Peace Garden News

The North Dakota Legislative Assembly's 2023 session brought several outcomes for small business owners. The session, reviewed during a webinar hosted by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on May 25, highlighted various legislative initiatives impacting small businesses as detailed by NFIB North Dakota State Director Alison Ritter and chief legislative advocate Don Larson.

Larson summarized significant bills from the 932 bills and 56 resolutions introduced. Positive outcomes for small businesses included "income-tax relief, property-tax relief, child-care assistance, labor law clarification on minors working in construction, a huge change in how state employees will be compensated in their retirement and why it was needed, water, and flood control."

The NFIB successfully halted or delayed legislation that might have imposed burdens, such as "mandatory paid leave, the minimum wage, and E-verification of job-seekers."

Larson provided insight into why North Dakota receives notable national attention on social issue-related legislation. He explained, "In North Dakota, we have a unique process a lot of other states don’t. Every single bill that gets introduced has a hearing and goes to the floor in the original chamber. So, sometimes when you hear about North Dakota making national news … it’s because everything gets a vote in North Dakota. It’s not hidden away."

Speculations regarding the impact of newly imposed term limits on legislators were touched upon. Larson contemplated if this might lead to legislative procedure changes, such as shifting from biennial to annual sessions or more robust interim sessions.

Ben Abrahamson, NFIB’s Grassroots Manager for North Dakota, concluded the event by explaining the significance of member involvement in influencing legislation. The webinar provides further details and is accessible through NFIB resources.