[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6326956,"mediaKeyId","2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e","parentId",2323575,"title","Committee clears cigar-lounge bill with pipe-tobacco removal, 4-2","audioSeconds",2602,"startMs",2203000,"endMs",4805000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e&start=2203&end=4805","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e/thumbnail_2203000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326956/North-Dakota/Committee-clears-cigar-lounge-bill-with-pipe-tobacco-removal-4-2","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326956-8b1d82240d4c2a981d8abf57863de1c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956513&Signature=CldhKyIDJuD8euSqhyGexxMwLc596JOeQlL0m3ZtGynMgsxIVlsXdY4x6VopFsAY9qTLVhao3np90VJGt1f8F6XR-eApTx1Iz5527hSjEmfhhjlYv8lsKXz-JyDPmdVrzA-VNarPm0UAUdia0QDg2pbowYkdl8cOmQL0VwtE1D7hGV8mZx5ZN818vDbxoWm2vN4O46lSIcPdNEcUVsFm2-Gj2XlXq42WCi6~04Lj8vX35DufWkMoIbr0RlWkS2aBgtdi-0xnv55lpIQeN89OcqgyY45OOrolKmriiMu2Hf1UhP5l5RONFTKE1NpZeLn12AMr22-h3ZZ00wCssTouig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee advanced House Bill 14-40, a proposal to clarify permitting for cigar lounges, after adopting an amendment that removed pipe tobacco from the exemption and made a drafting-word change. The committee passed the bill as amended by a 4-2 vote.

Representative Dan Ruby of District 38, the bill sponsor, told the committee the bill fixes an implementation problem from last session’s enactment by allowing a new cigar lounge to operate in its first year and meet the statutory 15% cigar-and-pipe-sales threshold at the end of that year rather than requiring proof of prior sales on day one. \"If they don't, they don't get a renewal,\" Ruby said, describing the change as a cleanup to allow startups to obtain a permit.

The original draft added pipe tobacco to the indoor-smoking carve-out. That addition drew opposition from public-health and local-government witnesses. Andrew Horn, coalition program director for Tobacco Free North Dakota, urged a do-not-pass recommendation, saying the bill \"eases requirements for cigar lounges\" and would expose employees and patrons to secondhand smoke that cannot be fully removed by ventilation. \"Clean air must remain the standard to protect health,\" Horn said.

Mike Crumwoody of the American Heart Association and Ben Hansen of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network also testified in opposition, warning the change would erode the state’s 2012 smoke-free law (Measure 4) and could invite additional carve-outs.

Susan Koehler, substance-abuse-prevention coordinator for the City of Bismarck, said local voters had recently approved smoke-free protections and opposed the bill because it would create enforcement challenges and \"expose others to secondhand smoke.\"

Shannon Fleisher, associate director with the Tax Department, explained the department's role in permitting: businesses submit total sales and cigar-sales figures and provide supporting records for renewal, but the statute does not require the Tax Commissioner to independently confirm those figures. Fleisher said the department had received one application (the Mandan lounge) and had not denied any applications under the current law.

Senator Wallen moved an amendment to remove pipe tobacco and to change a drafting choice from \"does not\" back to \"may not.\" The amendment passed on a roll call. Senator Romo moved a due-pass motion on the bill as amended; Senator Wallen seconded. The committee later voted to advance the bill as amended 4-2 and selected a Senate carrier to take the bill forward.

The committee discussion also clarified that local zoning authority remains intact and that the 15% gross-receipts threshold for cigar sales remains part of the law; the amendment removed the new pipe-tobacco carve-out and preserved the startup-renewal allowance.

The transcript shows multiple requests to draft technical clarifications; committee legal counsel agreed to prepare amendments for the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Taxation Mon, Feb 17, 2025 2:30 PM-5:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee voted 4-2 to advance House Bill 14-40 after amending the bill to remove pipe tobacco from the indoor-smoking exemption and to change a drafting term.","taxTitle","Finance and Taxation, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28904,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326957,"Committee backs higher tobacco tax, 5-1, to include vaping and e-cigarette products",693,1009000,1702000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e&start=1009&end=1702","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e/thumbnail_1009000.jpg","/articles/6326957/North-Dakota/Committee-backs-higher-tobacco-tax-5-1-to-include-vaping-and-e-cigarette-products","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326957-0c7965b45ff436e999e8dae50e937a17/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956513&Signature=iwUBZ5S~bHr3b3sRKCItYhTr-zAwU1qUlbsEM2OGYmm4RYOB9ZRVYIcuxSdD4KzXSTOPI2N-m0xo-PhXoJiR5HjQyB~W0uT3iyoKklMCId2VmKCZ~kIQB4Kx5OgrPETUkOf57MX1Cn~R5m8zeAPHqEU3zxqnqXeS~dhg9W9pHZoTYf3pBugH4Xe4tRDZHr8jwhEH5IdeSSkWxFJWOnx1rd46hYehSSPbUzAFfvcbnSk0E4T-tDYuoZfi1r~lXj4k2kEzadwYQjyi2xYMeF52MMQVHnaNQxMU9Hc8YcnyIgtOdHysg2QM-RpiSeGbQ2lLOmZdZUKi2oqP0ddTJ~cKKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee gave Senate Bill 22-81 a 5-1 due-pass recommendation after debate on whether the measure would deter youth use or disproportionately affect lower-income smokers.

Senator Wallen moved the due-pass recommendation, saying the state remains the lowest among neighboring states and the change would bring taxation of vaping and e-cigarette products in line with cigarettes. \"We do need to start taxing these other products that are not currently taxed such as the vaping products,\" Wallen said.

Senator Powers opposed the measure on equity and revenue grounds, arguing that cigarette taxes fall disproportionately on lower-income residents. Powers said the state already collects substantial revenue from tobacco and questioned whether tax changes should be used to expand treatment for substance issues instead. \"Cigarettes are generally consumed by lower income people and they don't need to be taxed,\" Powers said.

Committee testimony noted the current cigarette tax of $0.44 and the bill's proposed increase to $0.69; witnesses also compared neighboring-state rates (Minnesota $3.04, Montana $1.70, South Dakota $1.53). Proponents said the bill's intent was to reduce youth use rather than raise revenue.

The roll call recorded five yes votes and one no vote; the committee announced the bill passed 5-1 and asked for a chamber carrier. Senator Wallen agreed to carry the bill.

No amendments were adopted during the committee action recorded in the transcript.","The Finance and Taxation Committee voted 5-1 to give Senate Bill 22-81 a due-pass recommendation; the bill would raise the cigarette tax from $0.44 to $0.69 and extend taxes to e-cigarette and vaping products.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326958,"Senate committee rejects 3% cap on political subdivision budgets, 4-2",344,254000,598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e&start=254&end=598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e/thumbnail_254000.jpg","/articles/6326958/North-Dakota/Senate-committee-rejects-3-cap-on-political-subdivision-budgets-4-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326958-649f752af1a3d4ca45c254d70933925f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956513&Signature=GPlYI-GSP4F9EZ4ffx-UlocG-I50ho9z-oSHJo7-jLa1o30Yl-7KCb3oqwJvJ9vpbuezRuVYWFzFlgXtqyi6ktqcv42NPY0SUhIMr8vhMANY4vqMvznZNXMPBVVgOi-wJr0ObIGOAKxgqsL2WOm-BcsgQEDwnhGwrew2auslZ2qL66uUJA0U2AuAmTqcQr8rXudInFbDMFUzf26M7XBt9yem175E2NJoD-Gvh1rHiGySV8j6oVhSyLFoQ-bDzRnZq2MiekDeju8euY0wBJq3L41u6iVXmlObRUK4DEOUk1fpMowDGTJTfsa0s6IeBMUL3-dAGKSljDp4UsuroepnKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee voted 4-2 on a do-not-pass recommendation for Senate Bill 23-78, a proposal to cap the budgets of political subdivisions at the consumer price index.

Senator Jason Rummel, a sponsor of the do-not-pass motion, warned the cap could force cities and other local authorities to reduce or eliminate essential services. \"You would cause a very severe look at their entire budget, and they would have to, start reducing services to be able to stay within our 3% cap,\" Rummel said, citing recent double-digit inflation as an example of conditions that could make the cap unworkable.

Senator Patton agreed, saying fee-for-service operations (for example, water and wastewater utilities and garbage collection) often face cost drivers the state cannot control. \"We don't know what the fuel costs are going to be,\" Patton said. \"If we limit that, then we say we're either going to cut that service or we're going to have to find other resources to meet the demands.\"

Chairman Weber cast one of two no votes on the motion. The roll call recorded vice chair Romo, Senator Patton, Senator Powers and Senator Wallen voting for the do-not-pass recommendation; Chairman Weber and Senator Marsali voted against it. The committee announced the result as a 4-2 do-not-pass.

Committee members discussed competing legislation from the House that would address similar budget-cap concerns by a different method. Senator Rummel said he preferred waiting to compare approaches. \"I think there's other methods that may work a little bit better coming our way,\" he said.

No formal amendments or follow-up actions were taken at that time; committee members said they would need a chamber carrier if the House did not pursue the same language.

The committee moved on to other business after the vote.","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee voted 4-2 for a \"do not pass\" recommendation on Senate Bill 23-78, which would have limited political subdivision budgets to the consumer price index, citing concerns about restricting fee-for-service revenues and essential services.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326954,"Committee discusses making tribal land taxation a formal study; decision deferred for drafting",684,4689000,5373000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e&start=4689&end=5373","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323575-87d9bcc8592b52c504a28c1ebb67706e/thumbnail_4689000.jpg","/articles/6326954/North-Dakota/Committee-discusses-making-tribal-land-taxation-a-formal-study-decision-deferred-for-drafting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326954-d59e3c40b2baa997c2df5878748bb5fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1774956513&Signature=VoYpd8dKDYxcJABQUK9PPX8ujsepo~CvwMuVNQyiE19w1cQ0b34~OLQV9jm6JWVECxAZGXLWQyCGFdnrKc8BdHOCHEMUt4~OxsaSoQK1aIWnw-4mfi5Y-F0bmRhSuozgQcaUQYL6W2v9Bi438OcWeQAADE3AcUrYPNOh5aePfft7gY0m-dhvdn1Pl~dLNiOdZ8o~-RjUMFStYSYMNvsMDhKxLTPIVrXqR6VIggVRMJ25Aq19ajHcTh27V1Rn7aUJZ7UhxoP6FxyronpNH0cho3no6~I6Q8I5-JuOZ3eLbR3Cb09wbiqL0eA8SpPo3AP6IPOEHEsoJieKKeaRMMWPfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators discussed whether to direct a formal study of taxation on tribal-owned land and terminology in House Bill 15-63, a House bill on taxation of land owned by enrolled tribal members on reservations.

Senators noted a difference between a \"shall consider\" study and a mandatory legislative-management (\"shall\") study. Senator Matthew (transcript reference) cautioned that shell studies (mandatory studies) place immediate demand on Legislative Council resources and can bump other priorities to the bottom of the queue. \"When we force a shell study onto it, other valuable information or studies may not take place,\" he said.

Senator Wallen argued the topic has been ongoing and that a formal study would help clarify definitions—for example, the meaning of terms such as \"enrolled member\" and how enabling acts define reservation status. Several senators encouraged staff and legislative counsel to work with the House sponsor to draft amendments reflecting the sponsor's intent so the committee can review a prepared amendment before taking action.

Committee members agreed to have legislative counsel and assigned senators prepare language and consult with Representative Davis, the bill's primary sponsor in the House. No final vote was taken on study status during the session.","Senate members debated whether to convert a proposed \"shall consider\" study on tribal land taxation into a mandatory legislative management study. Members asked legislative counsel and the bill's House sponsor to draft clarifying amendments before further action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee clears cigar-lounge bill with pipe-tobacco removal, 4-2

Committee backs higher tobacco tax, 5-1, to include vaping and e-cigarette products

Senate committee rejects 3% cap on political subdivision budgets, 4-2

Committee discusses making tribal land taxation a formal study; decision deferred for drafting