Latest news with #HouseBill1168
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota Senate advances property tax relief backup plan
North Dakota lawmakers participate in a Senate floor session on April 25, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A property tax reform bill viewed as an alternative in case the primary measure fails passed the Senate unanimously Friday, putting pressure on a proposal supported by Gov. Kelly Armstrong to cross the finish line. House Bill 1168 was amended to mirror many of the provisions in House Bill 1176, the bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, that Armstrong supports. 'It's a very good bill and it's there if (House Bill) 1176 fails,' said Sen. Mark Weber, R-Casselton. 'Everything is ready to go here in (House Bill) 1168 and it contains significant relief along with our preferences from the Senate as to what needs to be included.' North Dakota Senate advances property tax credit but plan differs from House House Bill 1168 includes a primary residence credit of up to $1,650, an expansion of the homestead property tax credit, up to $600 for a renters rebate and an expansion of a disabled veterans property tax relief program. The bill also includes a 'skin-in-the-game' provision requiring primary residence owners to pay at least 25% of their property tax bill. Each primary residence would receive at least $500. Another provision urges lawmakers in the 2027 session to look at providing relief to other property types, such as commercial, centrally assessed, agricultural land and other residential property. In total, the bill is expected to provide more than $511 million in relief for the biennium, according to the most recent fiscal note provided by Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus. The bill also includes similar 3% caps, which would limit local subdivision increases on property tax levies. Weber added, if the property valuation increases outpace the 3% cap, House Bill 1168 includes language to support school districts by making up the difference through the school funding formula to make their budgets whole. Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, told lawmakers the large price tag for the bill is worrying especially at a time when the federal government is debating to reduce its cost share of Medicaid expansion payments to the states. 'If they change the federal match for Medicaid and Medicaid expansion, we are in big trouble,' Lee said. 'It could be up to $330 million that the state will not get from the feds.' North Dakota governor unveils bold property tax plan in first State of the State address Sen. Brad Bekkendahl, R-Williston, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the Senate Appropriations Committee disagreed with Kroshus on the number of people that will use the new primary residence credit. He said March 31 was the deadline to apply for the primary residence credit and about 143,000 North Dakota homeowners applied, which is less than 165,000 that were deemed eligible. 'We felt that the numbers in the fiscal note were inflated to a point where we actually took $70 million off on our calculation from these numbers … based on the number of homes we think will be actually paid the credit,' Bekkedahl said. House Bill 1168 will be returned to the House for its consideration of the Senate changes to the bill. If they do not agree with the changes, the bill differences will be resolved in a conference committee. House Bill 1176, meanwhile, is in a conference committee, with the 'skin in the game' provision a major point of contention between the House and Senate. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Panel advances bill banning delivery of abortion-inducing drugs in Oklahoma
Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, sits at his desk on the Senate floor during the chamber's organizational day on Jan. 7, 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – A Senate panel on Monday advanced a measure to prevent the use of popular abortion-inducing drugs, including mifepristone. House Bill 1168 makes it a felony to intentionally deliver abortion-inducing drugs in the state. 'We are stopping the pill from the abortion side of this just because of the damage it does to an unborn person, primarily, but also because of the damage it does to women and mothers,' said Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, the Senate author of the measure. Abortion in Oklahoma is already illegal, except to save the life of the mother. Abortion-inducing drugs, like RU486, better known as mifepristone, are not the same as the morning after pill. Abortion-inducing drugs end a pregnancy while the morning-after pill prevents pregnancy. 'RU486 has one intent and that intent is to murder an unborn child,' Bullard said. Bullard said the measure would also prevent it from being shipped into Oklahoma through major carriers. The measure would make it a felony with a fine not to exceed $100,000 or up to 10 years in prison or both. 'I simply cannot believe that we are continuing to try and create new felonies for substances that are legal, that do provide valid medical relief to individuals here in our state,' said Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. Hicks said she was appalled that the state continues to push the envelope when mothers are going into sepsis and experiencing fatal conditions before they can get medical intervention. 'This is the only medical procedure in the world that the success of the procedure depends on the death of the patient,' Bullard said. The measure passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 7-3. It is available for consideration in the Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota Senate advances property tax credit but plan differs from House
Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, speaks on the Senate floor during debate on a property tax bill on April 3, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) The North Dakota Senate unanimously passed a property tax bill Thursday, but adopted major amendments that could set up a conference committee showdown between the House and Senate. Amendments to House Bill 1176 reduce the maximum primary residence credit from the $1,450 approved by the House to $1,250. Gov. Kelly Armstrong, who backs the original bill, had proposed a credit of up to $1,550 for homeowners. The Senate also adopted what Senate Majority Leader David Hogue called a 'skin-in-the-game' amendment that would limit the credit to 75% of the property owner's total tax liability. Homeowners would get a minimum tax credit of $500, the same level approved by lawmakers in 2023. Committee advances North Dakota property tax bill but reduces level of tax credit Another amendment includes language urging lawmakers in the 2027 session to consider reducing property taxes for other property types, such as agricultural and commercial. Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, said she worries about excluding agricultural property from the tax credit when about 40% of the Legislature represents rural areas. She added rural areas depend more on property taxes than urban areas and excluding agricultural land from the bill puts a greater burden on those taxpayers. The Senate version of the bill would provide an estimated $478 million in tax relief for citizens for 2025-27, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus said. Gov. Kelly Armstrong said he is still advocating for the House version of the bill, but he's shifting his focus to the conference committee. 'I think if the original version was on the floor of the Senate it would pass,' Armstrong said. 'I think there is plenty of room to get it back to where it was.' The bill will now be sent back to the House for approval of the amendments. If the House does not concur with the Senate's changes, a conference committee made up of three members from each chamber will be appointed to iron out the differences. Hogue, R-Minot, who advocated for the amendments, said it's possible the conference committee won't be able to agree on how to reconcile the bill. He added the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee still has two property tax bills, House Bill 1575 and House Bill 1168, under consideration. Both of those bills would reduce taxes for other property types, while House Bill 1176 only affects primary residences. Senate lawmakers weigh questions of fairness in North Dakota property tax debate 'There may be no compromise and so we'll go onto some other form of tax relief for North Dakotans,' Hogue said. 'The Senate consensus is that what we passed today reflects the will of the Senate.' Armstrong said the Senate may have property tax measures in reserve, but they still need to clear both chambers. Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, primary sponsor of the bill, said the House supports the version of the bill with a $1,450 primary residence credit. 'This is the No. 1 issue coming into this session and people have spoken loud and clear, and that's what's so disappointing about these amendments being kept on and reducing the benefits,' Nathe said. 'I don't understand why they did what they did.' Sen. Mark Weber, R-Casselton, chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee, said if the bill gets to a conference committee, there will be some haggling over the primary residence credit that could go on for multiple days. He added the two property tax bills in his committee could be used to provide technical corrections for House Bill 1176 depending on what happens during the conference committee. 'We've come a long ways and now we'll begin the third period,' Weber said. 'I think the governor obviously wanted the bill to come out as is so he could quickly sign it and get it out there, which is a noble thing. But there was a little difference in thinking on some of this and that's why we have the Senate and the House.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate committee advances property tax package supported by Gov. Armstrong
Gov. Kelly Armstrong speaks in support of a property tax bill during a Senate committee hearing on March 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A property tax bill backed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong received a unanimous do pass recommendation Monday immediately following a Senate committee hearing. House Bill 1176, sponsored by Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, would give North Dakota homeowners up to a $1,450 primary residence tax credit and cap the amount of property taxes that could be levied locally at a 3% annual increase. The bill would also raise income thresholds for seniors to the Homestead Tax Credit program by $10,000 and expand the state's renters credit for those that qualify from $400 to $600. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus estimates the bill would provide an estimated $503.3 million in tax relief to citizens for 2025-27. 'During my campaign, I visited with thousands of constituents from every corner of our state and I can confidently say that this is their top priority and it should still be ours,' Armstrong told the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. Senate lawmakers weigh questions of fairness in North Dakota property tax debate Other property tax relief bills under consideration by the Senate would reduce property taxes for commercial, agriculture and centrally assessed properties in addition to residential property. Armstrong said focusing on primary residences would bring tax reductions to small business owners in the state indirectly. 'Every small business owner I know in North Dakota lives in North Dakota,' he said. Most of the testimony Monday was in support of the bill, but some including the North Dakota League of Cities and North Dakota Association of Counties advocated for amending the 3% cap for local political subdivisions. Both groups favor a cap tied to the rate of inflation, such as the consumer price index plus 2%. Brandy Madrigga, finance director for Cass County, told lawmakers that salaries and benefits for the county's 277 employees account for the majority of the county budget. She said the average annual raise and cost of living adjustment for county employees is about 5%. 'These increases are necessary to ensure the county can retain skilled personnel and maintain the quality of essential services,' Madrigga said. Nathe said the Legislature could revisit the caps during the 2027 legislative session. The bill also allows local governments to exceed the cap with approval from voters. It also allows local governments to bank unused increases for up to five years. Committee member Sen. Michelle Powers, R-Fargo, said she liked that House Bill 1176 only affects primary residences. The committee advanced the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which could make amendments to the bill, including discussing the 3% caps. The two other property tax bills, House Bill 1575 and House Bill 1168, also would affect out-of-state property owners and those who own multiple properties in the state. The committee held hearings on those bills last week but has yet to make a recommendation. All three bills were passed by the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
