As part of a proposal to spend $400 million of federal COVID relief funds on infrastructure projects, Sen. Tim Mathern (D-Fargo) is pushing for a “green corridor” for North Dakota.

“A green corridor is making sure that we have transportation routes in North Dakota for people who use what we call ‘green energy’ — electricity, hydrogen, natural gas,” Mathern said. “The goal is to have the infrastructure ready for the future.”

Mathern said it would include constructing charging stations for electric vehicles, as well as stations for hydrogen fuel. He said it’s not just for passenger cars – it’s also for big semi trucks, which will use electricity or hydrogen fuels.

“If our state doesn’t have these recharging units, or fueling units, trucking companies will go around North Dakota,” Mathern said.

Mathern says under his proposal, state agencies, such as Commerce or DOT, would be making the decisions on where those fueling stations are built.

The proposal is being considered by the interim House and Senate Appropriations Committees, for possible introduction in the November special session.

The Legislature’s Redistricting Committee has endorsed the idea of having House subdistricts in those districts that serve two of the state’s Native American reservations.

Affected would be District 4 – which includes Fort Berthold, and District 9, which includes the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.

Rep. Terry Jones (R-New Town) is one of the District 4 House members. He appealed to the Committee to reject the subdistrict idea.

“The people of District 4 voted overwhelmingly for us to represent them,” Jones told the Committee Wednesday. “I would ask what business anyone has to change the game for those people who voted for us. I have full faith in our performance in making sure we are treating the Native American population in District 4 fairly and equitably, and they have adequate representation.”

Jones appeared before the Committee Tuesday as well to plead that case.

“To subdivide a small portion of the state, based on something to do with a sovereign nation, that stands up and claims ‘We’re soverign,’ but they want special treatment in the Legislature, the answer from me and my constituents is ‘Thank you, no,’” Jones said.

Sen. Ray Holmberg (R-Grand Forks) made the motion to create the two subdistricts.

“I have come to believe that doing this is doing the right thing,” Holmberg said.

Holmberg said there are legal arguments that creating the subdistricts would be in the spirit of the Voting Rights Act.

“But doing this is the right thing to do, in our relationships with our Native populations,” Holmberg said.

The vote was 10 to 6. It will be up to the full Legislature to make the final call, during a November special session.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A panel of North Dakota lawmakers on Thursday agreed to use the current number of legislators and the districts they represent as a template for redrawing new political boundaries.

The redistricting committee, which has 14 Republicans and two Democrats, began the arduous task of redistricting that when finalized later this year likely will show urban areas of the state gaining political strength in the Legislature, and rural parts losing clout due to population shifts in the past decade.

The panel is expected to complete its work by November, after several work sessions. No drafts of proposed legislative districts were offered at the initial meeting.

North Dakota now has 47 legislative districts, with each represented by two House members and a senator. The Legislature has 141 lawmakers — 47 senators and 94 House members.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has partially vetoed a bill aimed at penalizing the state’s 11 colleges and universities for funneling federal grant money to individuals or organizations that promote or perform abortions.

Burgum said in his veto message late Friday that the sanctions are “problematic.” He vetoed the portion of the bill that contains the sanctions.

The Republican-led North Dakota Legislature passed the bill, which was primarily aimed at preventing North Dakota State University from funneling grant money to Planned Parenthood for sex education in the state.