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Committee approves cleanup to include tourism in primary-sector definition
Summary
House committee gave a due-pass recommendation to Senate Bill 2154, a cleanup bill that explicitly adds tourism to the statutory definition of "primary sector business," ensuring tourism operations are eligible for primary-sector incentives and programs.
Sarah Adi Coleman, director of the Tourism and Marketing Division at the North Dakota Department of Commerce, told the committee Senate Bill 2154 is a technical cleanup to ensure tourism businesses are included in the statutory definition of “primary sector” so tourism projects have equitable access to incentives and programs. Coleman said the change resolves inconsistencies that had led to differing attorney general interpretations about whether tourism was covered in some statutes.
Coleman said tourism already contributes significantly to the state economy and that applications seeking primary-sector certification for tourism projects would still need to meet program criteria, such as demonstrating out-of-state visitor-driven revenue (historically set at a lower threshold than other primary-sector categories). Senator Sean Cleary appeared later in the hearing to note he worked with the Department of Commerce on the bill.
Representative Hager asked about the 25% nonresident revenue threshold Coleman mentioned; she explained primary-sector certification requirements are established in program application processes and can be adjusted administratively for tourism.
The committee moved a due-pass recommendation on Senate Bill 2154, and the House recorded a committee vote of 13–0 in favor. The bill was placed on the committee’s consent calendar.
