North Dakota Senate advances Roughrider tax credit, medical marijuana changes and a slate of budget bills; auditor subpoena provision removed

The North Dakota Senate on Monday considered and acted on a broad set of bills, advancing a workforce tax-credit for Roughrider Industries, approving changes to the medical marijuana program that allow certain edible products and telehealth certification, and passing several appropriations and administrative bills while removing a proposed subpoena authority for the state auditor.

The chamber approved Senate Bill 22-61, a Roughrider Industries workforce development tax credit, and later passed bills including changes to the state health officer qualifications (Senate Bill 22-55), school construction assistance for base schools (Senate Bill 21-49, emergency clause carried) and a package of appropriations for agencies such as the Highway Patrol and Indian Affairs Commission. The Senate also accepted revisions to the state auditor bill but defeated the portion (section 3) that would have given subpoena power; the remaining provisions passed after division votes.

Senators said the Roughrider tax-credit bill is intended to expand opportunities for prison-industry work and reduce recidivism. "Roughrider Industries has between 50 to 250 individuals working in some program… That makes up about 13% of the incarcerated population," Senator Klein said on the floor, citing the sponsor committee’s figures. Klein also cited program recidivism numbers: "The Department of Corrections recidivism rate is 37.6, whereas at Roughrider Industries, the rate is 8.6." The Senate approved the bill in its amended form; the final roll call showed 43 ayes, 3 nays and 1 absent not voting, and the bill passed.

Debate and outcome highlights

- Senate Bill 22-61 (Roughrider Industries workforce development income tax credit): Sponsor moved engrossment and final passage in amended form after committee work with the tax department and business groups. The sponsor described Roughrider’s…