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 or township roads or bridges they deem of importance). The $336 million NDSU Research and Extension budget includes the number one SBARE pick which is known as the Waldron Hall replacement or the Field Lab project fully funded at $97 million. 

From there House Agriculture was taking on HB 1423, the zoning bill sponsored by Representative Thomas. Counties, Townships, ND Farm Bureau, ND Farmer’s Union, ND Soybean Growers Association, ND Corn Growers Association and the Department of Environmental Quality were hosted by the Agriculture Department on the 6th floor to try and come up with a bill that could move forward. It passed out of committee with a Do Pass recommendation to the floor.