701-566-9300Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #17 — Auditor Bill
SB 2259 has passed both houses. It sets North Dakota State agency commodity group fees for the State Auditor. North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) was set at $6,000 dollars and most other groups at $4,000. NDSC’s latest fee was around $17,200 and unlike other commodities, is audited every year due to its status as a […]hi
SB 2259 has passed both houses. It sets North Dakota State agency commodity group fees for the State Auditor. North Dakota Soybean Council (NDSC) was set at $6,000 dollars and most other groups at $4,000. NDSC’s latest fee was around $17,200 and unlike other commodities, is audited every year due to its status as a federal checkoff entity. Most other commodities are audited every other year....
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #16 — Back to Hearings
Today started with the weekly Thursday Ag Coalition Zoom call at 7:00 a.m. Then the hearings started with most legislators back after a few had been delayed by the latest blizzard. These are the eight hearings I have attended today, all in person, most with written testimony submitted online and many standing up at the […]hi
Today started with the weekly Thursday Ag Coalition Zoom call at 7:00 a.m. Then the hearings started with most legislators back after a few had been delayed by the latest blizzard. These are the eight hearings I have attended today, all in person, most with written testimony submitted online and many standing up at the podium:
8:30 a.m. – SB 2259 – which sets commodity group...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #15 — Some Key Points
Now that the second period starts this week here are a few things we know about the legislature and agricultural issues: There are a lot of opportunities for extra funding for county and township roads and bridges that are still alive. Some bills have been rolled into the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) budget and […]hi
Now that the second period starts this week here are a few things we know about the legislature and agricultural issues: There are a lot of opportunities for extra funding for county and township roads and bridges that are still alive. Some bills have been rolled into the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) budget and some survived intact. While there are key legislators that...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #14 — Crossover Crunch
Crossover Crunch, huh? Sounds like I just invented a new snack food or something. I am referring to the long hours legislators are putting in so that they get a break late this week and early next week as House bills go to the Senate and vice-versa. While many road and bridge infrastructure bills are […]hi
Crossover Crunch, huh? Sounds like I just invented a new snack food or something. I am referring to the long hours legislators are putting in so that they get a break late this week and early next week as House bills go to the Senate and vice-versa. While many road and bridge infrastructure bills are still alive, SB 2275 died on the Senate floor yesterday. This is the one that would have...
Murphy’s Law 2023 | #13 — Zoning, Transportation, NDSU Research and Extension
The day started by attending two full House Appropriations final budget hearings on HB 1012 (DOT), and NDSU Research and Extension HB 1020. One interesting facet of the $2.4 billion DOT bill is a new $115 million in flexible funding whereby the department can spend that on projects off the state system (such as county […]hi
The day started by attending two full House Appropriations final budget hearings on HB 1012 (DOT), and NDSU Research and Extension HB 1020. One interesting facet of the $2.4 billion DOT bill is a new $115 million in flexible funding whereby the department can spend that on projects off the state system (such as county or township roads or bridges they deem of importance). The $336 million...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #12 — Legislative Day 30 of ??
In a week or so we will be up against Crossover, the time when bills originating in one house go to the other signifying the end of the first period. If they survived, of course. Most of the bills have been heard in policy committees so they need now to get them to the floor […]hi
In a week or so we will be up against Crossover, the time when bills originating in one house go to the other signifying the end of the first period. If they survived, of course. Most of the bills have been heard in policy committees so they need now to get them to the floor for voting. The committees that are backlogged are usually Appropriations because they deal with bills that have...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2023 | #11 — Prairie Dog or SIIF
Today saw a hearing for SB 2367 which discusses how the state allocates its share of oil and gas taxes. In 2019, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI – the authority in transportation research) estimated North Dakota needed $440 million per year for 20 years to maintain our roads and bridges. This year the study […]hi
Today saw a hearing for SB 2367 which discusses how the state allocates its share of oil and gas taxes. In 2019, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI – the authority in transportation research) estimated North Dakota needed $440 million per year for 20 years to maintain our roads and bridges. This year the study says the need per year is $525 million. Our gas and oil...
Murphy’s Law 2023 | #10 — Architects, Bioscience, Drainage, Zoning
Good afternoon. The title of the blog shows a few of the topics and bills of yesterday and today. Architects and engineers need to look at and sign off on public buildings that are built in North Dakota. This includes buildings built for NDSU Research and Extension such as machine sheds and the like at […]hi
Good afternoon. The title of the blog shows a few of the topics and bills of yesterday and today. Architects and engineers need to look at and sign off on public buildings that are built in North Dakota. This includes buildings built for NDSU Research and Extension such as machine sheds and the like at their stations. SB 2347 is the number and had a hearing today. Proponents of raising the...
Murphy’s Law 2023 | #9 — There is a lot happening in Bismarck
This week saw NDSU’s Research and Extension budget hearing by the House Appropriations subcommittee which dives deeper into the details. It seems from the discussion on this bill, HB 1020, that the number one priority coming in is going to be fully funded. Now called the Ag Field Lab, this $97 million facility would be […]hi
This week saw NDSU’s Research and Extension budget hearing by the House Appropriations subcommittee which dives deeper into the details. It seems from the discussion on this bill, HB 1020, that the number one priority coming in is going to be fully funded. Now called the Ag Field Lab, this $97 million facility would be a victory for plant breeding and combatting pathology in North Dakota...
Murphy’s Law 2023 | #8 — Grain Bin and Zoning Bills
After testifying on HB 1370, which would allow a sales tax exemption on the construction of grain bins for the next two years, it came to the floor. The committee vote was 8 to 5. We expected it to be close and it turned out the ratio was kind of similar as it passed on […]hi
After testifying on HB 1370, which would allow a sales tax exemption on the construction of grain bins for the next two years, it came to the floor. The committee vote was 8 to 5. We expected it to be close and it turned out the ratio was kind of similar as it passed on the floor 55-36. So now it will crossover to the Senate for trial there.
Today, I introduced NDSGA Executive Director...