ND lawmakers consider remote testimony

Legislative rules adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed North Dakota lawmakers to participate remotely, if they were quarantined.

The rules also allowed remote testimony in committees.

Those rules have expired. But Senate Majority Leader David Hogue says there have been some discussions about reinstating those rules.  “At the end of the organizational session we had several legislators who tested positive for COVID.”  Hogue says when it comes to remote testimony that will be left to the chair of each of these policy committees.”

House Majority Leader Mike Lefor of Dickinson agreed. He says while he hopes lawmakers will be in Bismarck to participate and cast votes in person – he’s keeping an open mind about it.

And Lefor says it will be up to the House committee chairman to allow remote testimony.

NDPPR/KNOX