugs (Insulin) and Supplies copay limit to $25 per month.
  - Health insurance caps. Amended to public employees (SB2140)
Transportation to VAMC
- Funding for purchase of 2 DAV Vans in next biennium. (HB1025)

HOUSING

Fisher House ND
- $500,000 for construction of Fisher House in Fargo ND. At or near Fargo VA Medical Center. ARPA Funds. (HB1157)
- $500,000 continued appropriations from 2021 special session. ARPA Funds (HB1025)
ND State Veterans Home
- National Guard & Reserve, Military members:
  - Allow disabled National Guard and other service members who qualify for VA Health care but not ND definition of Veteran (180 days) to qualify for ND Veterans Home residency. (HB1389)
- Character of Service:
  - Change character of service from "honorable" to other than "dishonorable" for eligibility. (HB1389)
- Facility improvements
  - Parking lot replacement. Special funds-not state funds. (HB1007)
  - Thermostats and air exchanger. Funding approval to replace. (HB1007)
- Study (interim) of structure of veteran home governance. (HB1007)

LAW AND POLICY CHANGE

Add Definition of Armed Forces, Military and Uniformed Services to NDCC 37-01. (HB1109)
National Guard: UCMJ updates (SB2095)

LEGAL SERVICES

None

NATIONAL GUARD AND MILITARY SPECIFIC

NATIONAL GUARD:
- State Active Duty Pay. Update pay in comparison to surrounding states. (HB1069)
- NG members who are employed by state or political subdivisions to have choice on military leave usage (weekend drills, schools, annual training etc.). Government employee benefit. (HB1193)
- Income Tax (ND State) Exemption on military pay. (SB2293)
- NDNG Budget:
  - $26,656 Adjusted Compensation (war bonus)
  - $16,800,000 ARPA funds for
    - $5,300,000 Construct Billets at Camp Grafton
    - $8,900,000 Construct Dickinson Readiness Center
    - $2,600,000 Design & Engineering Williston Readiness Center
  - $500,000 for Maintenance and Repairs of State-Owned armories
  - Carry over authority for projects funding in last legislative session.
  - Authority to accept funds for construction of ND Military Museum
  - (SB2016)
- Project funding: $71 Million: FAILED-Moved several to NDNG Budget
  - (1) $26,000,000 for a Williston armory project.
    - (2) $20,000,000 for a military museum project.
    - (3) $10,000,000 for a Dickinson readiness center project.
    - (4) $9,000,000 for a Camp Grafton fitness facility project; and
    - (5) $6,000,000 for a Camp Grafton training center billets project.
    - Many transferred to NDNG budget: SB2016
    - (SB2307)
  - LAW/POLICY/ Deploy Guard: FAILED
    - National Guard unable to be deployed by US President without declaration of war
    - Not brought through or supported by ND Veteran Legislative Council
    - (HCR3012)
Military:
- Early Childhood Services definition. Add to NDCC 50-11.1-02 childcare programs certified by UD Department of Defense 6060.02. (SB2182)
- Adoption of a counseling compact
  - Allow use of Telehealth
  - Support spouse of relocating military
  - Licensing if other states-collaboration
  - (SB2187)
- Adoption of psychology interjurisdictional compact and predoctoral supervised psychological internship program. (SB2205)
- Military Base Retention. $1,000,000 one-time General Funds to ND Department of Commerce for Base Retention grants
  - $500,000 for Fargo and Grand Forks (combined)
  - $500,000 for Minot.
  - (SB2240)

Additional Links

Committee