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City staff briefs council on legislative priorities, including water, transportation and property tax bills; Grand Forks Day at the legislature set for thisweek
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Summary
City legislative staff summarized bills the city is tracking — infrastructure and water funding, a proposed $30 million ag facility line, property tax reform vehicles, $5 million in state support for the Grand Forks Children's Museum — and reminded council of the Grand Forks Day delegation trip to Bismarck.
City legislative staff provided a high-level update on bills the city is tracking and previewed the Grand Forks Day delegation to Bismarck later in the week.
John Burnstrom (legislative staff) told council the Office of Management and Budget funding vehicle (House Bill 1015) includes a breakdown that increases city and county portions for the Prairie Dog project; Senate Bill 2012 covers the North Dakota Department of Transportation budget; and other transportation legislation includes a fixed-route transportation bill with a $2 million grant line and a study of state funding for public transportation.
On water projects, Burnstrom said House Bill 1020 (the water-resources budget) includes funding for the Red River Valley water supply, municipal water grants and the Water Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund, and contains a study of governance for regional water projects. He flagged House Bill 1537 as still alive in the Senate in heavily amended form; the transcript identifies it as a water-agreements bill council staff has briefed the council about previously.
In community and economic development, staff described House Bill 1332 as proposing a $30 million forgivable line of credit for an agricultural facility (the bill passed the House and moved to the Senate). Property tax reform is moving under House Bill 1176 (the mayor’s plan vehicle), with other property-tax bills potentially folded into that vehicle; proposals include a primary residence tax credit and expansion of homestead credits. Burnstrom also said the Department of Public Instruction budget includes $5 million for the Grand Forks Children’s Museum.
Burnstrom mentioned Senate Bill 2225, a housing infrastructure bill intended to offset local costs for housing projects, and Senate Bill 2398, a base-encroachment bill that was amended to remove land-use regulation. He noted several bills have scheduled committee hearings during the coming week and encouraged council members traveling for Grand Forks Day to meet with a range of state offices and boards.
Council members thanked staff for the report and asked clarifying questions about specific bills and the city’s schedule for the delegation trip to Bismarck.
Ending: The council’s Grand Forks Day trip will include meetings with state Department of Water Resources, DOT, the governor’s office and higher-education leadership; staff will continue to monitor bill progress and update the council when hearings occur.
