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Americans for Tax Reform commends North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum for his actions to streamline rules and regulations in order to help residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Burgum’s orders have been added to Americans for Tax Reform’s tracker of federal and state waivers and suspensions of burdensome regulations in order to help Americans get needed treatment and supplies.

In addition to streamlining medical licensing and telemedicine policies to help North Dakotans, Burgum ordered state agencies to identify “any state laws, rules or regulations that hinder or delay their ability to render maximum assistance or continue to deliver essential services to citizens during the COVID-19 crisis.”

Agencies must give their recommendations to the Governor by Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.

ATR encourages all other governors to invite their state agencies to do the same.

An excerpt of the executive order is below:

NOW, THEREFORE, Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota, by virtue of the authority under Article V, Section 1 of the North Dakota Constitution and North Dakota Century Code Chapter 37-17.1, hereby orders all state agencies to identify provisions of any regulatory statutes, agency orders, or administrative rules that in any way prevents, hinders or delays the agency’s ability to render maximum assistance or continue to deliver essential services to citizens during the pendency of the COVID-19 crisis. This order also requires state agencies to identify any statutory or regulatory requirements related to acquiring or renewing licenses or certifications essential for individual citizens and businesses providing services in this State. Of utmost importance are those services related to health, education, employment and any other service provided by state agencies and offices in response to or for purposes of mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

All Stage agencies shall submit these provisions of regulatory statutes, agency orders or administrative rules meeting the criteria defined in this Order to the Governor’s office on or before 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

State elected officials and the offices within the executive branch are hereby invited to identify provisions of regulatory statutes, agency orders or administrative rules that in any way prevents, hinders or delays the ability to render maximum assistance or continue to deliver essential services to citizens during the COVID-19 crisis. Elected officials are also invited to identify any statutory or regulatory requirements related to acquiring or renewing licenses or certifications for individual citizens and businesses providing services in this state, with emphasis on services and licensing related to health, education, employment and any other service provided by state agencies and offices in response to or for purposes of mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

To further facilitate services to citizens and businesses, all North Dakota Law Enforcement Agencies and private sector businesses operating in this state are hereby directed to recognize any North Dakota driver’s license or North Dakota motor vehicle registration, expired on or after March 1, 2020, as valid and current while this Executive Order is in effect.

Click here to see ATR’s constantly updated tracker of COVID-19 related suspensions and waivers.