House Bill 1446, sponsored by Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, would have eliminated the option of getting on the ballot through a political endorsement. Instead, candidates for statewide and legislative offices would be required to gather signatures to get on the primary or general election ballot.

House lawmakers passed two of more than a half-dozen proposed bills to regulate the possession of guns and dangerous weapons in the state.

Rebecca Binstock, executive director of the North Dakota Ethics Commission, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 31, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota House overwhelmingly defeated a bill that aimed to give the Ethics Commission more freedom over how it investigates potential ethics violations.

All three incorporate some form of cap on year-over-year tax increases and would be funded in part by earnings on the state’s Legacy Fund. One bill focuses mainly on tax reductions for residential property, while the other two would lower taxes for all kinds of property. Each proposal passed with near-total support from lawmakers.

Senators hashed out various budget bills, including Senate Bill 2002, covering the judiciary branch. It calls for a 3% raise for most employees, while district court judges, justi