NDACo Week 10 Legislative Report

GREAT to see all the new, and familiar, faces at the County Officials Academy.  If you weren’t there, you were missed.  We had a tremendous turnout of legislators for the social and they were asking the staff “Whose here from my county?”  By the large number attending, it is clear they care what their county officials think.

 

A full week of hearings, and the “policy” Committee Chairs are driving their committees to act on bills at a rapid pace.  The Appropriations Committees on the other hand are in a serious “wait and see” mode, as next week the new revenue projections will be released.  These projections will be the “gospel” that must be used to come up with a final overall budget, so they are crucial to legislative action on every spending bill – large and small.  Rumors of what the report will reveal abound, but they are up, down, and stay the same.  Time will tell.

 

This week saw floor action and a few bills that will be heading to the governor, including:

                HB1331, which provides additional guidance for public entities faced with multiple open records requests from the same person. 

                SB2056, is the interim bill to clarify that all appointed boards can only RECOMMEND their levy to the county commission, and the commission makes the final determination. 

                HCR4001, is a study of the duplicative reports that counties must submit to the State, with the goal of reducing and streamlining what county officials must do.

 

In the “acted-on but not yet done” column, we have HB1337.  This bill was introduced to increase the state match for the senior mill levy program.  The House stripped the additional funding from the bill and then passed the bill with just the language change requested by NDACo.  This will undoubtedly end up in conference committee as the Senate approved an additional $1million for local senior programs. 

 

You will see below that there are several important bills up next week.  The first House hearing on SB2206, to shift social service costs to the state is scheduled for a hearing Wednesday morning.  On Tuesday the House Tax Committee will hear the Governor’s property tax reform bill, as well as SB2339 to create a property tax exemption for “agi-tourism” buildings that is very loose and undefined.  We are getting down to the final couple of weeks for "formal" hearings, so if you want to participate, the time is now!

 

Time	Bill Number	Description	Committee	Room
Monday 3/16
8:00	SB 2171	R Governing body can contract when no bids received	House IBL	Peace Garden
8:30	SB 2002	C * Sec. of State Budget - UCC & Election	House Approp-Ed & Env	Roughrider
8:30	HB 1014	C Industrial Commission budget & adjustments to  heritage fund	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
8:30	SB 2006	B * Tax Dept budget	House Approp-Gov. Ops	Medora
9:00	SB 2272	S Medicaid expanded to pediatric therapists	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:00	SB 2037	B * Uniform determination of taxable value for future wind generation, other utility facilities	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:00	SB 2156	J * Mandatory sentences for armed offenders	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:00	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimburse for expanded Medicaid	House Approp-Hum Res.	Sakakawea
9:00	HB 1041	S Medicaid expansion pharmacy benefits management changes	Senate Human Services	Red River
9:15	HB 1117	C Changes to streamlined sales tax	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
9:20	SB 2192	J Moves ag assault B felony to separate subsection	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:30	HB 1247	S DHS to implementa safe-sleep training program for childcare providers	Senate Human Services	Red River
9:30	SB 2217	B * Alternative approach to requiring appointed board budget reports	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:45	HB 1110	C Retailer must provide supporting documentation for leasing personal property	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
10:00	SB 2221	B * Increase homestead credit threshold to $150,000 value and slight increases to income thresholds	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:15	SB 2083	S Substantial changes to licensing of assisted living facilities	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:30	HB 1126	J Changes in bail bond agent authority to retrieve defendant	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:30	HB 1149	J Pharmacy boards to adopt admin rules for drugs	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:30	HB 1130	A Excise tax exemption for donating cars to needy	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
10:30	SB 2079	S Extends moratorium on long-term care facility bed construction	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:30	SB 2005	B ** State Treasurers budget, state paid property tax relief	House Approp-Gov. Ops	Medora
10:40	SB 2274	J Timelines on firearm certifications, court appeal of denials	House Judiciary	Prairie
11:00	HB 1040	J Advanced practice nurse added to Mental Health petition process	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
11:00	SB 2050	S * Client may not be required to apply for Medicaid before receiving SPED services	House Human Services	Fort Union
11:20	SB 2333	J Under 21 allowed in certain liquor establishments to eat	House Judiciary	Prairie
2:00	HB 1014	C Industrial Commission budget & adjustments to agencies that get money from heritage fund	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
2:00	HB 1475	E Delayed bill addressing NDPERS process for selecting health insurance	House Industry, Bus. & Labor	Peace Garden
2:15	SB 2073	J DOCR-State Hospital agreement, assistance with security	House Human Services	Fort Union
2:30	SB 2049	S Behavioral health definition changes regarding family therapists	House Human Services	Fort Union
2:30	HB 1169	R Death deeds exempt from statement of full consideration on recording	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
3:30	SB 2039	X Structure to fund Scholarships with revenue from foundation aid stabilization fund - if voters approve	House Appropriations	Roughrider

Tuesday 3/17 - Happy St. Patrick's Day
8:30	HB 1078	L Prohibits selling E-cig's to minors	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
8:30	SB 2016	C * DES & state radio budget, statewide radio project	House Approp-Gov. Ops	Medora
8:30	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimburse for expanded Medicaid	House Approp - Hum. Res.	Sakakawea
9:00	HB 1109	S DHS doesn't have to conduct biennial meetings at nursing homes	Senate Human Services	Red River
9:00	SB 2199	S $1 million to DHS for human trafficking victims treatment	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:00	SB 2144	B **** Governor's property tax reform task force bill	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:00	SB 2178	X Additional school construction loan option	House Education	Pioneer
9:00	HB 1141	J Changes to jurisdication in small claims	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
9:00	SB 2234	S Down syndrome individuals eligible for Medicaid	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:05	HB 1410	S $5 million for head start	Senate Educ.	Missouri River
9:15	HB 1067	A ** Census estimates to be used for state aid formula rather than decennial census	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
9:30	SB 2237	S Clarifies individual health information received by DHS is confidential	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:30	SB 2215	J BCI to establish a bio-metric data system	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:30	HB 1059	B *** Appropriation for property tax buy down	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
9:30	HB 1407	J **** Homeless sex offender registration	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:00	HB 1033	A * Creates mechanism for budgeting legacy fund disbursement	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
10:00	HB 1264	J Exempts law enforcement body camera images from open records	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:00	SCR 4021	S Study Medicaid reimbursement of mental illness	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:00	HB 1108	S Wording changes involving developmental disabilities	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:00	SB 2284	J Defines hospital treatment of sex assault victims, law enforcement info	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:30	HB 1280	S Study the reorganization of the Dept. of Human Services	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:30	HB 1281	J Creates Blue Alert notice system for serious offenders	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:30	SB 2275	J Coerced abortion is trafficking	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:30	SB 2339	B * Farm building used in agri-tourism are property tax exempt	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:30	SB 2331	J No statute of limitations on child sexual abuse	House Judiciary	Prairie
11:00	SB 2357	J Unlawful sexting is a class A misdemeanor, civil remedies	House Judiciary	Prairie
11:00	HCR 3002	J Resolution to study restitution for criminals acts	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
11:15	SB 2335	J Physicians injury report of sexual assault not to include certain info	House Human Services	Fort Union
2:00	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimburse for expanded Medicaid	House Approp - Hum. Res.	Sakakawea
2:00	SB 2233	R Construction manager must open subcontractor bids publically	House Industry, Bus. and Labor	Peace Garden
2:00	HB 1307	J Threatening public servants by filing liens C Felony	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
2:30	HB 1321	J Electronic stalking	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
3:30	HB 1166	J Elimination of 70/30 judge chambers	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln

Wednesday 3/18
9:00	HB 1186	L Regulates e-cigs like tobacco	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
9:00	SB 2206	A **** State to fund social service grants, commission to study all costs	House Human Services	Fort Union
9:00	HB 1202	E Employer can withhold payment for accrued leave regardless	Senate Industry, Bus. and Labor	Roosevelt Park
9:00	SB 2107	J ** Adopts uniform act on human trafficking	House Judiciary	Prairie
9:00	SB 2172	A GPT revenue distributed on cash basis to local government	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
9:30	SB 2175	A * $1 million of ag machinery sales tax for ag research - highway fund amended out	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:00	HB 1437	A Extension of oil trigger	Senate Finance and Taxation	Lewis and Clark
10:00	SB 2329	Z Increases maximum size of renaissance zone	House Finance and Taxation	Fort Totten
10:00	SB 2232	J * Seven year statute of limitations for human trafficking	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:00	HB 1338	J Report domestic violence deaths to fatality review commission	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:20	SB 2250	J Increases offense level for some prostitution crimes	House Judiciary	Prairie
10:30	HB 1347	J Human trafficked kid is deprived	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
10:45	SB 2334	L Redefines newborn screening requirements	House Human Services	Fort Union
10:45	HB 1046	S Appropriation for traumatic brain injury registry	Senate Human Services	Red River
10:45	SB 2266	J Increased penalties for child porn	House Judiciary	Prairie
11:00	SB 2332	J Increases offense class for hiring prostitute	House Judiciary	Prairie
11:00	HB 1367	J Changes to allow more probation	Senate Judiciary	Fort Lincoln
11:00	SB 2367	S Creates task force on substance exposed newborns	House Human Services	Fort Union

Thursday 3/19
9:00	SB 2003	J ** Attorney General's budget and impact grant funds	House Approp-Gov. Ops	Medora
9:00	SB 2363	A Exempts from MV excise tax transfers to grandchildren	House Transportation	Fort Totten
9:00	HCR 3015	X Constitutional convention for balanced budget	Senate GVA	Missouri River
9:00	SB 2020	C * Water Commission budget	House Approp - Ed. & Env.	Roughrider
9:00	SCR 4022	V Study election and lobbying laws	House GVA	Fort Union
9:00	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimburse for expanded Medicaid	House Approp - Hum. Res.	Sakakawea
9:00	SB 2248	J Tow trucks get amber and white lights	House Transportation	Fort Totten
9:00	SCR 4014	A Study reinvestment scenarios for legacy fund	House GVA	Fort Union
9:00	SCR 4010	V Constitutional amendment so legislators must remain resident of district	House GVA	Fort Union
9:15	HB 1018	C Dept of Commerce budget including flood grants and workplace safety facility	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
9:15	HCR 3034	H Urges Congress to lift federal freeze on vehicle size and weight	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark
9:15	HB 1450	J Reduction of penalty for weapon in bar	Senate Energy and Nat.Res.	Fort Lincoln
9:30	SB 2154	J ** Armstrong DUI statute changes	House Transportation	Fort Totten
10:00	SB 2375	B 25% of landowners may petition to create special assessment, objection procedures	House Political Subdivisions	Prairie
10:15	HB 1241	J ** Guns allowed in bars, but removed from churches and parks - 15 day limit on LE approval	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
10:30	HB 1465	R * Contractors holding government records must comply with open records	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
11:15	HB 1457	J Law enforcement to sell off confiscated guns	Senate Energy and Natural Resources	Fort Lincoln
2:00	SB 2300	X ** Changes ACIR to LC task forces on intergovernmental issues	House GVA	Fort Union
2:30	SB 2017	C ** Game & Fish budget, funding for license admin assumption	House Approp-Gov. Ops	Medora
2:30	HB 1219	J * Weapon prohibition for felons begins on date of conviction	Senate Energy and Nat. Res.	Fort Lincoln
2:30	SB 2020	C * Water Commission budget	House Approp - Ed. & Env.	Roughrider
3:15	HB 1095	Z New appeal times for noncompliant drainage	Senate Energy & Nat. Res.	Fort Lincoln
Friday 3/20
8:30	SB 2010	C Insurance Dept budget, bonding and fire and tornado funds	House Approp - Gov. Ops.	Medora
8:30	HB 1015	J **** DOCR Budget,quota system for counties amended out	Senate Appropriations	Harvest
8:30	HB 1114	Z New penalties for solid waste disposal	Senate Energy & Nat. Res.	Fort Lincoln
8:30	SB 2012	A **** Human Services budget, enhanced county reimburse for expanded Medicaid	House Approp - Hum. Res.	Sakakawea
9:00	HB 1390	Z Driller not liable for improper disposal when contract company screws up	Senate Energy and Nat. Res.	Fort Lincoln
9:00	HB 1284	V * Bond ballot to include duration and estimated cost in mills to taxpayer	Senate GVA	Missouri River
9:00	HCR 3031	J Designation of 3rd week in June as ND Road 2 Safety Week	Senate Transportation	Lewis and Clark
9:00	HB 1322	B Expands purposes for special assessments	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
9:15	HB 1389	V IDs for non-citizens must be clearly marked for voting purposes	Senate GVA	Missouri River
9:45	HB 1333	V ** Voter may use bill, bank statement to prove residency. SoS Bill	Senate GVA	Missouri River
10:00	HB 1376	B Counties can donate funds to hospitals	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
10:00	HB 1032	Z changes to GPT to allow more $ for well plugging	Senate Energy & Nat. Res.	Fort Lincoln
10:30	HB 1309	V Changes to petition circulators	Senate GVA	Missouri River
10:45	HB 1145	Z Water used for oil to be tracked	Senate Energy & Nat. Res.	Fort Lincoln
11:00	HB 1417	X Courthouses veterans room may be in another building	Senate Political Subdivisions	Red River
11:00	HB 1181	V Must have special election to fill vacant US Senate seat	Senate GVA	Missouri River