NDACo Legislative Update Week 6: Feb. 11

 A lot of our work this week has been preparing for the bills moving from committee to the floor and making sure our county members know when and how to contact their lawmakers. In many cases, those bills are pulled off the calendar when we least expect it, throwing off our plans. That's just an example of how fluid the legislative process is. One example of this is with HB 1464, which is the gas tax increase proposal. 

HB 1464 came out of committee with a .06 increase on the current .23 tax on gasoline. The .06 increase would provide $19 million in additional funding to counties to address local road needs. The bill was on the House calendar, however we are hearing the republican party is polling lawmakers to determine if the bill should be returned to committee to reconsider the increase. Please continue to communicate to your lawmakers the importance in supporting this proposal. This is one of the few bills that can address local road needs this session. It needs to be on the table. 

The House floor calendar continues to grow and is quite lengthy as we end week 6. The House has already announced they will have longer floor sessions next week in order to make progress. There are a number of hot topics making their way to the House floor that we have indicated as higher priority items to watch and encourage our members to engage their legislators on.  

On the Floor in upcoming days: 

HB 1464: gas tax increase - support
HB 1123: no bail for misdemeanors - oppose
HB 1296: prohibits release of booking photos until convicted - oppose
HB 1287: enhanced crime for drug dealers if lead to overdose death - support

HB 1238: requires polling location in every legislative district - oppose

HB 1312: eliminates absentee voting, vote by mail, early voting - oppose

HB 1173: print full language of constitutional measure on ballots - oppose

NDACo was involved in a very unconventional opportunity this week. In response to the multiple (45) election related bills, NDACo offered to the House and Senate Government and Veterans Affairs committees to provide a presentation outlining the election process in North Dakota and demonstrate equipment. NDACo's Donnell Preskey along with McKenzie County Auditor Erica Johnsrud and Burleigh County Election manager Erika White provided the presentation. The hope is to increase the knowledge and education to the lawmakers hearing the bulk of the election related bills.

PUBLIC HEALTH RELATED: 

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee of Senators Sorvaag (Chair), Bekkedahl and Mathern continue to work on the Dept of Health budget, SB2004. Amendments are expected that would add back in the budget funding for loan repayment program and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Clinic. 

Onsite septic system bill,  HB 1183,  is anticipated to be amended and move through Political Subdivisions Committee. 

 Senate Human Services Committee held a hearing on SB 2303 regarding public health units on tribal lands. The bill requests language change to the Century Code to include all tribal lands the option to form a public health unit if so desired. Barb Frydenlund, Rolette County Public Health District Administrator presented testimony sharing some of the many services being provided in the County which are available to everyone.  She applauded the 1999 Legislature's forethought in establishing law that all land in the state be in a public health unit by 2001. “As a result of this forwarding thinking,” testified Frydenlund, “all North Dakota residents, including those individuals residing on tribal lands, have the privilege of having the opportunity to receive comprehensive preventive and sometimes clinical health services provided by local public health districts/departments.”  Frydenlund noted that adding another health unit would mean duplicative services and increased strain on an already minimal budget.

Here is a brief of other county related bills we were involved in testifying on this week: 
HB 1443: Post Board to provide Bias training - Opposed, DNP recommendation
HB 1470: Behavioral health services in jails - Supported with suggestions
HB 1189: Sets 90 minute time limit to get election results to auditor - Opposed
HB 1379: Changes date for prelim budgets & allows for referral - Opposed

SB 2234: Counties must pay for Culverts (scheduled for Friday) - Opposed

Bills voted on this week of note: 

HB 1182: party affiliation optional for county officials - FAILED

HB 1256: non-public funds for election banned - PASSED

HB 1279: uniform fines/fees - PASSED

HB 1494: study recruit and retention options for law enforcement - PASSED

HB 1471: expansion of property tax exemption for churches: PASSED

HB: 1372: property tax freeze for seniors - FAILED

 Click here to view the schedule for bills to be heard the Week of Feb 15th