Teacher retention, out-of-state political contributions, and numerous other issues addressed in the North Dakota legislature

Bismarck, North Dakota – While some proposals continue to be discussed in Bismarck, others are being moved back and forth between the state house and the senate.

Several pieces of legislation that would help and retain teachers in North Dakota are being considered by lawmakers.

The amount of time needed to qualify for a lifelong teaching license would be decreased. Another bill would facilitate the practice of teaching in North Dakota by residents of the state who hold foreign teaching licenses. A Senate bill would offer subsidies to colleges and universities to help paraprofessionals become certified instructors. In a fourth plan, instructors in areas with a scarcity of educators would be eligible for loan forgiveness.

A proposed House bill would tax any out-of-state political donations linked to legislation started in North Dakota in the interim.

According to the plan, the money raised would be used to subsidize school meal programs or programs for North Dakota veterans. According to the bill’s proponent, money originating from outside North Dakota shouldn’t trump political contributions for initiatives. The legislation is being examined by the House Finance and Taxation Committee.

A bill to change North Dakota’s abortion regulations is now being advanced by the state Senate.

The bill, which clarifies language in the state’s trigger prohibition and the “heartbeat bill,” was passed by a large margin on Tuesday. The proposed legislation would include the management of ectopic pregnancies. The amendments would also permit abortions in rape or incest cases.

The North Dakota House has rejected proposals that would have increased the possibilities for medical marijuana.

The legislation would have made edibles eligible for medical marijuana prescription coverage. Opponents claim that marijuana edibles offer health hazards to children because they could be mistaken for regular foods, while supporters contend that edible marijuana is healthier and allows for more precise dosing.

The state Senate will consider two North Dakota House measures pertaining to the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.

According to one law, elected officials must be offered the chance to take the pledge before meetings. Another provision forbids changing any of the pledges of allegiance’s terms. Both proposals were approved by substantial margins.

And lastly, a motion requesting that Teddy Roosevelt coins be minted by the federal government was approved by the North Dakota Senate.

The resolution requests the printing of silver and gold coins to mark the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library from Congress and the Director of the United States Mint. The library is scheduled to open in 2026, which is also the 250th anniversary of American independence. Unanimously, the resolution was approved.