BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota lawmakers wrapped up their session with a record $14.7 billion budget spurred by a rebounding economy due largely to strong oil prices and production. Lawmakers approved about 500 bills — and talked about many more that didn’t pass.
Some new laws that garnered attention included repealing a ban on Sunday shopping, redirecting millions of dollars of oil tax money to benefit water projects and schools, and approving a major spending plan for infrastructure projects outside of the oil patch.
Lawmakers passed an initiative to make it more difficult for citizens to amend the state constitution, a move that will go to the voters next year. Citizens will also decide if expanding the state’s higher education board is a good idea.
Among the bills that failed was another in a long line of initiatives to prohibit housing or workforce discrimination based on sexual orientation.
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