Schedule for week of March 25th and Update for week

Of course the big news this week is the signing of Operation Prairie Dog. You can read more about that in our last blog post.

You will notice a great deal of slow down in committee work on the schedule for next week. Many committees have finished hearing all their bills and are completing their work on several of the bills yet in committee. A couple bills being heard next week that we want to draw your attention to are HB 1286, asset forfeiture reform and HB 1290 relating to restricting law enforcement on private property.
Your NDACo lobbying team will be spending most of the week monitoring committee work and floor sessions.


Here is the schedule for next week: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DcEJ5C7pwk5TH38eYqef4GYIIqWjeqj1

NDACo offered support for HB 1020, the NDSU Extension budget and again make a strong pitch for funding to be restored to the level prior to the 2017 state budget cuts. In 2018, ND County Commissioners Association approved a temporary funding formula which shifted an additional $820,000 to counties to continue the county-extension partnership. NDACo along with Bowman County Commissioner, Lynn Brackel provided testimony on the importance of the restoration of funds to this program. 
NDACo in addition to Stark County Engineer Al Heiser also provided testimony in support of the budget for Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute and focused on the need to restore funds to support the work that UGPTI does in support of North Dakota's transportation infrastructure. Supporters are seeking $525,000 in additional funding to update the local roads study.

The Senate GVA amended HB 1435, the State Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN) bill, as requested by the bill sponsor and supported by NDACo and the public safety community. The amendment puts in $40 million of SIIF funding into the project. State funding is critical in order to show statewide commitment to this important project. The bill received a strong Do Pass recommendation. The amendment should be voted on the Senate floor Friday. The bill will then be referred to Appropriations for their review. NDACo will provide updates regarding the timing of this bill and when we will need you to reach out to your Senators.

A few major bills that had floor actions:
- HB 1432 - Senate approved by unanimous vote the bill to allow counties to purchase used machinery at public auction or surplus auctions and equipment.
- HB 1296 - Senate approved to create a new crime for aggravated fleeing
- HB 1210 - Senate defeated bill requiring counties to hold elections for ETA proposals.