Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
The 66th Legislative Assembly was called back to order on Wednesday, Feb. 27 with committee meetings in the morning, a short floor session in the afternoon, and full committee meetings continuing until early evening. We enjoyed the crossover break and the opportunity to visit with many of you, take care of personal matters and start to gather information for the second half.
The House dealt with 545 bills and 56 resolutions in the first half of the session, which is up substantially in total numbers from the 2017 session. We defeated 180 of the bills and another 14 were withdrawn. We are completing action on the final resolutions that hadn't been heard before crossover.
The policy and appropriations committees have begun the process of holding hearings on the various Senate bills and resolutions. We have a lot of work ahead of us before we finish the session later in April.
The Government Operations Division of House Appropriations is responsible for several agency budgets during the second half of this legislative session. They are State Treasurer, Securities Department, Insurance Department, Tax Department, Department of Labor and Human Rights, Public Employees Retirement System, Retirement and Investment Office, Adjutant General, Department of Emergency Services, State Radio, Attorney General, Public Service Commission, State Auditor, and Game and Fish. The committee only has about three and a half weeks to hold the initial hearings, conduct work sessions and produce the House version of these budgets to the full Appropriations Committee for final analysis. Each week, we will provide an overview of some of the major funding initiatives included in these agency budgets.
The Human Service Committee heard several bills on Wednesday. SB 2374 calls for the state to establish a Medicaid Fraud Unit in the Department of Human Services to review potentially false Medicaid Assistance Claims. The state has been exempted from the federal requirement establishing a unit like that since the 90s due to a federal waiver based on how the state already investigates such claims. However, it appears that the state will no long receive a waiver and will need to set up a unit. The committee is seeking more clarification.
The committee also heard SB 2196 which would establish a drug fatalities review panel within the Department of Health. Proponents say the panel is needed to better track the cause of drug related deaths and help find a solution.
The Human Service Committee also heard three resolutions in their first meeting of the second half on Wednesday. HCR 3050 proposes that the legislature study the fairness and equity of the child support guidelines and the obligor model used in the state. HCR 3054 proposed the legislature study what would be needed in legislation and resources, including funding to eliminate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the state. HCR 3056 asks the legislature to study the issues and data reporting challenges related to missing and murdered indigenous people and human trafficking cases. Any study resolutions picked by legislative management would be reviewed during the interim period between sessions. The committee will act on the resolutions the week of March 3.
The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee was scheduled to hear 16 bills and one resolution in their first two days of hearings after crossover. One of the bills we have received a lot of comments on from our District is SB 2139. The bill will restore the way local snagging and clearing of waterways would be funded. It would make them eligible for the State Water Commission to cost share once again.
The Committee heard SB 2201 on Thursday. It will expand the number of days nonresident waterfowl hunters can hunt in the state. It is being opposed by hunting groups in the state and supported by others who believes it will bring more economic development opportunity to rural North Dakota. The committee took no action on the bill Thursday.
The committee will be reviewing legislation dealing with solar energy conversion facilities, oil and gas well plugging and reclamation of sites with bonds, wind reclamation fund and several other energy related bills. The committee will also review quite a few hunting bills as well as gun possession legislation that passed the Senate. It will be a very busy second half for our committees.
District 23 residents who wish to contact us about what is being discussed or proposed can email us at: [email protected] and [email protected]. Mail can be sent to us in Bismarck; c/o North Dakota House of Representatives, State Capital, 600 East Boulevard, Bismarck, ND 58505.
During the session constituents that wish to leave a message for us may call (888) 635-3447.
