701-566-9300Murphy’s Law Blogs 2019 | #29
Finally, 2139 – the snagging and clearing bill which restores state cost share has passed both houses! This was a big deal for producers as far as I was concerned but the back and forth of the process seemed never ending. It ended up being amended to add another member to the State Water Commission […]hi
Finally, 2139 – the snagging and clearing bill which restores state cost share has passed both houses! This was a big deal for producers as far as I was concerned but the back and forth of the process seemed never ending. It ended up being amended to add another member to the State Water Commission appointed by the Governor, so it would seem to be something the Governor will sign. Along with...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #28
As bills are being agreed upon and others are being killed, in some ways things slow down as one would expect. You see signs of it as legislators from some committees begin to loiter in the hallway, take longer lunches or whatever. On the other hand, the concentration of issues going into depth as they […]hi
As bills are being agreed upon and others are being killed, in some ways things slow down as one would expect. You see signs of it as legislators from some committees begin to loiter in the hallway, take longer lunches or whatever. On the other hand, the concentration of issues going into depth as they head to Conference committee makes for plenty of consternation. People call in debts, lean...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #27
The companion bill to farm home exemption that ensures confidentiality of financials passed today. 2278 also says that if a farmer wants the exemption they must apply. NDSU Research and Extension has been having their budget heard (1020) the past two days in Senate Appropriations and the latest word is that their budgets have been […]hi
The companion bill to farm home exemption that ensures confidentiality of financials passed today. 2278 also says that if a farmer wants the exemption they must apply.
NDSU Research and Extension has been having their budget heard (1020) the past two days in Senate Appropriations and the latest word is that their budgets have been restored from cuts across the hall. That means a conference...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #26
Well, it is not directly agricultural, but the House just failed to join the Senate in overriding the Governor’s veto raising driver’s license fees. The link to agriculture is that of course, more funding for our roads and bridges would be beneficial to our producers rather than using the $5.5 million for subsidizing production of […]hi
Well, it is not directly agricultural, but the House just failed to join the Senate in overriding the Governor’s veto raising driver’s license fees. The link to agriculture is that of course, more funding for our roads and bridges would be beneficial to our producers rather than using the $5.5 million for subsidizing production of our licenses. Also less than ten minutes ago, a lobbyist asked...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #25
Yesterday was Day 55 of the up to 80 day session. Yesterday the Senate overrode the Governor’s veto of 2244 which was the increase of driver’s license fees from $15 to $30. Proponents of 2244 argued that the revenue raised per biennium (I believe I heard in the neighborhood of $5.5 million) was needed because […]hi
Yesterday was Day 55 of the up to 80 day session. Yesterday the Senate overrode the Governor’s veto of 2244 which was the increase of driver’s license fees from $15 to $30. Proponents of 2244 argued that the revenue raised per biennium (I believe I heard in the neighborhood of $5.5 million) was needed because the DOT was not charging enough to fund the expense of issuing driver’s licenses and...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #24
A Rather General Discussion: Just as an example of how things are never quite over during a session, take yesterday’s killing of 2275 on the House floor. That is an infrastructure revolving loan fund described as a companion bill to Prairie Dog (1066) which has already passed. Already this morning, language was inserted in 2020 […]hi
A Rather General Discussion: Just as an example of how things are never quite over during a session, take yesterday’s killing of 2275 on the House floor. That is an infrastructure revolving loan fund described as a companion bill to Prairie Dog (1066) which has already passed. Already this morning, language was inserted in 2020 – the State Water Commission budget bill – which does what 2275...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #23
After the fireworks yesterday on the hearing for 2346 (grain inspection and licensing), the Senate Ag Chair stated that they would not work on 1467 (shifting the enforcement of grain inspection and licensing from the PSC to the Ag Dept.) today to let emotions settle down. Then they promptly began to work on it. The […]hi
After the fireworks yesterday on the hearing for 2346 (grain inspection and licensing), the Senate Ag Chair stated that they would not work on 1467 (shifting the enforcement of grain inspection and licensing from the PSC to the Ag Dept.) today to let emotions settle down. Then they promptly began to work on it. The upshot is that a) they really want to do the best they can to modernize...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #22
Thursday, the 50th day of the session and things are getting heated in some regards as choices get made. People watching the House floor today said legislators were getting rather contentious with each other at one point. And just now in the continued hearing for 2346 – the bill that would affect changes in grain […]hi
Thursday, the 50th day of the session and things are getting heated in some regards as choices get made. People watching the House floor today said legislators were getting rather contentious with each other at one point. And just now in the continued hearing for 2346 – the bill that would affect changes in grain licensing and inspection – some emotions were at the boiling point. The Chairman...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #21
There was a residual amount of luck from St. Patty’s Day that landed on 2360 today. It passed 74 to 18 and if nothing tampers with it, North Dakota farmers will have a new farm home exemption formula. Chief sponsors were Senators Dotzenrod, Wanzek, Erbele with Representatives Holman and John Nelson. So now if 66% […]hi
There was a residual amount of luck from St. Patty’s Day that landed on 2360 today. It passed 74 to 18 and if nothing tampers with it, North Dakota farmers will have a new farm home exemption formula. Chief sponsors were Senators Dotzenrod, Wanzek, Erbele with Representatives Holman and John Nelson. So now if 66% of your gross income is from the farm, you qualify. It is in line now with the...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2019 | #20
Looks like I-94 opened up just in time to let the lawmakers go home for the weekend. 1066, the gigantic infrastructure bill coined “Operation Prairie Dog” passed both houses and is heading for the Governor. It will distribute oil tax monies to several funds and eventually end up filling counties and township buckets after some […]hi
Looks like I-94 opened up just in time to let the lawmakers go home for the weekend. 1066, the gigantic infrastructure bill coined “Operation Prairie Dog” passed both houses and is heading for the Governor. It will distribute oil tax monies to several funds and eventually end up filling counties and township buckets after some larger cities and everyone else (over one thousand in pop.) get...