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 podium:

8:30 a.m. – SB 2259 – which sets commodity group prices for the audits by our state auditor’s office and would also provide an opt-out to go to a private firm.

 
9:00 a.m. –  SB 2036 – which unified disparate sections of Century Code when it comes to water drainage. 

10:00 a.m. – SB 2178 – special Township Road Fund in Political Subcommittee while House Transportation was on SB 2111 which would allow vehicle titles to be electronic. It is the first step towards that goal. Bankers came in favor, which helps. 

10:30 a.m. – HB 1076 – which was a Department of Water Resources bill which liberalizes the steps farmers must follow to make a ring dike around their farm and/or hold back some water if it is on their property and would have a minimal impact elsewhere. 

10:45 a.m. –  HB 1462 – Senate Energy and Natural Resources listening to yet another water drainage bill. All morning, I ran around rooms to check on the progress of committees so that I could testify in person as time permitted. For once, most were in the same general area.

1:00 p.m. –  The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) gave a 90-minute overview of its operations and monetary asks to Senate Appropriations. 

3:00 p.m. – NDSU Research and Extension began their overview in the same committee. No testimony was taken at either of these Appropriations hearings, instead, the Agency heads gave the overview. We can testify next week or the week after they break into subcommittees, but I was there to say hello to all anyway.