Bismarck Tribune
A group of concerned citizens plans on submitting language for a ballot measure within the next two weeks that if passed would strengthen North Dakota’s animal cruelty law.
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Mandan resident Alison Smith, one of the proponents of the measure, said the initiative would increase the penalty for animal cruelty in North Dakota from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony.
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“The animal cruelty laws are some of the weakest in the nation. We thought we would take this issue directly to the people of North Dakota,” Smith said.
Members of Keep It Local North Dakota, a group opposed to the June 12 ballot measure that would abolish property taxes in North Dakota, labeled it as the wrong approach to handling people’s tax burden. They spoke during a Wednesday morning news conference at the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce.
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North Dakota Chamber of Commerce President Andy Peterson called Measure 2 a reckless attempt at a solution to dealing with property taxes.