Burgum signs more than 30 bills to reduce red tape, improve government efficiency and services
Gov. Doug Burgum has signed 33 of the more than 50 bills introduced this legislative session to change or eliminate over 400 antiquated, unnecessary and burdensome regulations and other red tape that was identified through the Red Tape Reduction Working Group created by executive order last August.
The working group was tasked with identifying regulations, rules and policies that could be changed or eliminated to reduce burdens and lower costs for North Dakota citizens and the private sector and make state government more efficient, effective and nimble. The working group included all cabinet agencies as well as non-cabinet agencies that chose to participate.
After receiving about 500 ideas from the public, agencies and team members, the working group acted on nearly 400 submissions that resulted in draft bills submitted through the agency bill submission process to be acted on during the legislative session and through administrative rule changes and process improvement. Through Wednesday, Burgum had signed 33 bills identified as reducing red tape, while eight bills had passed both chambers and were awaiting the governor’s signature and 11 bills were pending.
“By cutting red tape and streamlining regulations, we can lower the cost of government, improve efficiency and empower our citizens to reach their full potential,” Burgum said. “Our administration has embraced innovation over regulation, and these bills support that approach by doing away with unnecessary, duplicative and burdensome red tape. We appreciate all of the cabinet agencies, non-cabinet team members and members of the public who contributed to these efforts with their ideas and suggestions, and the Legislature for continuing to support and promote efficient government.”
Among the bills signed so far:
HB 1080: This bill will allow vehicle owners to store their motor vehicle registration electronically, in alignment with efforts by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) to provide a “digital wallet” for motorists. State law already allows for an electronic driver’s license, which is expected to go live next year, and for electronic proof of insurance. Currently, paper registration cards are still required to be carried in or on the vehicle, but HB 1080 will allow for an electronic version.
SB 2111: The NDDOT also proposed this bill allowing electronic vehicle titling, saving staff time and money on processing and printing costs while also reducing instances of lost vehicle titles and mitigating opportunities for fraud. Printed titles will still be available upon request.
HB 1085: This bill will save the state money on printing costs by eliminating the requirement that state agencies must print copies of their biennial reports. The bill requires agencies to post the report on their website by Dec. 1 of each year following the regular legislative session, and to provide an electronic copy to the state archivist.
HB 1089: This bill streamlines the disbursement of Clean Water State Revolving Fund dollars to communities by the Department of Environmental Quality by removing the requirement for Department of Water Resources approval.
HB 1060: This bill, requested by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, provides additional options for the trucking industry to purchase overweight and oversize permits for a 30-day period versus just a single-trip or annual permit. This also will be beneficial to the agriculture industry during planting and harvest season. The bill also allows for annual permits to be purchased for 365 days or to expire Dec. 31, giving trucking companies additional flexibility in managing their permits.
HB 1049: This bill clarifies current law to allow an agency adult foster care home to be considered a permitted use in a single-family or equivalent least-density residential zone.
SB 2074: This bill removes roadblocks that prevent citizens from accessing groundwater monitoring data, thereby improving transparency while maintaining appropriate privacy protections.
In addition to the above bills, other red tape reduction bills that have been signed by the governor include: HB 1055, HB 1056, HB 1072, HB 1073, HB 1074, HB 1098, HB 1099, HB 1101, HB 1197, HB 1214, HB 1215, HB 1409, SB 2056, SB 2057, SB 2060, SB 2072, SB 2075, SB 2077, SB 2079, SB 2081, SB 2083, SB 2084, SB 2090, SB 2101, SB 2109 and SB 2119.
Given the success of the Red Tape Reduction Working Group, planning is under way to begin a Red Tape Reduction 2.0 effort which will focus on gathering input from the public and business community.
Burgum, Baesler applaud landmark North Dakota computer science, cybersecurity measure
Gov. Doug Burgum and North Dakota School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler on Friday celebrated the governor’s signing of HB1398, which requires the teaching of computer science and cybersecurity and the integration of these content standards into school coursework from kindergarten through 12th grade. The superintendent said North Dakota is the first state in the nation to approve legislation requiring cybersecurity education.
“Today is the culmination of years of work by stakeholders from all sectors to recognize and promote the importance of cybersecurity and computer science education in our elementary, middle and high schools,” Baesler said at Friday’s bill signing ceremony.
“Our vision is to integrate and underscore the importance of computer science and cybersecurity instruction into the classes our students take as they move through our K-12 system,” Baesler said. “Under this bill, the information and knowledge our students need will be part of every grade level, which is appropriate when you consider the role that technology plays in our everyday lives.”
Baesler said EduTech, a division of North Dakota Information Technology that provides information technology support and professional development for K-12 educators, will be developing examples of cybersecurity and computer science education integration plans that may be used to assist local schools develop their own plans.
Burgum said HB1398 was in keeping with his administration’s emphasis on developing student and citizen knowledge of computer science and cybersecurity, which he described as “one of the most pressing issues that we have in North Dakota.” The administration’s PK-20W initiative, with its vision of “Every Student, Every School, Cyber Educated,” aims to ensure students have the skills and know-how to succeed in a technology-driven economy.
“Our students have more access than ever to computers and technology devices in our schools. It’s crucial that our students also learn cyber safety skills,” Burgum said. “The ability to manage technology is also important in helping our North Dakota students to get good jobs. Employers look for students who have the skills to take on tech challenges and cyberattacks, and complete daily tasks using technology devices.”
Burgum has encouraged North Dakota’s young people to pursue careers in computer science, cybersecurity and technology, including the promotion of Cyber Madness school tournaments and Girls Go Cyberstart competitions in North Dakota’s schools.
Last year, the governor announced that any North Dakota resident may take online classes in cybersecurity, networking, programming, and other subjects to bolster their knowledge, improve their job skills, and explore whether they want to pursue a technology career. “North Dakota Citizens Skills for All” is offered by the Cisco Networking Academy through EduTech.
Baesler said HB1398 was the capstone of work that began in 2015, when the Department of Public Instruction formed a working group of legislators and other stakeholders to craft a vision for K-12 education’s computer science and cybersecurity instructional needs.
Since then, in collaboration with other state agencies, business and industry experts, families, teachers and administrators, the NDDPI has led the development of K-12 computer science and cybersecurity academic content standards, and cybersecurity and computer science credentials for educators to add to their teaching licenses.
HB1398 grew directly from the November 2021 special legislative session, when lawmakers directed Baesler to “collaborate with workforce development stakeholders and the K-12 Education Coordination Council to determine how best to integrate computer science and cybersecurity into elementary, middle, and high school.”
Baesler and Burgum thanked the bill’s primary sponsor, House Majority Leader Mike Lefor of Dickinson, and its other sponsors: Rep. Glenn Bosch, R-Bismarck, the House assistant majority leader; Rep. Cynthia Schreiber-Beck, R-Wahpeton, the vice chairwoman of the House Education Committee; Rep. Anna Novak, R-Hazen; and Rep. Emily O’Brien, R-Grand Forks, as well as Republican Senate sponsors Dean Rummel of Dickinson, David Rust of Tioga and Shawn Vedaa of Velva.
“It was the leadership of this group of sponsors that helped HB1398 get the overwhelming support it had in the House and Senate,” Baesler said.
HB1398 was approved 81-11 in the House on Feb. 16, and 44-1 in the Senate March 16.
Senate Bill 2229 reaches the ‘end’ as Burgum signs bill making curling the official sport of North Dakota
In a “sweeping” change to state law, Gov. Burgum on Thursday signed Senate Bill 2229 designating curling as the official sport of North Dakota.
Among those joining Burgum for the bill signing ceremony were Alaina Schmit, a sixth-grader from Horizon Middle School in Bismarck who brought the idea forward and lobbied lawmakers to pass it, and the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Sean Cleary of Bismarck, along with co-sponsors, Sens. Judy Lee of West Fargo and Scott Meyer of Grand Forks and Reps. Jason Dockter of Bismarck and Karen Rohr of Mandan.
“We’re grateful to Alaina for having the courage to bring this idea to her local legislators – she really swept them off their feet – and to Sen. Sean Cleary for introducing SB 2229 and the Legislature for approving it,” Burgum said. “Curling is a lifelong activity and the ultimate team sport, embodying all that we love about sports in North Dakota: honesty and fair play, respect for the rules and one’s opponent, and humility with good sportsmanship.”
Cleary introduced the bill on behalf of Schmit, who with friend and fellow Horizon sixth-grader Etta Knapp made their case with a long list of facts about curling, including:
- North Dakota has 11 curling clubs – more per capita than any other state.
- It has a long history here; the state’s first curling club was founded in 1901 in Drayton.
- The 2022 U18 Girls’ National Champions are from North Dakota.
- The North Dakota State University curling team won the 2019 College Curling Championship.
- North Dakota has at least four members in the U.S. Curling Hall of Fame.
- Of the 10 individuals representing Team USA recently at the Junior World Championships in Germany, three were from North Dakota.
- The World Men’s Curling Championships have been held in Bismarck and Grand Forks.
- Curling continues to gain interest in North Dakota, with at least eight clubs undergoing renovations, expansions or enhancements to meet current and future needs.
Schmit, who started curling at age 6, stated in her testimony, “Curling is a good sport for hanging out with people and it’s good exercise in the winter. Another great thing about curling is that it is a lifetime sport. Everyone can play young and old, a large number of people, a few people, and a whole family can play! (if they know the rules of course)”
The bill passed the Senate 30-17 and the House 72-21.
“Curling has a unique history in North Dakota and will make for a novel state sport. I’m grateful for my colleagues and advocates for their support of this bill,” Cleary said.
Video of the bill signing ceremony can be found on the governor’s Facebook page.
Governor’s Military Ball Recognizes Achievement
The 2023 North Dakota Governor’s Military Ball was held March 18 at the Radisson Inn in downtown Bismarck. About 220 North Dakota National Guard members, spouses, friends and other civilian guests attended the formal event.
The formal portion of the program included remarks by Gov. Burgum, commander-in-chief of the North Dakota National Guard, and presentation of awards.
“The incredible work that is being done, both here and abroad, by our North Dakota National Guard doesn’t go unnoticed,” Gov. Burgum said. “We’re grateful that night after night, day after day, the call to duty by this group and our communities across the state who support them has always been met, and met at the highest level.”
The 188th Army Band Brass Quintet provided patriotic music before the formal portion of the event. The Bismarck Mandan Northern Lights Chorus performed the national anthem as well as each military branch’s official service songs. The emcee led traditional military toasts which included a tribute to POW/MIAs and a rendering of Taps. After dinner, awards were presented by Burgum and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, along with recognition of achievements.
“The Governor’s Military Ball is great event allows us to bring our entire team together and celebrate a great year of accomplishments,” said Dohrmann during his remarks. He also mentioned the great support provided by the North Dakota state legislature and by members of the military affairs committees. He thanked the Guard’s honorary commanders as well as the support provided by the great employers all across the state.
Burgum declares winter storm disaster for January fog and ice event that led to power outages
Governor requests presidential major disaster declaration
On Tuesday, Gov. Burgum issued an executive order declaring a statewide winter storm disaster for central, northwestern and northeastern North Dakota related to severe fog and ice buildup on power lines in January that knocked down electrical infrastructure and caused thousands of power outages.
In an accompanying letter to President Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Burgum requested a major disaster declaration for the Jan. 16-20 severe fog and ice event for the counties of Burke, Divide, McLean, Nelson, Renville Sheridan and Walsh. The counties of Grand Forks, McHenry, Mountrail and Ward were also heavily impacted by downed power lines but did not have enough damages to exceed their per-capita impact thresholds.
“This series of freezing fog caused widespread impacts across the state, coating the landscape with a thick layer of ice,” Burgum stated in the letter. “The northern regions of the state experienced the greatest impacts with the northwest region experiencing the longest duration of power outages. Electrical cooperatives worked tirelessly to get power restored to all citizens in a timely and cost-effective manner with life safety at the forefront.”
January 2023 was a remarkably foggy month, with the state experiencing a stretch of 15 days of dense fog, whereas North Dakota generally experiences one day of dense fog in the month of January. The fog caused significant ice and frost buildup. Subsequent winds caused the powerlines to gallop, snapping power poles and leading to widespread outages. Preliminary assessments indicate damages are expected to exceed $1.45 million.
The executive order directs all state agencies and administrators to maintain recovery resources and capabilities at high levels in order to execute their responsibilities under the State Emergency Operations Plan. State agencies will coordinate with the appropriate federal agencies to make recovery programs available, implement mitigation measures and facilitate restoration of services and infrastructure.
