Political Subdivisions Committee: votes and actions on six bills and one resolution

The Political Subdivisions Committee on 2023-07-14 completed action on multiple bills and one concurrent resolution. Below are the committee’s formal outcomes with brief context for each measure.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 15-13 (notice for construction, rebuilding and repair of sidewalks): Do not pass motion adopted (10 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent). Committee discussion noted requests to replace a 2.5‑year fixed phrase with “timely,” but members concluded the current compromise or inaction was preferable and the bill received a do‑not‑pass recommendation.

- House Bill 14-69 (statements of interest filed with the Secretary of State): Passed as amended (10 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent). An amendment accepted language excluding candidates elected to federal office from a requirement, changed a filing date from Jan. 15 to Jan. 31 to align with year‑end reporting, and clarified publication: statements filed under the chapter shall be published on a Secretary of State website.

- House Bill 16-20 (creation of a state fiscal transparency online portal): Do not pass motion adopted (10 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent). Committee members were told Information Technology Division work on an expanded citizens portal and gateway made the bill unnecessary.

- House Bill 1,500 (changes referencing "law" to "zoning ordinance" in three locations and broader zoning/regulation provisions): Do not pass as amended adopted (7 yeas, 3 nays, 3 absent). Members debated local control, timelines in the bill (for example, six‑month and one‑year triggers for reconstruction/repair), and testimony from a former zoning administrator and the League of Cities opposing state preemption of local zoning decisions.

- House Bill 14-55 (Indian Affairs Commission review/consultation on measures): Passed as amended (final recorded result: 7 yeas, 3 nays, 3 absent). The committee removed a phrase requiring consultation "before the standing committee hearing on the measure" so the director would consult with tribal chairpersons but not delay hearings while waiting for a tribal consultation. Members said the current director did not object and that meaningful consultation was desirable without imposing an absolute procedural block on hearings.

- House Concurrent Resolution 3025 (honoring Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallen and commending first responders): Passed (10 yeas, 0 nays, 3 absent). Representative Hager read the resolution; Representative Jared Hendricks also addressed the committee and said he had cleared the language with the family and individuals named in the text.

What the votes mean

Several decisions were procedural or adjustments rather than large policy shifts. The committee rejected bills it deemed redundant with existing tools (HB16-20) or unclear in purpose (HB15-13), advanced measures that clarified reporting procedures (HB14-69), and approved a consultative process for tribal issues while removing language that could postpone committee hearings (HB14-55 as amended). A contested zoning measure (HB1500) failed to get committee support after debate over local zoning authority and timelines for repairs and nonconforming structures.

Key speakers and procedural notes

Representative Killeen moved the do‑not‑pass motion on HB15-13; Representative Marshenmacher moved do‑pass as amended on HB14-69; Representative Haddleston moved do‑not‑pass on HB16-20; Representative Killeen moved do‑not‑pass on HB1500 as amended; Representative Clamine moved do‑pass as amended on HB14-55; Representative Hager presented HCR3025 and Representative Jared Hendricks spoke in support.

The committee paused other business to await input on House Bill 15-37 from the Public Finance Authority; that bill will be revisited when PFA staff have reviewed proposed amendment language.