House Hub City Amendment Would Grab Money from Oil Townships

A 13-page amendment tacked onto the ND Department of Trust Lands budget bill (SB 2013) would grab oil tax revenue from oil-county townships and redistribute it to non-oil townships.

The language was adopted Thursday by the House Appropriations Committee.  Other provisions in the amendment would provide funds for airports in Dickinson and Williston, but would reduce the Hub City allocation to city government and school districts in Williston, Minot and Dickinson.

Click here to read more.

Pipeline Siting Legislation Receives Final Approval

The ND Senate this week concurred with House amendments to SB 2286. The legislation will consolidate state and local hearings associated with siting gas and liquid transmission pipelines.

The bill is intended to streamline the siting process, which currently includes hearings by the Public Service Commission, after which local planning and zoning boards hold hearings to consider conditional use permits associated with the pipeline project.

In his remarks on the floor, the bill’s sponsor Senator Don Schaible, R-Mott, said the legislation improves efficiency.

Click here to listen to Sen. Schaible’s comments.

The bill includes an interim legislative study to ensure the new process addresses local concerns.

Truck Permit Legislation on its way to Governor’s Desk

Legislation intended to improve the operation of WDEA’s Uniform Truck Permit System received final legislative approval this week.

HB 1320  was the product of a working group representing WDEA, the ND Association of Counties, ND townships and the oil and gas industry. 

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot, explained during floor remarks that the legislation addresses problems with the permit system, and will facilitate expansion plans.

Click here to listen to Rep. Ruby’s explanation.

House Approves Bill Restoring Sakakawea Mineral Rights

By a vote of 79-11, the ND House this week gave final approval to a bill that restores mineral rights that were taken when the floodwaters of Garrison Dam formed Lake Sakakawea.

SB 2134 would use the old high-water mark of the Missouri River channel as the demarcation point for mineral leasing. The bill sets up a timeline for the state Land Board to distribute bonus, rent and royalty payments that have been kept in escrow, covering an estimated 25,000 acres of mineral rights.

Supporters such as Rep. George Keiser, R-Bismarck, see the state’s previous action as a land grab. 

Click here to listen to Rep. Keiser’s remarks. 

The bill carries a fiscal note indicating payments could total nearly $188 million. 

Click here to read article by Amy Dalrymple, Forum News Service.

The Senate wants to maintain the status quo with a five-percent tax when extraction oil is less than $90 per barrel, and five-percent when it's above $90.

The House wants to levy a flat five-percent extraction tax no matter what the price of oil is. North Dakota producers also pay a five-percent production tax.

Security Screening to become Permanent Fixture at Capitol

North Dakota is generally considered a pretty safe place to live, but visitors to the State Capitol will have to get used to passing through a metal detector.

The checkpoints were initiated for the 2017 legislative session as a precaution in light of ongoing protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline.  But the screening will be made permanent thanks to a provision added to the state Highway Patrol budget by the Government Operations division of the House Appropriations Committee.

A member of the committee, Rep. Mike Nathe, R-Bismarck, said times have changed and the state needs to make sure the Capitol is safe. 

Click here to listen to Rep. Nathe’s comments.

A report projecting school enrollment growth in McKenzie County shows officials and taxpayers need to get ready for more explosive growth.  The report shows an enrollment increase by 50 percent in the next five years, and by 100 percent in 10 years.