701-566-9300The bills regarding the fate of more funding for rural roads and bridges infrastructure have not made much progress and have not been released by the committees with any recommendations for “Do Pass” or Do Not Pass.” However, this is not surprising or unusual because, even if there would be support for this serious need (and I am sure there is) these committees must also consider whether the funding is a priority. If so, the funding requests contained in these bills require significant financial appropriations and must be referred to the appropriations committees in the chamber that is first considering that bill or legislation. It is a rigorous process, requiring and taking substantial time and effort.
Likewise, there does not seem to be significant movement on the major property tax relief and reform bills. Although there are multiple flavors of these property tax bills, including refunds, exemptions, rebates, modifiers on assessments, or caps on political subdivision budget increases or property assessments, there are three major bills which primarily affect the agricultural sector.
- HB1176 (often referred to as the Governor’s Bill) provides a primary residence credit. This bill had a hearing with no recommendation yet by the committee.
- HB1575 (Representative Weisz’s bill) provides for a primary residence credit and a state reimbursed taxable valuation reduction for agricultural and commercial property owned by resident individuals or entities domiciled in this state. This bill had a hearing, also with no action yet.
- SB2363 (Senator Erberle’s bill) provides a property tax credit for agricultural property owned by an individual or entity that operates a farming or ranching operation. The hearing on this bill is February 3 at 9:00 a.m. in the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. You may monitor this hearing or you can also listen at a later time to the recorded hearing on this bill or the other bills.
Property tax relief and reform appear likely to monopolize much of the full legislature’s efforts this year and could drive much, if not all, the appropriations or funding decisions. However, in the interest of farmers and ranchers and all rural North Dakota, it is important that it, in fact, does not completely do so. Farmers and ranchers definitely are deserving of property tax relief similar to non-farmers and ranchers. This relief, however, should not displace the critical and timely funding needs for improved roads and bridges in rural North Dakota for all residents, which may be approaching a crisis in our counties and townships.
Our state legislature does, in fact, listen to input from its citizens in making its decisions and enacting our laws. Please take advantage of the opportunity to contact your individual legislators with your questions and thoughts. You can locate your legislators on the Legislative Council website.