N.D. Legislative Report: March 27, 2023

The legislative assembly reconvened on March 3, 2023, following the crossover break. Committees began working two days earlier to get several pieces of legislation ready for floor votes on that first official day of the second half.

Leadership of both chambers are hoping to have our work completed around the 73rd to 74th legislative day so there is about six weeks left in the session. Some policy committees are nearly through hearing the Senate bills that were passed in that chamber before crossover.

The Appropriations Committee has most of the workload in the remaining weeks. Agency budgets need to be reconciled with the other chamber as the House and the Senate usually have differing priorities and funding levels. Meetings have begun between the majority leaders and appropriations chairmen to discuss and resolve some of the differences.

Some of the Senate bills that have now passed the House are as follows: SB2267 passed by a 79-6 margin. This bill is an expansion of a pilot program passed in the 2021 session to address the loss and current lack of attorney availability in many rural counties and cities in North Dakota. SB2267 allows for up to eight attorneys to apply for a program that compensates them $45,000 to be paid in five annual installments if they practice in the eligible area for at least five consecutive years. The funding is shared by the county or municipality served, the State Bar Association or other legal association and the state funds appropriated to the N.D. Supreme Court.

SB2191 adds physical therapists to the health care professionals who are authorized to issue mobility-impaired parking certificates. The bill passed 84-1.

SB2111 allows for a vehicle certificate of title to be issued in paper or electronic form. The forms, as they are today, must be made available on the reverse side of the paper or electronically for the assignment of title or interest with a space for notations of liens and encumbrances. This measure passed 74-11.

SB2178 passed unanimously and permits a township to be able to amass a total of 500,000 dollars in their special road fund. The current limit is 100,000 dollars. This allows townships to accumulate more funds while planning for larger or expensive road projects.

SB2121 adds a requirement to the estimated property tax and budget hearing notice. In addition to the total estimated property tax provided to each parcel owner by the county treasurer, the notice must now include the actual amount of the special assessment installment payable against the parcel in the immediately preceding taxable year. The bill passed unanimously 92-0.

SB2271 was defeated on the House floor 25-68. This legislation would have imposed a monetary fine on an owner of an authorized alcoholic beverage establishment, where a licensed gaming activity is conducted, for failure to comply with gaming regulations. The fine for the site owner could have ranged from 500 dollars to 5,000 dollars. The assembly decided that an individual who simply owns the establishment should not be held liable for any gaming violations.

SB2028 allows each public school district to administer annual assessments in math and reading to students in grades kindergarten through ten. The district may choose between a state provided interim assessment or an assessment from a state approved list created and maintained by the superintendent of public instruction. The assessment data is shared with the statewide longitudinal data system and individual district level data may be shared at the discretion of the local district. SB2028 passed 64-29.

SB2167 passed 91-2. This bill shortens the amount of time a parent intending to supervise home education must file a statement of intent with the child's school district of residence. The time is reduced from fourteen days to five days in SB2167.

SB2350 authorizes the N.D. Department of Transportation to allow a county, city, or township to include the penalty amount on a traffic sign for a violation of an offense corresponding with the purpose of the sign. This only applies to state highways within a county, city, or township and the jurisdiction must have an ordinance indicating the traffic offense and the penalty for violation of that offense. A common example of this would an ordinance prohibiting use of an engine brake. SB2350 passed 87-6.

SB2130 allows correctional officer staff to join firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and peace officers in this section of law. When any of these individuals would lose their life in the line of duty, their survivor would receive free tuition at North Dakota institutions of higher education. The bill passed 91-2.

Finally, SB2229 designates curling as the official North Dakota state sport.

On March 16, a memorial service was held for all former state representatives who had passed away since the last session. Twenty-six former members and their families were honored during the ceremony. House Memorial Resolution 7001 honoring the service and sacrifice of these revered colleagues was passed unanimously.

During the session, District 29 legislators can be reached by email or by leaving a message with the legislative telephone message center at 1-888-635-3447. Email addresses are; [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].

Those of you that wish to watch the floor sessions and committee hearings can access the videos at http://www.ndlegis.gov. A legislative bill tracking system is also available on that website and will allow users to follow individual bills. The legislative branch video capability will allow users to watch live video of committee hearings and floor sessions as well as archived and indexed videos of past committee hearings and floor sessions.