North Dakota to study livestreaming legislative meetings

The North Dakota Legislature will study livestreaming legislative committee hearings.

The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee also voted Thursday to crackdown on lawmakers who record meetings on their mobile phones.

North Dakota is one of only eight states that doesn't provide live webcasts of at least some committee hearings.

The committee voted to study the costs of livestreaming with an aim toward a trial run in two committee rooms before the Legislature meets again in 2021.

Republican Rep. Lawrence Klemin criticized lawmakers who record meetings or floor sessions on their mobile phones. He says it's inappropriate.

The Legislature already has rules that forbid lawmakers from talking on their phones during meetings. The panel voted to update the rules to include video-capable mobile phones.