[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6267643,"mediaKeyId","3069817-581f5a5209ec546b5057c1b3866929d2","parentId",3069817,"title","Votes at a glance: Senate approves a package of bills on coal tax, plates, water boards, human trafficking education and more","audioSeconds",1365,"startMs",1945240,"endMs",3310975,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069817-581f5a5209ec546b5057c1b3866929d2&start=1945&end=3310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069817-581f5a5209ec546b5057c1b3866929d2/thumbnail_1945240.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267643/North-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Senate-approves-a-package-of-bills-on-coal-tax-plates-water-boards-human-trafficking-education-and-more","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267643-2c95293d9481b0f35a10bd67f8ea5ffa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168259&Signature=H6qkJoRAHSqCq~HQFSxieXh~ltm1HaGgXwidbI68ne-PUPnq8-UC9MKEstBzPICz2nlVrwrL23wwyQouwjgYgTs2UBHZsc4tzKmW4bgIx8~g5beD8mPVEAhR36Bsz2E2VLpSlvrtcraS~swr1LEEg-WrXk0FobLKjc1meehiVlYzx7QeT4OaG972b1j~0uDniFC~4D8uPbSUd5GM7hyZqy4sY8IrYkUcq~PHe4yOcWAL9AwT-3EUfbHopCXc1TVw11mtefeD3JiLd2~tyPkGwtplyPDaxIVwQKtUXH37Nd2bcsGQ5T3vUFgiOLT2nyS8lrQDzo2bXC~PjgavYxCtxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-04-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate considered and passed multiple bills with floor action and final tallies as summarized below. Most measures received routine floor consideration; where the Senate adopted House amendments or conference committee reports, that action is noted.

House Bill 1279 — partial exemption from coal conversion tax and lignite research tax: Senator Weber said the bill requires certain coal producers to begin paying 50% of the coal conversion tax from June 30, 2026, through June 30, 2029, with allocations to the Legacy Fund and subsequent changes after 2029. The Appropriations Committee reported a 15–1 due pass recommendation. Final tally: 45 yeas, 2 nays; bill passed.

Senate Bill 23 80 — liability for commercial entities that publish or distribute material harmful to a minor: Returned from the House with a small House amendment; the chamber concurred and the Senate gave final passage with a 47–0 tally. Engrossing language creates a new section in chapter 51-07 of the North Dakota Century Code addressing commercial entity liability and penalty provisions as printed on the journal.

Senate Bill 22 76 — joint water resource boards: The bill amends joint exercise-of-powers provisions to mandate formation of joint water resource boards for projects affecting two or more counties. Sponsors said changes aim to improve cooperation and efficient use of funds for construction and maintenance. Final tally: 47 yeas, 0 nays; bill passed.

Senate Bill 2,070 — long-term care resident rights update: The conference committee reported a primarily grammatical set of House amendments plus a clarification on refund timelines for overpayments at long-term care facilities. The Senate adopted the conference committee report and then passed the bill 47–0.

Senate Bill 21 33 — blackout license plates: The conference committee settled on a $25 per registration fee with no initial $15 fee; fiscal note indicates an approximate $1,000,000 fiscal impact. Sponsor described the plate as a black plate with contrasting white font. Final tally on passage: 39 yeas, 8 nays; bill passed.

Senate Bill 23 30 — human trafficking and exploitation prevention education in schools: Conference committee reinstated human trafficking education with funding through a grant held by the Attorney General's Office rather than the struck $48,000 appropriation. The committee narrowed the grades to be taught (grades 6, 10 and 12) and limited the program to public schools; the AG's office has a $685,000 grant to fund the effort per floor remarks. Final tally: 47 yeas, 0 nays; bill passed.

Senate Bill 21 80 — public-comment policy for public entities: Conference committee reconciled chamber differences on when public comment must be allowed; the final language requires a minimum ability to comment on agenda items from the current and preceding meeting and allows political subdivisions to craft policies within set limits. The Senate passed the bill 43 yeas, 4 nays; some senators expressed concerns about operational burdens on political subdivisions.

Senate Bill 21 12 — Life Skills and Transition Center amendments: The bill clarifies use of the Life Skills and Transition Center as a short-term (90-day) safety net for individuals whose behavioral needs exceed other settings, adds a study and includes a sunset tied to the next legislative session. Final tally: 36 yeas, 11 nays; bill passed.

Senate Bill 22 82 — employer childcare contribution tax credit: Conference committee increased the employer tax-credit rate and adjusted per-employer and per-child limits to encourage employer participation. Final tally: 47 yeas, 0 nays; bill passed.

These bills were read into the record with engrossing language or conference committee reports as noted and will proceed per legislative process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","69th Legislative Assembly - Senate Monday, Apr 21, 2025 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The North Dakota Senate passed a set of bills on taxation, resource management, education and administrative policy; several measures advanced by conference committee reports or Senate amendments were adopted with recorded tallies below.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28311,"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},6267648,"Senate funds tax commissioner's budget, adds salary adjustments and one-time tax-relief admin funding",569,1127820,1696840,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069817-581f5a5209ec546b5057c1b3866929d2&start=1127&end=1696","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069817-581f5a5209ec546b5057c1b3866929d2/thumbnail_1127820.jpg","/articles/6267648/North-Dakota/Senate-funds-tax-commissioners-budget-adds-salary-adjustments-and-one-time-tax-relief-admin-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267648-0fc6e91999885b8695d4f3a92a9809a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168259&Signature=oIvj4mCKQqEgOg3NoHpQP2V-WhFXmXljg5mLwiIgvizanlAoYetgL6zN96hHtM0qu8Lyp8bXGTV-ecTKqTtMgOP3ngvmgpMbFRdbLg~L9YS88lMAkBdtWKeYF364QOB0cX92JkCvQwcXBSSk7N29VrJoQfXTmWh6J-E0muNp3geyvM31H9lyW3bIVlWolvo1-~y5BZNWyWxL8r8i-WRlCKEef~fvmH1D8muron0OrOvvnA0af7aj70h8zDe8Jk8n~1jzeoLSrdP9eJbfhdKf8HcXNmn6tGDUO0S-np2-l3LgEheZdKKdluxBADD1AxP01WKlFwTP3FandDCID6-J4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Wojcick presented House Bill 1006 as the appropriation for the office of the State Tax Commissioner and described three changes in the Senate amendments: ongoing salary adjustments totaling $511,800, a one-time $1.5 million general-fund appropriation for administration and advertising of property tax relief programs, and an expansion of the primary residence credit to include properties owned through a cooperative.

The sponsor said $215,011 of the $511,800 is for reclassification of FTE positions and $296,789 is for equity adjustments tied to increased responsibilities for administering property tax relief programs. \"This is an effort to help provide for that,\" Wojcick said, explaining higher skill sets and IT demands in the office.

The nut graf: The amendments aim to bolster the tax commissioner's ability to administer existing and forthcoming property tax relief measures by funding staff reclassifications and short-term operating needs for outreach and IT, while extending the primary residence credit to cooperative ownership in a change the sponsor described as having a minimal fiscal impact.

Senator Wojcick gave additional agency background, noting the Tax Commissioner's office administers more than 30 tax types across six divisions, processed about 40,000 primary residence credit applications last year, handled more than 24,000 phone calls, and reported a 99% approval rating for citizens contacting the office. The sponsor urged the Senate to fully fund the amended budget to ensure the department can implement tax relief programs enacted this session.

The Senate adopted the proposed amendment and gave final passage to House Bill 1006. The secretary recorded a final tally of 47 yeas, 0 nays; the bill passed.

Details and fiscal context: The sponsor described the agency as having reduced its FTE count over the past decade but still meeting statutory obligations; specific long-term fiscal estimates for the cooperative expansion were described as \"minimal\" and \"not determined\" in floor remarks.

","The Senate approved amendments to House Bill 1006 adding $511,800 in ongoing general-fund salary adjustments and $1.5 million in one-time funding for administration of property tax relief programs; the bill passed unanimously 47–0.",{"_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},6267653,"Senate approves amended bill directing study of rare earth elements in North Dakota lignite",462,638774,1101570,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069817-581f5a5209ec546b5057c1b3866929d2&start=638&end=1101","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069817-581f5a5209ec546b5057c1b3866929d2/thumbnail_638774.jpg","/articles/6267653/North-Dakota/Senate-approves-amended-bill-directing-study-of-rare-earth-elements-in-North-Dakota-lignite","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267653-ec25272147983e5715cf814fbfb2ae13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168259&Signature=GJrWMF3ORrFuX-i-x1fZXYRjXcVo3aiExrIjoSn9hkRlZxT0hCQZe4hnNLANjHHNslmfOai8xHkdpMo6bXQDg6vwsnhS9z8HnwFglkKjjrmX-pKWX3k7OcmNFwC~DWvlIhvN2yVJZyxOn6Eu~Axj6WpDPfsMi35iafvrepcUwI478KN93KKXgUPxbRqxxxFdNMMit-s8Glo6Umlv4Fu0~n-6B2UkDkXdrng4D7DYDnAUHYc05T~ZIpWH6PuUbPLdOvnS6WZukFs7t56mUBPbZ6zqgMv79ipMwRgTdmDTSuJ6weliEJHQqfs8LIp9j2yzAOKp4Nq4VacKrxTNupEzpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Behm, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, told colleagues the committee replaced the original House language in House Bill 1459 with a narrower amendment that declares state policy on rare earth elements, mandates a formal study, and clarifies ownership on state lands.

The amendment was presented as a step to position North Dakota to develop domestic supplies of critical and rare earth minerals found in lignite coal seams. \"North Dakota is well positioned to be that source,\" Behm said, adding that research led by the Lignite Energy Research Council and the EERC is \"paving the way to extract these resources efficiently and responsibly.\" The amendment also removes an initial provision addressing post-combustion byproducts that counsel advised was too complex to resolve in this bill.

The nut graf: The amendment narrows the bill to three discrete tasks: (1) a public policy declaration that the state will evaluate and responsibly manage rare earth minerals, (2) a mandated study to provide data and recommendations for future legislative or regulatory action, and (3) a clarification that rare earth elements found on state lands are part of the state's mineral estate. Those changes moved HB 1459 from a broader, investor-certainty bill to a study-and-policy framework.

In debate, senators asked whether private landowner interests were engaged in the drafting. Senator Bain asked, \"Were the land owners associations or the land, mineral rights owners part of your negotiation?\" Behm answered, \"Yes, they were.\" The sponsor also described an estimate that North Dakota lignite seams contain an \"estimated 800 year supply of lignite, rich in valuable rare earth elements.\" The amendment record notes collaboration with the attorney general's office, the Department of Mineral Resources, the Office of State Lands, the State Geological Survey, and the governor's office.

The Senate adopted the amendment and then gave final passage to House Bill 1459 as amended. The secretary recorded a final tally of 46 yeas, 0 nays and 1 absent. The Senate also passed the emergency clause.

Background and details: Sponsors said the original House bill left open questions about ownership of minerals in coal contracts (pre‑combustion versus post‑combustion) and lacked a compensation framework for mineral rights; the amendment was developed to address those legal and policy concerns before pursuing substantive statutory changes. The study directive is intended to gather technical and legal information to inform any future code changes.

Next steps: With final passage and emergency status, the bill as amended is placed on the legislative calendar for the next order and the mandated study will be carried out as directed by the enacted language.

","The North Dakota Senate adopted an amendment to House Bill 1459 to declare state policy on rare earth elements, require a formal study, and clarify ownership of those minerals on state lands; the bill then passed unanimously with an emergency clause.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Senate approves a package of bills on coal tax, plates, water boards, human trafficking education and more

Senate funds tax commissioner's budget, adds salary adjustments and one-time tax-relief admin funding

Senate approves amended bill directing study of rare earth elements in North Dakota lignite