Latest news with #R-Minot
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota lawmakers approve needs, some wants with $20.3 billion budget
North Dakota House lawmakers meet during the final hours of the session on May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota lawmakers adjourned early Saturday after approving a total state budget of $20.3 billion for 2025-27, with investments including a historic property tax package for homeowners, a new State Hospital and funding to address overcrowding at jails and prisons. The overall budget, which includes federal dollars and other special funds, is a 3.5% increase over the current two-year budget cycle. 'We managed to address all of our needs and some of our wants, and we did it without raising any taxes. We did it without borrowing any money, and we provided record (property tax) relief,' said Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, as lawmakers adjourned about 4 a.m. Saturday. The preliminary two-year budget for general fund spending for 2025-27 is $6.25 billion, an increase of 2.6% over 2023-25. Though legislators started the 2025 session with excess revenue, they're keeping a cautious eye to the future with the state's growth projected to slow amid lower oil prices, declining oil tax revenue and uncertainty about tariffs. Lawmakers also funded investments that aim to spur new oil production and diversify the state's economy. Gov. Kelly Armstrong said he's excited the Legislature passed a property tax package that includes a $1,600 primary residence tax credit and provisions to limit future property tax increases, an idea he pitched at the start of the session. Armstrong said he's also pleased lawmakers adopted a 'bell-to-bell' cellphone ban for public schools, another idea he championed. 'I think those two things will have an immediate impact,' Armstrong said early Saturday. The property tax package is funded with earnings from the state's $12 billion Legacy Fund. Armstrong said if lawmakers allow the fund to continue to grow, it could put most homeowners on a path to paying zero property taxes within a decade. 'What a legacy for our kids and grandkids, to be able to have a significant amount paid toward their property tax,' said House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson. House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, told his colleagues he's glad they spent more time on the 'real issues facing North Dakotans' this year than they had in recent years, referring to culture war issues that dominated much of the 2023 session. 'Let that be the start of a positive trend for our body, and let us commit to resisting the pull of polarization and extremism,' Ista said. Some, including Armstrong, said the Legislature missed an opportunity to do more to address the state's housing and workforce needs. 'But those are tough issues, so we always have more time for that,' Armstrong said. Legislators approved $300 million to construct a new State Hospital in Jamestown, which will replace an outdated facility. The project will provide 140 beds to serve people in need of acute mental health services. Rep. Jon Nelson, R-Rugby, who chaired the division of the House Appropriations Committee that handled the budget for Health and Human Services, said that project is critical for the state. Lawmakers had considered reducing the funding to $285 million, but ultimately approved $300 million. The Office of Management and Budget will oversee construction of the project. 'It was our highest priority in our section with the Human Service budget,' Nelson said. Lawmakers approved other investments in regional behavioral health services, including nearly $13 million to create 24 new in-patient acute psychiatric beds in Grand Forks and $1.5 million for 10 beds in Williston. Legislators also fully funded the Free Through Recovery and Community Connect programs that help people with recovery support. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget includes $28.4 million for payments to county and regional jails, which are housing inmates due to crowding at state prisons. The department is looking to staff and operate unused space in Grand Forks County's new jail expansion for some state prisoners. Armstrong's administration secured a letter of intent from the Grand Forks County Commission to enter into an agreement, with terms still being finalized. North Dakota prisons find extra inmate beds in county facilities amid overcrowding The budget also includes more than $35 million to complete the Heart River Correctional Center in Mandan, the first state prison designed for women. Another $8 million is dedicated for a temporary facility to add beds for the Missouri River Correctional Center and $20 million to design and plan a new medium-security prison that's proposed to be built next to the State Penitentiary. A group of three bills backed by the corrections department aims to keep people out of the criminal justice system and lead to a lower recidivism rate after inmates are released. The recidivism rate was a point of discussion as Attorney General Drew Wrigley backed what he called a truth-in-sentencing bill. Senate Bill 2128 sought to make sure inmates in the state prison system spend most of their sentence behind bars, but it was defeated in the House. K-12 education was a major topic for lawmakers, but proposals to establish private school vouchers or Education Savings Accounts did not survive the session. Armstrong vetoed one bill because it only affected private school students, and lawmakers defeated a more comprehensive bill, in large part due to the high price tag. Lawmakers did approve a bill establishing public charter schools in North Dakota for the first time. Legislators voted down proposals to provide free school meals to all students, an idea that was strongly supported by the public. Lawmakers did include $7.3 million in the Department of Public Instruction budget to make free lunch available to students from families within 225% of the federal poverty level. That's an increase from 200% of the poverty line that was funded in the 2023 session. It means a family of four with an income of about $72,000 would qualify for free school lunches. Free school lunch advocates call on Legislature to act The Together for School Meals coalition has said it's deeply disappointed the Legislature did not pass universal school meals. 'Free school meals is a policy supported by 79% of North Dakotans and championed by over 80 local organizations committed to ending child hunger,' said Amy Jacobson, executive director of Prairie Action ND and a member of the coalition. 'This bill had the power to put real money — an estimated $850 per child per year — back into the pockets of hardworking parents.' The overall Department of Public Instruction budget contains a 2.5% increase of the per-pupil payment for each year of the biennium, raising it to $11,349 in fiscal year 2026 and $11,633 the following year. The Senate advocated for 3% each year. Legislation signed by Armstrong will make public K-12 schools phone-free, requiring personal electronic devices to be stowed and inaccessible during instructional time. The law takes effect Aug. 1. Lawmakers debated several controversial issues that ultimately failed. A resolution urging an end to same-sex marriage passed the House but later was defeated in the Senate. Lawmakers also defeated a bill to require the display of the Ten Commandments in schools and public colleges and rejected a resolution that declared the kingship of Jesus Christ. The Legislature spent a considerable amount of time on policing the content in public libraries and bathrooms at public schools. North Dakota governor vetoes controversial library content bill Armstrong vetoed a bill that addressed content in public libraries and K-12 schools, which expanded on legislation approved two years ago. Failure to comply could have cost the library or school state funding and resulted in criminal charges. 'The bill imposes vague and punitive burdens on professionals and opens the door to a host of unintended and damaging consequences for our communities,' Armstrong said in his veto message. Armstrong signed a bill that prevents K-12 public schools from building new all-gender, multistall bathrooms. Lawmakers added an exemption for existing restrooms after schools complained they would have to spend millions to bring their facilities into compliance. Schools could be fined if they don't comply with the bathroom policy and other regulations in the same section of code, including a requirement for schools and teachers to inform a students' parents if they learn the child is transgender. The governor also signed a bill that amends Century Code to state 'words used to reference an individual's gender mean the individual's sex,' a proposal some critics called discriminatory to transgender and intersex North Dakotans. Landowner groups and local government officials argued with lawmakers this session to maintain local control, though frequently ended up on the losing side of the debate. House Bill 1258 gave the Public Service Commission more authority over setback rules on large electrical transmission lines, taking away authority from townships and counties. Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, represents an area where a large power line is planned. A township created a half-mile setback from residences, and Wanzek said such rules hinder the project and threaten others like it across the state. House Bill 2321, which aimed to strengthen the position of landowners in negotiations with oil and infrastructure developers by helping them recoup legal fees, had support in the Senate but ultimately failed in the House. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, who represents an area where the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline is routed. His other bills to strengthen landowner rights and limit carbon capture development made little headway. On the final day of the session, lawmakers approved a bill that aims to keep North Dakota on the forefront of rare earth mineral development. The Northwest Landowners Association argued the bill is unconstitutional. During the session, House members mourned the loss of Rep. Josh Christy, R-Fargo, who died in February at age 43. Last week, Armstrong signed two bills sponsored by Christy, who had developed a niche in the Legislature on the subjects of artificial intelligence and technology. 'While we continue to mourn, we celebrate the achievements he made and the legacy he left with his service,' Ista said. As lawmakers closed out the session they also acknowledged Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, who was hospitalized late in the session. Lawmakers adjourned on day 74 of the session, which means they have six days remaining of their 80-day limit. Several expressed a desire to save days in case lawmakers need to return to address impacts on the state from cut federal funds. 'It's highly likely that we'll need to get called back,' said Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo. Lee, who chaired the Senate Human Services Committee, said she's watching potential cuts to Medicaid or other human services funding that could require the state to respond. 'Without the money, the state has to be able to step up,' Lee said. 'And we're lucky to be in a position to know that we're probably going to be able to do that.' The state Democrats issued a statement warning of 'misguided and chaotic national policies' that threaten local impacts. 'Already we've lost promised funds for rural infrastructure, mental health care and even the care of disabled persons,' Ista said. The governor can also call a special session, which would not have a time limit. 'We'll wait and see where we're at,' Armstrong said Saturday. 'It costs money to bring everybody back. Obviously, if there's a real reason to do it, we will do it.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers selected for committee that makes study decisions for next session
North Dakota Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, speaks in front of House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, on the House floor during a meeting of the Legislative Management Committee on Nov. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) With the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly finishing its business in the coming days, lawmakers elected members to the Legislative Management Committee to prepare for the next session and deal with any unfinished business. The Legislative Management Committee has three primary roles during the interim before the 70th Legislative Assembly meets in January 2027. The committee decides which studies will be completed before the next legislative session and assigns them to the appropriate committees. They will appoint lawmakers to at least eight mandatory interim committees and additional committees, such as the committee tasked with being the North Dakota version of the Department of Government Efficiency, that were approved during the session. Lastly, the committee will accept the reports compiled during the interim. John Bjornson, director of the Legislative Council, said up to 60 discretionary legislative studies and up to 15 mandatory studies are approved during each legislative session, and it will be up to the committee to whittle that down to a more manageable 45 studies in total and assign them. 'Then, they might not meet again for months,' Bjornson said. The Legislative Management Committee also has the power to reconvene the Legislature with a majority vote, using any unused days remaining from their 80-day allotment. If Gov. Kelly Armstrong calls for a special session, the Legislature would not need to use the remaining legislative days. It's anticipated that lawmakers may need to reconvene to address impacts from federal funding cuts. Speaker of the House Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, said the committee also elects its own chairperson that would have additional responsibilities during the interim, such as approving requests from lawmakers to attend meetings requiring travel reimbursement and working with the Legislative Council. 'Legislative Management doesn't have any role in funding,' Weisz said. 'We have an Emergency Commission, a Budget Section that will deal with funding issues outside of session.' Bjornson said the Legislative Management Committee is expected to meet in June to decide which studies to pursue and make interim committee appointments. Members of the 2025-26 Legislative Management Committee are: Speaker of the House Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson Senate Majority Leader Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot House Minority Leader Rep. Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks Senate Minority Leader Sen. Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston Sen. Kyle Davison, R-Fargo Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg Sen. Ronald Sorvaag, R-Fargo Sen. Josh Boschee, D-Fargo Rep. Kathy Frelich, R-Devils Lake Rep. Jared Hagert, R-Emerado Rep. Dori Hauck, R-Hebron Rep. Jonathan Warrey, R-Casselton Rep. Glenn Bosch, R-Bismarck Rep. LaurieBeth Hager, D-Fargo
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers approve earlier deadline for North Dakota absentee ballots to align with Trump order
Ballots that had arrived by mail or were set aside on Election Day sit on a table at the Cass County Courthouse on Nov. 18, 2024, waiting to be reviewed. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) The League of Women Voters of North Dakota is asking Gov. Kelly Armstrong to veto a bill that would shorten the window for North Dakotans to submit mail-in absentee ballots. Mail-in ballots are counted in North Dakota so long as they're postmarked by the day before Election Day and are delivered within 13 days of the election. House Bill 1165 would amend this to require mail-in ballots to be received by an election officer by the time the polls close — a change the League in a Tuesday email to members called an 'overreach and overreaction.' 'Eligible North Dakota voters should be able to mail their absentee ballot without fear that their ballot will be tossed out,' Barbara Headrick, the organization's president, said in a statement to the North Dakota Monitor. She said the bill would create obstacles for groups like rural and Native voters, seniors and people with disabilities. The amendment was made to comply with a March 25 executive order issued by President Donald Trump that forbids states from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day. North Dakota counties report absentee ballots with missing postmarks The bill was originally intended to clean up state law governing elections procedures. The main purpose of the bill is to make ballots easier for voters to understand and make election practices more uniform across the state. It addresses things like write-in candidate deadlines, what counts as a valid residential address and who can remove election judges, for example. 'What's in this bill is what I would refer to as the 'no-brainer' stuff,' Rep. Scott Louser, R-Minot, the bill's primary sponsor, said at its first hearing before the House Political Subdivisions Committee in January. The Senate State and Local Government Committee during committee discussion earlier this month added the deadline change for mail-in ballots. The amendment was brought by the Secretary of State's Office, according to Deputy Secretary of State Sandra McMerty. McMerty in a Tuesday statement to the North Dakota Monitor said the change was suggested to comply with the executive order and to 'remove uncertainty and inconsistencies surrounding postmarking requirements of the USPS.' Since the amendment was introduced after the bill's public hearing in the Senate, the public did not have an opportunity to comment on the proposed changes. States neighboring North Dakota — Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska — already have similar requirements on the books, she noted. Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, chair of the Senate State and Local Government Committee, said during the hearing the Legislature had weighed adopting the policy before and that she feels it is 'best practice' for elections. The state has been reluctant to change the law in case ballot delivery is delayed by the postal service, Roers said. She said this shouldn't be an issue since the post office treats the election-related mail with extra care. McMerty said the Secretary of State's Office doesn't anticipate the change causing any problems either. 'We don't foresee significant barriers to voters as 0.1% of absentee ballots in the general election were postmarked prior to Election Day and delivered to the county after Election Day,' she told the Monitor. Military overseas ballots wouldn't have to observe the same deadline, they would just have to be mailed by the time polls close on Election Day, the bill indicates. Ballots would have to be received by the time the county canvassing board meets. Voters also would be able to personally hand in their ballots to their county auditor on Election Day before polls close. Voting by mail? Election workers are worried about issues at the Postal Service. The Senate last week voted 43-4 to pass the bill. The House on Monday approved the amended bill by a vote of 85-7. The Legislature in March approved a resolution earlier this session, House Concurrent Resolution 3006, calling on the postmaster general of the United States Postal Service to address problems with mail. 'During testimony, we heard instance after instance of non-delivered or late delivered mail that caused harm to our citizens,' said Sen. Mike Wobemma, R-Valley City, said of the measure on the Senate floor last month. After last June's primary election, at least five North Dakota counties reported receiving absentee ballots by mail with no postmarks. Trump's executive order remains in effect, though a group of 19 states earlier this month filed a federal lawsuit over the directive, arguing that it violates states rights and will make it harder for some Americans to vote. North Dakota is not a party to the lawsuit. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
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
