NDACo Week #4 Report

Another week has sped swiftly by, but not without some very significant “county” progress.  As reported on the blog earlier in the week, we had a very positive hearing on the bill for “state funding of social services” (SB2206).  So positive it was that the bill has already received a unanimous Do Pass recommendation from the policy committee, and has been rereferred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.  As the “first biennium” funding is included in the Governor’s budget, this is a much better position than in previous sessions.

Also noted below, today in the Senate, SB2103, the “Surge” bill, was passed on a vote of 44-2.  Yesterday amendments were added to increase the total funding to $1.1 billion, by adding $300 million for state highways.  This will now go to the House for their consideration.  The timing was great for the hour-long floor debate of the Surge – not that it was really a debate – but the TV cameras were rolling and there were a number of excellent floor speeches of support. 

I say the timing was great as there were so many local government folks in the halls for the House Appropriations Hearing on “GPT Formula Bill” (HB1176).  Unlike the Surge hearing, the GPT hearing was held in the regular hearing room and only an hour was allotted for the hearing.  It was like a high school basketball final, with spectators siting, standing, leaning, crouching and all but feinting in a much too crowded room.  The message was delivered however that the formula change for western counties, and the additional road funding for eastern counties are critical to our growing economy.

On the somewhat negative side, HB1058 (Truth in Taxation) was reported out of the House Finance and Tax and addressed on the floor today (Thursday).  You may recall that the Auditors and Treasurers Legislative Committee came up with a much preferred alternative to the expanded “Truth” notices that were proposed by the interim Tax Committee.  Unfortunately, the standing committee could not agree on the alternative.  But some good news…they ultimately decided not to expand the Truth notices, so they recommended that the House kill the bill – which is what they did (barely), but now we are left with the status quo.  We have begun discussions with the Senate about possibly addressing this issue in another bill. 

Lots of county faces in the Capitol on Tuesday as well, addressing (as also noted in a previous blog post) the “quota” proposal in the Dept. of Corrections budget.  This section of that agency budget suggests the development of a formula that would trigger county payments to the state once a maximum number of inmates from that county were held in the state penitentiary.  County sheriffs, state’s attorneys and district judges all testified in strong opposition to this (as stated by several) “offensive” proposal.  Despite the strong opposition, there seems to be considerable support for DOCR among committee members. 

Time	Bill	Description	Committee	Room
Monday 1/2
8:30	HB 1024	L Budget for tobacco control committee	House Appropriations - Human Res. Div.	Sakakawea
8:30	HB 1012	A *** NDDOT Budget, $900 million for Highway Investments	House Appropriations - Gov Ops Division	Medora
9:00	HB 1403	J Sick leave allowed for domestic violence	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:00	SB 2345	J Increases pull tab prize limits	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
9:00	SB 2334	L Redefines newborn screening requirements	Senate Human Services	Red River
9:00	SB 2037	B Uniform determination of taxable value for wind generation, other utility tax adjustments	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
9:00	HB 1378	L Study of essential health delivery	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:00	HB 1354	B ** Ag values cannot rise more than 10% per year	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:00	HB 1300	E Allows NDPERS to use provider network for health plan	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
9:00	HB 1186	L Regulates e-cigs like tobacco	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:15	HB 1339	B Homestead credit income to exempt social security	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:30	HB 1078	L Prohibits selling E-cig's to minors	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:30	SB 2279	E Employer may not discriminate on sexual orientation	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
9:30	HB 1314	J Minor sex victim can get medical services without parent consent	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:30	SB 2058	C Resources trust fund proceeds not available for water commission salaries	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:45	SB 2347	H Contractor to remove utility siting flags within 10 days	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
10:00	SB 2272	S Medicaid expanded to pediatric therapists	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:10	HB 1265	L Regulates youth access to e-cigs	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:25	HCR 3012	J Study child sex offender registration	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:30	SB 2327	V * DOCR to report incarcerated felons to Sec. of State for voting purposes	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:45	SB 2367	S Creates task force on substance exposed newborns	Senate Human Services	Red River
11:00	SB 2335	J Physicians injury report of sexual assault not to include certain info	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
11:00	HB 1410	S $5 million for head start	House Human Services	Fort Union
2:00	HB 1380	J Sheriff's determination that conditions too hazardous for school does not impact school days	House Education	Pioneer
2:00	HB 1015	J **** DOCR Budget including quota system for counties	House Appropriations - Human Resources Division	Sakakawea
Tuesday 1/3
8:30	HB 1002	J Judicial Budget - 4 more judges and money for guardianship pilot program	House Appropriations - Government Operations Division	Medora
8:30	SB 2032	A ** Creates an oil & gas strategic planning authority to determine state & county infrastructure needs	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:00	HB 1359	S DHS to review rates for basic care facilities	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:00	SB 2169	X GPT revenue consideration in school funding	Senate Education	Missouri River
9:00	SB 2226	C Governor may enter into tax agreements with all tribes	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
9:00	SB 2359	J Expands assets exempt from judicial process	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
9:00	SCR 4017	J Urge Congress to pass anti-trafficking legislation	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
9:15	SB 2332	J Increases offense class for hiring prostitute	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
9:20	HB 1407	J **** Homeless sex offender registration	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:30	HB 1421	A *** Tobacco tax increase, major funds to county for local public health	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:30	SB 2275	J Coerced abortion is trafficking	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
9:55	HB 1347	J Human trafficked kid is deprived	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:00	SB 2266	J Increased penalties for child porn	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:00	HB 1392	B Mobile homes cannot be special assessed higher than homes	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:15	SB 2378	C Bank of ND to establish grant fund for cultural improvements, tax credits available to contributors	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
10:25	HB 1368	J Domestic violence treatment must follow standards	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:30	SB 2357	J Unlawful sexting is a class A misdemeanor, civil remedies	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:30	SB 2325	Z ****** Allows multiple brewer taproom licenses	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
11:00	SB 2270	J Repeals limits on bail bondsman commissions	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
2:00	HB 1015	J **** DOCR Budget including quota system for counties	House Approp - Human Res. Div	Sakakawea
2:00	HB 1426	R * Increase public improvement bidding threshold to 500K	House Education	Pioneer
Wednesday 1/4
8:00	HCR 3019	J Study driving without liability insurance	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
8:00	HB 1385	J Political subdivisions may not regulate voice over internet protocol service	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
8:30	SB 2206	A **** State to fund social service grants, commission to study all costs	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:00	HB 1219	J * Weapon prohibition for felons begins on date of conviction	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:00	SB 2361	X Eminent domain use by WAWS may be used for residential use only	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
9:00	SB 2331	J No statute of limitations on child sexual abuse	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
9:00	HB 1437	A Extension of oil trigger	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:00	HB 1430	J Medical Marijuana allowed	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:30	HB 1450	J Reduction of penalty for weapon in bar	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:30	SB 2333	J Under 21 allowed in certain liquor establishments to eat	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:00	HCR 3021	A Study direct payments to political subdivisions to replace property taxes and greater voter control over local budgets	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:00	SB 2284	J Defines hospital treatment of sex assault victims, law enforcement info	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:00	SB 2336	X Expansion of western area water supply requires additional steps	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
10:00	HB 1457	J Law enforcement to sell off confiscated guns	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:30	HB 1328	J Drone Bill - use limitations	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:30	SB 2322	A *** Tobacco tax increase, major funds to county for local public health	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
11:00	SCR 4010	V Constitutional amendment so legislators must remain resident of dist	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
2:30	HB 1021	C * ITD budget including $ for CJIS	House Approp -   Gov. Ops Division	Medora
Thursday 1/5
8:00	HCR 3015	X Constitutional convention for balanced budget	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
8:30	HB 1014	C Industrial Commission budget & adjustments to agencies that get money from heritage fund	House Appropriations - Government Operations Division	Medora
8:30	HB 1015	J **** DOCR Budget including quota system for counties	House Approp - Human Res. Div	Sakakawea
8:30	SB 2337	A Expands oil tax exemption	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
9:00	SB 2344	X Creates a foundation to manage legacy fund expenditures	Senate Government and Veterans Affairs	Missouri River
9:00	HB 1356	J Depredation practices for landowners	House Energy and Natural Resources	Pioneer
9:00	HB 1318	A ** Agriculture impact grants for infrastructure, $5 million	House Agriculture	Peace Garden
9:00	HB 1381	J No Drones to interfere with hunting	House Energy and Natural Resources	Pioneer
9:00	SB 2329	Z Increases maximum size of renaissance zone	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
9:30	SB 2330	V * Student ID to be valid voting ID	Senate Government and Veterans Affairs	Missouri River
9:30	HB 1395	J * PSAP to use emergency information database if available	House Transportation	Fort Totten
9:45	SB 2373	B * Severed mineral owners to pay county 50% of property tax on surface	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
9:45	SB 2346	E Changes VSO training certification requirements	Senate Government and Veterans Affairs	Missouri River
10:00	SB 2375	B 25% of landowners may petition to create special assessment district, procedures for objection	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
10:00	HB 1258	Z Political subdivision must enforce zoning in their extraterritorial area	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
10:15	SB 2339	B * Farm building used in agri-tourism are property tax exempt	Senate Agriculture	Roosevelt Park
10:30	HB 1398	Z ET zoning board to contain one citizen in the ET	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
10:45	SB 2374	Z Owners of oil, gas, saltwater gathering lines to obtain industrial commission permits, install flowmeters	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
10:45	SB 2262	R Threshold for annual, rather than biennial, audits raised to $300,000	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
2:00	HB 1357	H Railroad must have 2 crew members - crossing issues	House Transportation	Fort Totten
2:30	HCR 3020	B Study impact on owners from land inundated by rising Devils Lake waters	House Energy and Natural Resources	Pioneer
2:30	HB 1456	Z Land board to buy excess Corps land	House Energy and Natural Resources	Pioneer
2:30	HB 1154	E Employees can elect to move to defined contribution program	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
Friday 1/6
8:00	SB 2343	X Royalty owners to be paid for flared gas	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
9:00	HB 1391	J Reduce time required to send DOT no liability proof	House Transportation	Fort Totten
9:00	SB 2315	I *** Raises political subdivision liability to $3 million	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
9:00	HB 1345	E * County must have 5 commissioners	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
9:15	SB 2299	V Regulates campaign donation pass-thru	Senate Government and Veterans Affairs	Missouri River
9:30	HB 1332	E Only elected boards can use eminent domain	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
9:30	SB 2370	Z Expands setback for oil wells from occupied dwelling from 500 to 1320 feet	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
9:45	HB 1011	J ** Highway Patrol Budget, $27 million academy	House Approp - Gov Ops Div	Medora
9:45	SB 2353	V ** Allows for provisional ballot voting	Senate Government and Veterans Affairs	Missouri River
10:00	HB 1322	B Expands purposes for special assessments	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
10:00	SB 2363	A Exempts from MV excise tax transfers to grandchildren	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark
10:00	SB 2371	C Cities can create administrative boards with authority to levy fines	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
10:15	SB 2369	V * Citizen may request and pay for audit of county voting equipment	Senate Government and Veterans Affairs	Missouri River
10:30	SB 2352	J Expanded authority for law enforcement to remove abandoned vehicles from roadway	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark
10:30	HB 1343	V Recall election changes	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie