The North Dakota House passed a measure to legalize betting on professional and college sports – after the bill struck out on the first at-bat.

It originally fell two votes short of the 48 it needed. But it was brought back, and passed 52 to 38.

The sponsor -- Rep. Jason Dockter (R-Bismarck) told the House you can already bet on spots on-line.

"I will admit, it is an expansion (of gambling)," Dockter said. "But it's already here."

Dockter says the bill also include more money for gambling addiction treatment. But that didn’t appease Rep. Dan Ruby (R-Minot).

The House has rejected a bill that would require candidates for local elected office to declare a party affiliation.

Normally, local candidates run without a party ID. And local government officials want to keep it that way.

"Local leaders want to avoid partisanship, and remain bi-partisan," said Rep. Austen Schauer (R-West Fargo). "The committee viewed HB 1375 as picking a fight with the locals, and we decided not to do that."

The House has decided now is not the right time to bring the entire state under the Central Time Zone.

The sponson -- Rep. Jim Kasper (R-Fargo) told the House having different time zones is hard on businesses.

"This is an opportunity to get the entire state into one time zone," Kasper said on the House floor. "It'll make it easier for business to do business."

“Operation Prairie Dog” has passed its first test.

The measure provides oil tax money for cities, counties and townships for infrastructure projects, by creating a new "bucket" for those tax collections. It cleared the House on an 80 to 12 vote.

"This is money well spent," said the bill's House sponsor, Rep. Mike Nathe (R-Bismarck). "This is an investment back into the communities of North Dakota."

Some House members worried that the fund should not be permanent, and have a "sunset clause." And Rep. Rick Becker (R-Bismarck) dismissed it as a "get re-elected bill."

The North Dakota Senate has passed its version of enabling legislation to implement the voter-approved Constitutional measure on ethics.

The Senate bill establishes a five-member independent ethics commission. It also limits lobbyist gifts, prohibits candidates from spending their campaign money on personal items, and bans foreign money from state elections.

Sen. Jessica Unruh (R-Beulah) told the Senate she was a vocal opponent of the ballot measure. But she said it is now a part of the Constitution.

The North Dakota House has approved a measure to allow trained staffers to carry concealed firearms in schools.

The bill’s sponsor – Rep. Pat Heinert (R-Bismarck) – said the measure is aimed at rural schools that don’t have access to a “school resource officer” – and where response time from law enforcement is an issue.

The North Dakota House has rejected a bill that supporters say would be a way to reduce suicides and gun violence.

It was dubbed the “Red Flag Bill.” Under it, a court could be petitioned to issue a “public safety protection order,” which would remove guns from someone who could commit suicide or do harm to others.

Rep. Rick Becker (R-Bismarck) argued against the bill, calling it a "gun grabbing" bill.

The state Senate has passed a pair of measures dealing with initiated Constitutional measures.

They were prompted by the passing of two measures which amend the state's Constitution that had significant backing from out of state groups.

One measure would allow the Legislature to weigh in on initiated Constitutional measures that were approved by voters. Lawmakers would review the measure following that vote. If lawmakers turn it down, it would be back on the ballot a second time.

The North Dakota House has rejected a bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The chairman of the House Human Services Committee, Rep. Robin Weisz (R-Hurdsfield), told the House that when his committee heard the bill, there wasn’t much compelling testimony about this kind of discrimination happening in North Dakota.

"North Dakota is open and inviting," Weisz said. "The state needs workers, and the last thing employers are going to do is not hire someone just because of their sexual orientation."