Jessica Bell’s Record

SB 2209: Allocation of wind generation tax revenue 

Unruh Bell sponsored  – Senator Unruh Bell Voted Yes

  • Original bill would have put 70% of wind generation tax into the general fund
  • Enrolled bill created a new distribution formula for wind generation revenues 
  • Failed Senate 17-29 

This bill would have taken money allocated to counties and shifted it to state coffers, putting severe financial hardship on Oliver County.

SB 2344: The Pore Space Bill

Unruh Bell Sponsored – Senator Unruh Bell Voted Yes

  • Essentially seized private property for use to hold carbon dioxide 
  • A property rights issue
  • Was taken to court and was declared unconstitutional 

Other bills in which property rights were not supported. 

Bills Supported by the American Conservative Union 

HB 1281: Expanding School Choice Through a Non-Public School Tax Credit

Senator Unruh Bell Voted No

This bill expands school choice by providing an income tax credit to individuals who send their child to a private school. The tax credit equals $500 for each dependent child who attends a non-public school for an entire year. Considering it costs the state thousands of dollars to educate a child, ACU recognizes the significant savings this tax credit provides the state by allowing more parents to send their children to a private school. ACU supports improving educational outcomes by expanding school choice for families and students and supported this bill. The Senate defeated the bill on March 22, 2021 by a vote of 15-32.  

SB 2288: Expanding School Choice through an Educational Scholarship Tax Credit Program

Senator Unruh Bell Voted No 

This bill improves educational outcomes by expanding school choice through a new education scholarship tax credit program worth up to $3 million. The money generated from this credit would be used to allow low-income students to attend participating non-public K-12 schools. ACU supports the expansion of school choice, believes that educational support should follow the child rather than the school, and supports this bill as a step in the right direction. 

HB 1298: Protecting Girl’s Athletics from Competition with Boys

Senator Unruh Bell Voted Against Override

This bill protects the institution of girl’s athletics by requiring all public elementary and secondary schools to maintain separate competition for female and male students. Under the bill, schools are prohibited from allowing an individual of the opposite sex to compete on a school-sponsored athletic team that is exclusively for females. The Senate failed to override the governor’s veto on April 22, 2021 by a vote of 28-19. (A two-thirds vote was needed.)                                                                                                                                                                                    

HB 1335: Strengthening the Reservation of Power Provided Under the Tenth Amendment

Senator Unruh Bell Voted No

This bill strengthens state sovereignty by clarifying that no public official or employee is required to comply with an executive order, federal agency regulation, or federal statute that infringes on powers reserved to the states. ACU supports efforts to safeguard the Tenth Amendment and protect against federal overreach and supported this bill. The Senate passed the bill on March 30, 2021 by a vote of 29-18 and the bill was signed into law.  

HB 1386: Protecting Businesses from Government Shutdowns and other Interference in Operation

Senator Unruh Bell Voted No 

This bill helps protect businesses from overreaching regulations imposed by local governments which interfere with the ability of a business to operate, such as restricting operating hours or imposing capacity limitations. The bill, largely in response to unequal government-imposed shutdowns due to COVID-19,  ensures the legislature remains the authority on these issues. ACU supports the right of individuals to manage their own risks, believes that many of the government’s responses to COVID-19 have done more harm than good, and supports this bill. The Senate defeated the bill on March 31, 2021 by a vote of 15-32.  

HCR 3040: A measure to require a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house of the legislative assembly to increase an existing tax or impose a new tax        

Senator Unruh Bell Voted No           

                                                     

HB1256: A Bill for an act to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a prohibition on using nonpublic funds for elections operations                              
Senator Unruh Bell Voted No

Introduced by Representatives Magrum, Christensen, Fegley & Senator Heitkamp 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 16.1-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows: Use of nonpublic funds prohibited. The state and political subdivisions may not solicit, accept, or use any grants or donations from private persons for elections operations or administration. 

Source: https://ndlegis.gov/assembly