The Legislature is taking its midsession break. Lawmakers will be back in session with committee hearings on Wednesday morning, March 3.
Why does this recess happen now? Members of the House and Senate go on break after theyâve finished working on bills that were introduced in their own chamber. In other words, House members have finished voting on all of the bills that were introduced in the House, and senators have voted on every one of the Senateâs bills.
When the Legislature resumes, the Senate will be working on the bills that survived scrutiny in the House, and House members will take up Senate bills. That is why the break is called âcrossover,â because House and Senate bills literally âcross overâ to the opposite chamber for another round of hearings and votes.
Burgum releases yearâs highlights ahead of address
Jan 2, 2021
Submitted Photo
Gov. Doug Burgum, right, and U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, center, get a close look at a B-52 bomber at Minot Air Force Base Sept. 1.
BISMARCK – It was a year to be remembered. When Gov. Doug Burgum delivers his State of the State Address to the Legislature on Tuesday, he will have much to reflect on.
“The historic health and economic challenges of the past year remind us of North Dakotans’ strength, resiliency and ability to overcome adversity. This inspired our administration to work even harder on behalf of the citizens of our great state, and we are filled with gratitude every day for the opportunity to serve,” Burgum said in a release this past week.
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The number of unemployment claims in North Dakota has dropped dramatically since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Job Service North Dakota Deputy Director Darren Brostrom said at one point, around 100,000 individual claims were filed for state unemployment support. And Brostrom said the two federal programs created because of the pandemic – the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Assistance Program – had another 80,000 claims. Of those, there are quit a few repeats, Brostrom said. As far as individuals, the 110,000 mark is probably appropriate.
Brostrom said after that peak, Job Service has seen quite a reduction in filed claims.