2007 Legislative Bill Summary
HB 1040 - Passed - NDFA Supported
This bill provided a penalty for anyone protesting or displaying disorderly conduct within 300 feet of a funeral.
HB 1129 - Passed - NDFA supported the section dealing with stillbirth
This provides the opportunity for parents to receive a ‘certificate of stillbirth’ when a birth results in stillbirth. (HB 1191 was amended into HB 1129)
HB 1320 - Failed - NDFA Opposed
This bill would have provided for a pre-kindergarten program in public schools
HB 1357 - Passed - NDFA Supported
This bill increased the penalty for someone having possession of material such as photographs or motion pictures showing sexual conduct by a minor.
HB 1466 - Passed - NDFA Supported
This bill became known as the ‘triggered’ or ‘delayed implementation’ ban on abortion. The ban on abortion will be triggered by the US Supreme Court reversing its ruling allowing legal abortions, and verification by the ND Attorney General and the legislative council. The bill includes provisions for protection of life of the mother, and exceptions for rape and incest.
* Three other sanctity of life bills, HB 1464, HB 1489, and HB 1494 were defeated in the house. These bills ranged from rather minor language clarification to an outright abortion ban.
HB 1471 - Passed - NDFA Monitored
This bill provides funds to the Department of Health to educate and inform the public about the human papilloma virus, and its relevance to cervical cancer.
* This issue needs to be monitored in the interim to insure its implementation does not go beyond the intent of the legislation.
HB 1472 - Passed - NDFA Supported
This bill provides a penalty for a sexual offender’s presence within 50 feet of a school.
HB 1509 - Failed - NDFA Opposed
This bill would have allowed for ‘previously run horse races’ wagering on electronic machines, basically a slot machine. This would have been a huge expansion of gambling.
* Most bills dealing with any expansion of gambling failed. These bills all failed: HB 1167, HB 1264, HB 1367, HB 1440, SB 2140, SB 2150, SB 2209, and SB 2334. They dealt with increasing betting limits on Poker to raffles to taxation treatment. Thanks to Warren DeKrey for his tireless work on the gambling issues.
HB 2032 - Passed - NDFA supported the marriage penalty repeal
This bill provided for property tax relief, an increase in the homestead tax credit, and a partial repeal of the marriage penalty in ND income tax code. While the repeal does not entirely remove the penalty, it does so for a majority of married couples filing their ND income tax. The penalty reduction for any couple is capped at $300. Not only will this allow married couples to keep more of their money, but it is just good policy to stop discriminating against married couples.
HB 2138 - Passed - NDFA Opposed
This bill sought to repeal the cohabitation language in our century code, disallowing the cohabitation of men and women without being married. The bill was amended to retain the basic language, but moved the language to a non criminalized section of the code. The NDFA testified promoting marriage as the cornerstone of our society, and the detrimental effect of cohabitation on marriage, the spouse, children, and the family as a whole.
HB 2181 - Failed - NDFA Opposed
This bill would have provided for minor girls to consent to and contract for medical services to determine pregnancy and provide for treatment with out parental knowledge, involvement, and consent. After the bill was defeated in the house, it was amended into HB 1466, the triggered abortion ban bill. It was removed from HB 1466, and failed.
HB 2312 - Passed - NDFA Supported
This bill appropriates $400,000 to non governmental entities to promote ‘alternative to abortion’ programs and services. Very good program and use of funds.
HB 2366 - Failed - NDFA Supported
This bill allows for the expedition of the foreign decree of adoption by validating efforts already processed in the initial adoption process. It saves the adopting families an immense amount of time and some expenses. This is good legislation promoting adoption.
HB 2371 - Failed - NDFA Supported Original Bill
This was to be a bill to make some good changes to the home schooling section of the century code. The intent of the original bill was to update and to clarify some testing language, as well as to expand those who could supervise the instruction, including grandparents and foster care parents. The bill was amended to the point that it caused great harm to the ability of the home schooling community to educate their children. Eventually, the only recourse was to ask for the bill to be killed. It was.
HB 2377 - Failed - NDFA Opposed
The bill was introduced to deal with midwifery and the delivery of babies at home. There was a great deal of testimony documenting the home delivery process, and the safety and health concerns. Eventually, the bill was ‘hoghoused’ to become a study. The ‘hoghoused’ version of the bill was defeated.
HB 2400 - Failed - NDFA Supported
This was NDFA’s bill to define an unborn as a human being. The original bill included language granting citizenship to both the born and preborn. It seemed the concept was difficult to understand, and an amendment was offered to simply define the unborn as a human being. That amendment was not successfully adopted in the committee. Before the amendment was to be offered on the senate floor, a rarely used procedure, to lay on the table, was made and adopted. The motion for all intents and purposes eliminated debate and prevented a roll call vote on the bill. The bill was lost.
The NDFA is still very supportive of the bill, and plans to continue to promote the intent of the bill.
HB 2415 - Passed - NDFA Supported
This bill prohibits the mandatory implanting of microchips in an individual.