What can members of the bar do to assist you in your legislative work ? One of the first things we learn in law school is how to issue spot , and I would encourage all SBAND members to put that skill to use when it comes to state policy and the legislative session . As a citizen legislature , we simply don ’ t know what we don ’ t know . But attorneys are well-positioned to bring forward issues they have discovered in North Dakota law . If you discover an ambiguous ( or downright bad ) statute or are involved in a case where the court highlights a gap or conflict in existing law , let a lawmaker know ! My colleagues and I love to dive into these issues , and your expertise as an attorney carries persuasive weight as we put bills forward .
Rep . Lawrence R . Klemin District 47
• Serving since 1999
• University of North Dakota School of Law – 1978
• Chairman , House Judiciary Committee
• House Political Subdivisions Committee
• Chairman , ND Commission on Uniform State Laws
What are some of the biggest challenges facing North Dakota this legislative session ? Property tax reform , behavior health personnel shortages , budget issues , energy issues , and term limits issues .
What issues do you anticipate for the courts or the bar in the upcoming session ? Litigation financing regulation , prisoner reentry to society issues , domestic relations , and child support issues .
What can members of the bar do to assist you in your legislative work ? Appear at legislative hearings to testify on issues relevant to the bar .
I was first elected to the North Dakota Legislature in 1998 , and have now served in the House of Representatives for 26 years . I have two years left in my current term . I have served in a number of capacities , including speaker of the House , chairman of the House Judiciary and House Political Subdivisions Committees , chairman of the North Dakota Commission on Uniform State Laws , commissioner on the National Uniform Law Commission ( life member ), member of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures , and on numerous other committees in the legislature . It has been a very rewarding experience for me . I am thankful to the people in District 47 in Bismarck for electing me as their representative . Term limits will end my legislative career in the future . There are only a few lawyers in the legislature now , all of whom will be affected by the term limits . We need more lawyers to seek legislative office to bring their experience and legal knowledge to help draft the laws for the state .
Sen . Mike Dwyer District 47
• Serving since 2019
• University of North Dakota School of Law – 1977
• Senate Appropriations Committee
• Government Operations Subcommittee
We have very robust revenues , and the challenge will be to restrain our spending and limit the growth of state government . In 2023 , we approved 403 new FTEs for state government , and Gov . Burgum ’ s budget proposed an additional 610 new FTEs . We also approved , in 2023 , a large number of grant programs . As a result , we increased state general fund spending by 22 %. Since we have an opportunity to provide meaningful property tax reform , we must limit our spending for general government to accommodate our effort to provide property tax relief . SBAND Executive Director Tony Weiler has been very helpful on issues relating to the bar , and we will look to him for continued guidance to provide the best policy and outcomes for our legal community . We have few , but very good , attorneys in the House and Senate , and we will continue to work together to enhance the foundations for our legal community .
Photos provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly .
The Gavel would like to consider your photograph and artwork for its cover .
ATTENTION
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS
SUBJECT MATTER
• Color photographs of North Dakota landscapes ; building interiors and exteriors ( including the State Capitol Building ); landmarks ; and animals ( people can appear only as incidentals and must not be identifiable )
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Vibrant color , sharp focus , high contrast
• Digital photos preferred
• Use the highest quality image setting on your smartphone or digital camera .
• Portrait orientation ( vertical ) is preferred .
• Photos must be at least 8x10 inches at 300 dpi for full photo cover .
• Send the original JPG (. jpg ) file . Please do not resize or change resolution .
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
• SBAND members , active and retired only ( does not include relatives of SBAND members )
• Law-related administrative staff
• North Dakota law students
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
• Email your photos to : tony @ sband . org .
• Identify the photographer ; include legal affiliation .
• Include a brief description of the photograph and a working photograph title ; note where and when the photo was taken .
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