AS I SEE IT
By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor
North Dakota lawmakers wasted very little time last week as they spent just five days in a special session to approve the state’s new redistricting plan, as well as to approve spending $l.1 billion in federal Rescue Plan coronavirus aid. But along the way legislators also sent legislation, which Gov. Doug Burgum signed, that banned the teaching of critical race theory in the state’s public schools, restricted vaccine mandates, and provided for $211 million in income tax relief for state residents.
So what were the key accomplishments from the special session?
First, the Legislature approved a new district map for North Dakota that reflected the population changes from the 2020 Census. As part of the redistricting, three new districts in western North Dakota were created to reflect this region population growth.