Latest news with #SenateBill2018
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks casino proposal dies in House vote
Apr. 24—BISMARCK — A portion of a state Senate bill that included language to move forward a casino proposal in Grand Forks County failed in a Wednesday House vote, likely ending the plan for the conceivable future. Senate Bill 2018, an appropriations bill, included language that sought to allow the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa the ability to expand its casino operation beyond current tribal land. Existing state law mandates that the tribe cannot move outside of its traditional boundary. An earlier bill, SB 2376, specifically addressed the potential change but it failed in a 29-15 Senate vote in February. In March, the proposal was inserted into a Senate Bill 2018. At the time, state Rep. Emily O'Brien, R-Grand Forks, said she wanted it in SB 2018 because she considered it an "opportunity for the state to support local and tribal (economic development)." She said the state shouldn't stand in the way of what she considers local development decisions. The proposal was only to let the casino plan move forward, and was not the final say on whether it would be built. Various other approvals — and from various levels, ranging from city to federal — would have been needed prior to construction. On Wednesday, the House voted 66-26 against SB 2018's Division C, where the proposal was inserted. Prior to the vote, several members of the House debated the casino's merits, with O'Brien notably speaking in favor and others against. "For generations, tribal nations have fought for the right to self govern and build their own economies and to provide for the people with dignity and independence," she said. "Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal casinos are not just entertainment venues, but engines of opportunity. They fund schools, health care clinics, housing, addiction treatment and public safety on reservations, where those needs are urgent and under-resourced. "This is not a handout." But some felt the casino would open the possibility of tribes branching outward en masse while potentially having an adverse effect on the state's charitable gaming industry. Grand Forks Republican Rep. Nels Christianson said "compromise" and "balance" with gambling already exist in North Dakota. He believes that allowing expansion of American Indian gaming outside of a tribe's borders would jeopardize that balance. "A casino in Grand Forks County upsets that great consensus. Let us not have any misconceptions about this: A casino in Grand Forks will mean, eventually, a big casino adjacent to each large city in our state," he said. "This means money leaving our community and each tribe will feel the need to upstage the next for the best location adjacent to another North Dakota community." He added: "The proposed casino in Grand Forks County represents a giant monster sucking the lifeblood and earnings out of our community. I stand against this monster and I seek to slay it." Rep. Matthew Heilman, R-Bismarck, wondered aloud if allowing the proposal to move forward would be detrimental to the existing charitable gaming industry. "I'm not really sure," he said, answering his own question. "But I don't want to find out. ..." O'Brien specifically addressed charitable gaming during her short speech on the House floor. She said she supports the industry; meanwhile, she said, North Dakota charitable gaming has grown in recent years. "As of Dec. 31, 2024, there are five tribal casinos in North Dakota, compared to 328 licensed gaming entities, which includes 846 sites and 5,250 e-tab machines," she said. "These machines are easily accessible at our local restaurants, bars and fraternal clubs. And in 2022 alone, charitable gaming generated more than $1.7 billion — that's a 560% increase in just five years." At the same time, she said, tribal casinos are confined to traditional areas and thus are being "boxed out" as other gambling grows. "They are held to a stricter set of rules, bound by federal oversight and denied the ability to expand or relocate under state law. This is not equity and it's not balance," O'Brien said. "Both (industries) deserve our support." During his testimony, Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, said he has received numerous emails from charitable organizations "that the sky is falling." "The more charitable gaming emails I get, the more I want to investigate these guys," he said. Rep. Lawrence Klemen, R-Bismarck, said the casino proposal reminds him of the failed Fufeng proposal. Announced in 2021and abandoned in 2023, the plan called for the China-backed company to build a corn mill on the edge of the city. It was abandoned when the Air Force declared the project a potential threat to national security. "Well, I think I've heard enough from the city of Grand Forks on this subject. I don't think we should be approving what they do in the name of economic development," he said. Later in the session, O'Brien rose to address "hurtful" comments. "Our discussion should focus on the merits of the issue at hand and not on questioning each other's motives," she said, reminding members about decorum. "... While I would accept an apology, the damage has been done and I expect more from this chamber." According to a report filed Thursday by Forum Communications columnist Rob Port , Klemen did email an apology to O'Brien and Rep. Jayme Davis, R-Rolette, who is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota House advances $50M in state funds for presidential library
The last steel beam is hoisted into place at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora on Aug. 14, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) The North Dakota House advanced an amendment to the Department of Commerce budget Wednesday that would add $50 million in state funding and a $20 million Bank of North Dakota loan for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The 53-40 vote followed lengthy discussion, with some members questioning why the $50 million was first introduced last Friday and did not receive a full policy committee hearing. The funding proposed in Senate Bill 2018 would be in addition to $50 million in state funds the Legislature approved in 2019. Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, who proposed the additional library funding, said the $50 million would only be available if the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation matches it with private donations. The goal is to add to the library's endowment so interest from the funds could help cover operational costs, he said. 'As we all know, museums just don't make money,' Nathe said. Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library crosses construction milestone Construction of the library is on schedule near Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the tourist town of Medora, with a grand opening planned for July 4, 2026. In 2019, then-Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill authorizing a $50 million endowment for the library that was contingent on the library foundation raising $100 million in private donations. Nathe said inflation and other impacts after the COVID-19 pandemic drove up the cost of multi-year projects like the presidential library. Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, said he only supported the funding in 2019 because he was told that would be the only request for state dollars to support the presidential library. Koppelman, who voted against the new funding, also took issue with the dollars being proposed to the House Appropriations Committee rather than a policy committee. 'We might as well not have policy committees if we're just going to put policy in budget bills whenever we feel like it,' Koppelman said. 'This is a pretty big policy shift to say we're going to double what we did before after we were told that was it.' Rep. Jared Hendrix, R-West Fargo, who also voted against the amendment, said he worries that taxpayers would be on the hook to fill funding gaps for the library. 'I think we would be kidding ourselves if we're going to say that we're not going to be coming back in the future for many years, and decades, to come to ask for more money because these libraries are not sustainable,' Hendrix said. The bill also contains a $20 million line of credit from the state-owned Bank of North Dakota for the library to access during the 2025-27 biennium. The goal of the loan is to help fund construction if there are donations pledged that have yet to be received. Lawmakers approved a similar $70 million line of credit for the library in the 2023 session, which the library foundation has not accessed. 'That we haven't touched our $70 million line of credit with the state shows that we are being responsible about this and trying to raise as much private funds as possible,' said Matt Briney, spokesperson for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. To date, the foundation has raised $286 million in private donations for the library project, he said. 'If we get all the private funding for the library, that would essentially be $500 million for the library construction and the endowment contributions,' Briney said. A $70 million line of credit for the library was included in the state Parks and Recreation budget. However, the latest amendment reduces it to $20 million. Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said lawmakers intend to only include the loan in one budget. The bill states that if the loan is not repaid by June 30, 2027, lawmakers would be asked to consider repaying it. Lawmakers also added a provision that would require admission to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library to be free for children under 18. Rep. Vicky Steiner, R-Dickinson, who voted in support of the library funding, said former President Theodore Roosevelt was 'larger than life.' She said the library could inspire children for generations. 'This will put us on the map internationally,' Steiner said. She added the library will help tell the story of North Dakota and could influence more investment and people coming to the state. Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library bill aims for federal cost-share, access to artifacts The House is expected to vote on the overall bill Thursday. The library funding also would need to be considered by the Senate. The presidential library endowment is managed by the state Department of Trust Lands. The balance was about $54.5 million as of Jan. 31, according to Land Commissioner Joe Heringer. The presidential library also received $4 million in state funding through the Department of Commerce Destination Development grant program. The funding was designated for recreation trails, paths and pavilions around the library grounds to connect with nearby tourist and recreation sites. In addition, the library received nearly $500,000 from the state Outdoor Heritage Fund for a native plant seeding project. There's also an effort to secure federal funding for up to $50 million for the library. The U.S. Senate passed the legislation last year but the House did not act on it. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., reintroduced the legislation in February, with Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., as a co-sponsor. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks casino plan could get new life as amendment
Mar. 26—BISMARCK — A plan to someday build an American Indian casino in Grand Forks could be getting a second chance. After a bill to allow the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa to operate outside its borders failed to earn approval in the state Senate earlier this year, the plan has re-emerged as a proposed amendment to Senate Bill 2018, an appropriations bill related to the Department of Commerce. The amendment was discussed Wednesday afternoon in a meeting of the House Education and Environment Committee. The committee did not vote on the amendment but only heard testimony, including from Rep. Emily O'Brien, R-Grand Forks, and Mayor Brandon Bochenski. O'Brien made the proposal, saying she sees it as an "opportunity for the state to support local and tribal (economic development)." She said the state shouldn't stand in the way of what she considers local development decisions. During Wednesday's committee hearing, O'Brien cited her own written testimony supporting the proposed amendment to SB 2018. She said the casino proposal is "designed to create jobs, revenue and revitalization" for Grand Forks and the area. In North Dakota, the Department of Commerce oversees the state's Tourism Division. "This aligns with the Grand Forks strategy to improve economic (and) community development, and quality of life and attract visitors and new residents," she said. "This is a perfect fit for the Department of Commerce's budget and meeting their mission of 'leading the efforts to attract, retain and expand wealth and talent in North Dakota.'" Technically, proponents are seeking a change to state law that will allow the Turtle Mountain Band to operate a casino outside of its traditional boundaries. It's just one of a number of steps that must occur before a casino could begin construction in Grand Forks, which is roughly 170 miles from the Turtle Mountain Band's headquarters. The tribe hopes to build a casino and "high-end resort " along the west side of Interstate 29, just south of the Grand Forks city limits. Expected to cost upwards of $300 million, the resort and casino would likely employ some 800, making it one of the city's top 10 employers, according to data compiled in a 2022 feasibility study. If built, the casino could see as much as $80 million in gross annual gaming revenue in its first year and $90 million by year five, the study predicted. That does not include revenue from food and beverage sales, lodging and other amenities. The tribe already owns the land, but needs the change in state law to allow it to operate outside of its current borders. If that's approved, it would also need a series of other approvals — at the local, state and federal level — before construction could begin. Originally, the proposal to allow the tribe to operate in Grand Forks County was presented to the Legislature in Senate Bill 2376. It failed to get out of the Senate, falling 29-15 in a mid-February vote. Opponents have said they worry about a casino's impact on legal charitable gaming. They also cited concerns about a potential increase in gambling addiction, while some wonder if it would start a movement of casino projects in other cities. O'Brien said in her testimony that she frequently requests reports on charitable gaming in Grand Forks and "if they suffer losses, we can evaluate the best path forward," although she said it's unlikely any trends would develop for a few years. She also wrote in her testimony that the state "is dedicated to raising awareness and stopping gambling addictions in North Dakota," noting the balance of the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Fund was $1.2 million last session. Bochenski and the Grand Forks City Council have been amenable to the proposal. Earlier this year, the council voted to enter into a non-binding letter of intent to help move the plan forward, while Bochenski testified in favor of the plan during a Senate committee hearing on Feb. 5. At the time, he noted that the tribe is not seeking any sort of city funding incentive. "This is my second term and this is the first time a $300 million project has come to us that isn't asking for anything. Every time somebody comes in, they want an incentive. Quite frankly, (other projects) want the moon and we have to try to deliver that or they will find greener pastures. That's not the case with this one," he said. "On top of that, the economic impact numbers speak for themselves." Wednesday, he told the House committee that even if the amendment is added to SB 2018, and even if the bill gets final approval, it could be as long as five years before construction would begin. A committee member asked Bochenski about taxation. If the casino is built, the land upon which it is constructed would be considered tribal trust and therefore would be exempt from traditional taxation. Specifically, the casino would be on a small portion of the 146 acres the tribe owns at the site; the rest of the land — the portion that doesn't have the casino building itself — would be taxed as usual, Bochenski said. Further, the city and the tribe have discussed annual payments from the tribe to local taxing entities in lieu of typical taxes. "There are really two ways the local subdivisions will get funding (in lieu of taxes). Aside from the economic impact it would bring to the community, you also have a small portion that would be in trust but the rest of the land would pay taxes as a normal entity would," Bochenski said. "The other way is through a community host services agreement. We'll have that spelled out. That's a piece that needs to be solved before this can move forward. What exactly is going to be the benefit for the local subdivisions? We've had conversations with them. They do expect something or they won't be supportive of the project and I'm not going to be supportive of the project." O'Brien said that even if the committee approves the amendment, SB 2018 still has several legislative steps to pass before it can be approved.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Dakota Office of Legal Immigration proposes rebranding itself as Office of Global Talent
Katie Ralston Howe, director of workforce development for the North Dakota Department of Commerce, delivers remarks Aug. 21, 2024, during a Global Talent Summit at the Heritage Center. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) The North Dakota Office of Legal Immigration – which some lawmakers wanted to eliminate – seeks a name change to better reflect the agency's work. The new name would be Office of Global Talent as proposed in an amendment to the budget bill for the Department of Commerce. The legislation, Senate Bill 2018, passed the Senate last month and advances to the House. The proposal comes after Rep. Nico Rios, R-Williston, sponsored House Bill 1493 to get rid of the office entirely. That bill failed in the House on Feb. 18 with a 67-22 vote. More 2025 legislative session coverage Lawmakers created the Office of Legal Immigration in 2023 as part of a solution to address ongoing workforce shortages across the state. Katie Ralston Howe, director of the workforce division of the Department of Commerce, said the name Office of Global Talent better reflects the mission, which is helping employers attract talent from outside of the United States. The office does not process visa applications or work with foreign workers directly. 'Language is important,' Ralston Howe said. In the past 18 months, members of the office have been doing a lot of clarification on what the office doesn't do because 'legal immigration' is in the name. She added she understands the confusion because online searches for 'immigration support' or 'immigration help' list the Office of Legal Immigration as one of the top results. During legislative discussion, Sen. Michael Dwyer, R-Bismarck, said Office of Global Talent is a better name. 'With the hot button issue that immigration is today, it just seems like a more appropriate term,' Dwyer said. The office has recently hired a global talent coordinator who will begin work in the coming weeks, bringing the total number of employees to two with additional leadership support from the Department of Commerce, Ralston Howe said. The office does not provide any immigration or customs enforcement, legal counseling for immigrants, or employer certification for potential visa applicants, which falls under the U.S. Department of Labor, Ralston Howe said in submitted testimony. The office does connect employers to resources and education on how to tap into the international labor pool through different visa programs, but those employers must all demonstrate to the Labor Department that their open position could not be filled by a North Dakotan or other U.S.-based worker. She said workforce initiatives at the Department of Commerce and other state agencies have a combined goal of increasing the state's workforce by 2% of average total employment over the previous year, which is about 10,000 workers. 'When we look at the holistic effort across all agencies that are tied into North Dakota's workforce system, that 2% increase is huge,' Ralston Howe said. The office has assisted employers bringing 13 foreign workers and their families to the state since fall 2024, she said. At least four of those workers have moved to the Harvey area and are working in the health care and accounting fields with their children becoming new Harvey Hornets. 'They are filling critical needs that not only would be critical in a community like Harvey, but all across the state,' she said. However, Ralston Howe said the numbers of workers moving to the state might not be the best measure for the office because it works with employers seeking those foreign workers, not the employees themselves. She added more than 200 employers and community organizations have reached out to the office for assistance since the office was established in 2023. Study dives into how legal immigrants can boost North Dakota workforce Rios, the lawmaker who proposed eliminating the office, is not convinced the office is necessary. Rios told lawmakers during a hearing in February that he wanted more of the state's tax dollars to focus on recruiting American workers from across the country. He also suggested the state's Find The Good Life campaign, another program designed to recruit workers to North Dakota, could be used as a vehicle to target migrant communities. Rep. Karen Grindberg, R-Fargo, a member of the House Industry, Business and Labor Committee that heard the bill, said the committee recommended a 'do not pass' on the bill. 'This committee felt that eliminating this office is detrimental to one of the biggest challenges facing our state, that being the workforce shortage,' Grindberg said during debate on the House floor. 'This office is a critical component of providing a comprehensive workforce solution.' The House overwhelmingly defeated the bill. In the coming weeks, House lawmakers will take up the Department of Commerce budget bill, including the office's name change. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
