Summer 2019 Summer 2019 Gavel | Page 16

An Overview of the 66th Legislative Session By Tony Weiler SBAND Executive Director The 2019 Legislative Session ended after 76 days, and 908 bills were introduced during the session (compared to 780 in 2017 and 854 in 2015). House members introduced 546 bills, while their counterparts in the Senate introduced the remaining 362. The House also introduced 59 resolutions, and the Senate introduced 18 resolutions. The total budget was $14.8 billion for the biennium. SBAND tracked just over 100 bills during the session. In continuing with our Keller policy and those set by the Board of Governors, SBAND did not take a position on any legislation that didn’t have to do with improving the practice of law or discipling in the profession. You can find our full legislative report on the SBAND website. We asked several members who are actively engaged in the legislative process to provide further comment. Below are the details SBAND members shared on legislation they took part in or followed. It was a mixed bag for open records and meetings, or public transparency. On the plus side, HB 1229, that would have allowed counties to put a list of the checks they approve on their web page rather than in their minutes and eliminated the publication of election abstracts, and SB 2062, that also eliminated abstract publication, were defeated. HB 1117 requires newspapers to post all public notices on the North Dakota Newspaper Association (NDNA) public notice web site and on their own web sites if they have one. SB 2037 requires published notice in the official county newspaper and any newspaper within 30 miles of a proposed site for any proposed testing, drilling, etc. involving high-level radioactive waste. However, on the negative side, the 66th Legislative Assembly passed HB 1132 closing records of interviews for law enforcement positions and HB 1332 that allows schools boards, in secret, to designate school employees to carry firearms. And, it defeated HB 1363 that would have required release of certain information regarding the costs of security and travel for the Governor and other state officials. It also passed SB 2021 to expand confidentiality of legislative communications to any public agency, but that is being referred. Criminal libel penalties were taken out of HB 1521 that creates the Ethics Commission, but much of the new commission’s proceedings remain confidential. And, SB 2320, while allowing controversial free speech on college campuses also, unfortunately, permits certain restrictions on when and where controversial speech is allowed. — Jack McDonald, Wheeler Wolf Law Firm 16 THE GAVEL