Update for Tuesday, January 22nd

The Senate voted to reconsider the primary seat belt bill Tuesday. The bill failed 23-23 Monday with Senator Scott Meyer absent. Meyer requested the bill be reconsidered Tuesday. Meyer, who is a sponsor of the bill told his colleagues about an incident 20 years ago when he was driving a farm truck. "It was a very hectic time, I got in the truck and started driving and didn't put my seat belt on. But then a voice in my head told me to buckle up. Moments later, I rolled the vehicle. That seat belt saved my life, and because of that I have the opportunity to vote here today."
After some debate about regulating safety and personal freedoms, the Senate passed SB 2060 with a vote of 24-23. The bill will move the House.

NDACo along with members of the transportation coalition supported a SB 2288 to increase the gas tax 7 cents from 23 to 30 cents. "This increase will bring enhanced revenue with a much greater degree of certainty to future funding – allowing counties to more effectively plan and program improvements for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness," testified NDACo Executive Director Terry Traynor.

Some of the other hearings we have been involved in recently include...

NDACo provided supporting testimony for HB1356 which raises the bid threshold on public works and public improvements from $150,000 to $250,000 as well as the threshold for professional services from an architect or engineer to that same amount.  Other testimony in support of the bill was given by the League of Cities and Department of Corrections, as well as other city folks, all who felt the $150,000 threshold did not work for the current costs on projects that are typically needed repairs that don’t require the additional expense an engineer or architect.  Opposition to the bill came from contractors and the American Council of Engineering who felt that bidding construction and professional services should be treated separately.  Amended language has been offered that provides that no expenditure threshold would apply for construction of public improvements when the expertise of an architect or engineer is required to protect the health, safety or welfare of the public.

HB1212 changes the makeup of a County Fair Association board from being residents of the counties in their association to residents of the state.  The bill sponsor, Representative Gary Kreidt (R-33), supported the change stating that it is difficult to fill voluntary boards and that some counties have combined with other counties and some have filled boards with members outside their county.  Opposition testimony came from Morton County Commissioner Andy Zachmeier and former County Commissioner and Legislator Jim Boehm, along with Morton County Auditor, Dawn Rhone.  Fair Boards are not appointed by County Commissioners but are funded with county general fund dollars, causing the committee to question the board consisting of members not in the county. 

SB2189 passed unanimously out of committee and changes the deadline for city and county boards of equalization from the second Tuesday in April to the first fifteen days of April.  The bill was approved with an amendment adding back the language that an assessor who performs duties for two or more cities or townships can hold the equalization meetings for those jurisdictions any day in the month of April.

NDACo testified in opposition to SB2174 which would require water resource district board members to be elected rather than appointed by the county commissioners.  Supporters referenced a frustration with a lack of accountability from water board members who are not elected.  Opposition was heard from Red River Joint Water Board, Richland County Water Board, Burleigh County Water Resource District, and NDACo, all testifying that the oversight for appointed water boards is provided by the county commissioners that appoint them and that water resource boards enforce regulatory law and decisions are sometimes unpopular which would make it a challenge to find people to run.