Week #2 Report

Some committees were a little “light” on hearings yet this week, but others had scheduled an unreasonable number.  Monday and Tuesday included more than a half a dozen property tax bills, but fortunately, as noted in an earlier blog post, we had solid support from county officials.

While several of the tax bills were positive, many, like the “mills to cents” proposal (HB1005) were opposed by county officials.  The House Tax Committee received NO supporting testimony for “mills to cents”, but there are committee members that would really like to pass this bill.  If you have a Representative on that committee, or even if they aren’t on the committee, please let them know what you think. The link to the left will get you to their contact information. 

The NDDOT budget presentation began, as did many of the major funding bills.  The “Surge” (SB2103)and Governor’s “fast-track” bill (SB2126)however will be heard today (Friday), and we are expecting a very big crowd.  Oil counties, non-oil counties, cities, schools, contractors, oil companies, agricultural interests, are just a some of those that have been scheduled to testify in support of significant, and immediate, infrastructure funding.  This one we hope will move very quickly to the House. 

Another big state agency budget heard this week with a big county interest was the appropriation for the Department of Corrections (HB1015).  As we have reported, this budget anticipates establishing a “quota” system for prison inmates.  If the court sends more offenders to prison than that county’s quota, the county gets billed.  Judges, prosecutors, sheriffs and commissioners all think this is VERY BAD public policy.  Legislators recognize the prison is getting full, and that is a big issue, but simply charging the counties (that don’t make the decision to send them there), is not the answer.  This is a very important issue that we will undoubtedly be working on until the end of the session.

Check out the hearing list below, as there are even more “county bills” to be heard next week.  We also expect that some important county bills might begin to move to the floor next week – so stay plugged in to this blog in case we need some quick action. 

 

Time	Bill Number	Description	Committee	Room
Monday 1/19
08:30 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
09:00 AM	HB 1149	J Pharmacy boards to adopt admin rules	House Human Services	Fort Union
09:00 AM	SCR 4005	S Study behavioural health and juvenile proceedings	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
09:00 AM	SB 2036	C * Tax exemptions for certain coal plants - removes beneficiated coal taxation	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
09:00 AM	HB 1140	C bowling and billiards sales tax exemption	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:00 AM	HB 1004	J *** Health Dept appropriation, increase in LPHU state aid	House Appropriations - Human Resources Division	Sakakawea
09:00 AM	HB 1118	J Expansion of probation officer's authority	House Judiciary	Prairie
09:00 AM	HB 1159	I Release of information on WSI claims to employer	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
09:15 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
09:15 AM	HB 1150	C Changes to sales tax collection on out of staters	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:20 AM	HB 1119	J Changes to transfer of supervision of minors	House Judiciary	Prairie
09:30 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
09:30 AM	HB 1243	C * Raises threshold for out-of-state sales tax refunds and requires Montanans to file to get it	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:45 AM	HB 1141	J Changes to JX in small claims	House Judiciary	Prairie
09:45 AM	SB 2035	C Sales tax exemption for fertilizer and chemical plants	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
10:00 AM	HB 1170	C Sales tax rebate for flooded property	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:00 AM	SB 2168	J * Guardianship statute updates	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:00 AM	SB 2098	J Clarifies filing requirement for certain appeal notices	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:00 AM	HB 1013	A **** Land Board Budget, Oil Impact Fund, retains current GPT formula	House Appropriations - Government Operations Division	Medora
10:15 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
10:30 AM	HB 1247	H DHS to implement (you know who that means) a safe-sleep training program for childcare providers	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:45 AM	SB 2218	S Supplemental funding for persons with developmental disabilities	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:45 AM	SB 2034	C Sales tax exemption for oil pipeline materials	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
10:45 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
11:15 AM	SB 2178	X Additional school construction loan option	Senate Education	Missouri River
11:15 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
02:00 PM	HB 1178	X Calculation of mineral revenue in school aid	House Education	Pioneer
02:00 PM	HB 1004	J *** Health Dept appropriation, increase in LPHU state aid	House Appropriations - Human Resources Division	Sakakawea
02:00 PM	SB 2143	C ** Raises senior mill levy match to 100% of 1 mill	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
02:00 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
02:30 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
03:15 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
03:45 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
Tuesday 1/20
08:30 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
09:00 AM	HB 1319	C exemption of athletic events from sales tax	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:00 AM	SB 2171	A Governing body can contract when no bids received	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
09:00 AM	HB 1212	J Stalking victims eligible for unemployment comp	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
09:00 AM	HB 1161	J Raises the minimum bet for 21	House Judiciary	Prairie
09:00 AM	HB 1202	E Employer can withhold payment for accrued leave regardless	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
09:00 AM	SB 2161	J Creates committee to consider problem-solving courts	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
09:15 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
09:15 AM	HB 1327	C Thrift store sales tax exempt	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:25 AM	HB 1157	J Elected officials can carry in public buildings	House Judiciary	Prairie
09:30 AM	HB 1325	B Homestead tax applies when in nursing home	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:45 AM	SB 2203	R Government can do single prime bid under $5 million	Senate Industry, Business and Labor	Roosevelt Park
09:45 AM	SB 2052	J ** Interim bill to tweak DUI laws amended in previous session	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:00 AM	HB 1169	R Death deeds exempt from statement of full consideration on recording	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:00 AM	SB 2031	B School district property tax reduction grants, mill levy limits, base year calculations	Senate Education	Missouri River
10:00 AM	HB 1147	B Homestead tax credit increases	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:15 AM	SB 2156	J * Mandatory sentences for armed offenders	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:15 AM	HB 1262	B Creates renter property tax credit for disable vets	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:15 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
10:30 AM	HB 1299	B * Increases homestead tax credit income thresholds - 24K to 40K for 100%	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:30 AM	SB 2172	A Extraction taxes distributed on cash basis to local government	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
10:30 AM	HB 1166	E Elimination of 70/30 judge chambers	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:45 AM	SB 2116	J * DOCR to create pretrial services pilot program	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:45 AM	HB 1214	L Tobacco settlement funds to health services trust	House Human Services	Fort Union
11:00 AM	SB 2104	J Regulatory structure for opioid overdose rescue kits	Senate Human Services	Red River
11:00 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
02:00 PM	HB 1218	X * Reduces school ending fund balance to 1.5% of budget or $45,000	House Education	Pioneer
02:00 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
02:00 PM	SB 2221	B * Increase homestead credit threshold to $150,000 value and slight increases to income thresholds	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
02:30 PM	HB 1067	A ** Census estimates to be used for state aid formula rather then decennial census	House Appropriations	Roughrider
02:30 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
03:00 PM	SB 2213	V * Significant restructure of school district elections - to be held regularly with primary	Senate Education	Missouri River
03:15 PM	HB 1033	A * Creates mechanism for budgeting legacy fund disbursement	House Appropriations	Roughrider
03:15 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
03:45 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
Wednesday 1/21
08:30 AM	HB 1004	J *** Health Dept appropriation, increase in LPHU state aid	House Appropriations - Human Resources Division	Sakakawea
08:30 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
08:30 AM	HB 1021	A ITD budget including $ for CJIS	House Appropriations - Government Operations Division	Medora
09:00 AM	SB 2144	B **** Governor task force property tax reform bill	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
09:00 AM	SB 2222	R Open records requests by legislators are themselves open records	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
09:00 AM	HB 1340	C Changes to special assessment protest	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:15 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
09:15 AM	HB 1341	C Findings for special assessment districts	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
09:30 AM	HB 1285	C Commerce appropriation for domestic violence shelter grants	House Human Services	Fort Union
09:30 AM	HB 1287	A ** State aid increased to 1 penny, but 50% must be used to reduce property taxes	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:00 AM	HB 1323	L State health officer to create stroke system	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:00 AM	HB 1152	X Bakken scholarship fund	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:15 AM	SB 2162	E Loan repayment program for social workers and LACs	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:15 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
11:00 AM	SB 2196	B Specifies intangible property that is not subject to real property assessment	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
11:30 AM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
02:00 PM	HB 1188	Z School annexation section for district coterminous with city	House Education	Pioneer
02:00 PM	HB 1301	E Changes to FMLA for state employees	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
02:00 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
02:00 PM	HB 1011	J ** Highway Patrol Budget, $27 million academy	House Appropriations - Government Operations Division	Medora
02:00 PM	HB 1004	J *** Health Dept appropriation, increase in LPHU state aid	House Appropriations - Human Resources Division	Sakakawea
02:00 PM	HB 1317	I Additions to PTSD for first responders	House Industry, Business and Labor	Peace Garden
02:30 PM	SB 2177	S ** $62 million for social service eligibility system completion, $14 M state	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
04:00 PM	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimbursement for expanded Medicaid	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
Thursday 1/22
08:00 AM	HB 1080	E *** Increased contribution to PERS	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
08:00 AM	HB 1062	I PERS technical corrections	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
08:00 AM	HB 1038	L Telemedicine must be covered in insurance policies	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
08:30 AM	HB 1014	A Industrial Commission budget & budget adjustments to state agencies that get money from heritage fund	House Appropriations - Government Operations Division	Medora
09:00 AM	SB 2167	H $2 million for one call locates for oil companies	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
09:00 AM	HB 1158	E **** Remove game and fish license from auditors	House Energy and Natural Resources	Pioneer
09:00 AM	SB 2157	J Restricted work permits for out-of-state suspended drivers	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark
09:00 AM	HB 1175	Contents of nominating petitions	House Agriculture	Peace Garden
09:00 AM	HB 1093	A Technical corrections to highway distribution fund	House Transportation	Fort Totten
09:00 AM	SB 2038	E * Future state employees to be enrolled in defined contribution retirement plan	Senate Government and Veterans Affairs	Missouri River
09:00 AM	HB 1171	J Traffic fines to go to county	House Transportation	Fort Totten
09:30 AM	HB 1197	X Government funds can't go to non-profit to purchase property for wildlife or conservation	House Agriculture	Peace Garden
09:30 AM	SB 2015	C ** OMB budget, guardianship funding	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
09:30 AM	HB 1182	R ** Cleans up county bidding law, raises threshold to $150,000	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
09:45 AM	HB 1207	J Vehicle headlamps to be on 1/2 hour after sunrise & 1/2 hour before sunset	House Transportation	Fort Totten
09:45 AM	HB 1331	J Changes to headlights on motorcycles	House Transportation	Fort Totten
09:45 AM	SB 2175	A ** Special fuels refund 7-cent exemption for ag products utilizations removed, $2 million pulled from highway distribution	Senate Agriculture	Roosevelt Park
09:45 AM	SB 2180	R Holder of unrecorded conveyence of real property my challenge deed	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
10:00 AM	HB 1330	R Delays implementation of electronic UCC filing system	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
10:30 AM	SB 2195	H Raised max in township special road fund from $30K to $100K	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
10:30 AM	HCR 3009	H Urge Congress to pass define "waters of US" favorably	House Agriculture	Peace Garden
10:45 AM	HB 1232	H * Contractor to make good-faith effort to follow local road remediation plan	House Transportation	Fort Totten
11:15 AM	HB 1213	E * Appointee to local board cannot be felon, pending charges of any kind, or delinquent on any taxes	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
02:00 PM	HB 1204	J Fines for failing to yield to emergency vehicle	House Transportation	Fort Totten
02:00 PM	HB 1172	J Blue lights on emergency vehicles	House Transportation	Fort Totten
02:30 PM	HB 1241	J ** Guns allowed in bars, but removed from churches and parks - 15 day limit on LE approval	House Energy and Natural Resources	Pioneer
02:45 PM	SB 2017	C ** Game & Fish budget, funding for license admin assumption	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
Friday 1/23
08:00 AM	HCR 3006	J Study use of state resources for youth adjudicated by tribal courts	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
08:00 AM	HB 1284	V * Bond ballot to include duration and estimated cost in mills to taxpayer	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
08:00 AM	HB 1246	E State employee compensation studies must county 50% of benefits	House Government and Veterans Affairs	Fort Union
08:30 AM	HB 1018	I Dept of Commerce budget including flood grants and workplace safety facility	House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division	Roughrider
09:00 AM	SB 2190	C Oil well plugging funds can be used for spill mitigation	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
09:00 AM	HB 1164	J Interlock instead of 24/7	House Transportation	Fort Totten
09:00 AM	HB 1250	R Governing body to which Governor appoints must post minutes to the web within 60 days	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
09:00 AM	HB 1324	H Multi-lane highway 52	House Transportation	Fort Totten
09:00 AM	SB 2149	H * Chapter 48 bidding publishing requirements expanded, deadline for plans	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
10:00 AM	HB 1326	J Gravel loads must be covered	House Transportation	Fort Totten