North Dakota House approves transmission siting, toughens trafficking penalties; rejects preferred-shop, tractor and guard measures

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota House of Representatives on Jan. 30 approved a measure giving the state greater authority over siting of energy transmission lines and passed a bill imposing mandatory minimum sentences for human trafficking offenders, while rejecting proposals on preferred auto-repair shops, farm-tractor registration and a restriction on National Guard combat deployments.

The House passed House Bill 12 58, which would clarify that a state permit issued by the Public Service Commission for an electric transmission line in a designated corridor can preempt local land-use or zoning requirements and may, in limited circumstances, supersede some road-use-related provisions of a political subdivision’s ordinances. The bill passed on final reading, 86 yea to 7 nay.

Why it matters: supporters said the bill removes local barriers to building transmission lines the state deems critical, in part to support incoming data centers; opponents warned about local control and asked for safeguards on road-use compliance.

Representative Dee Anderson, the bill carrier, told the House the measure "will ensure the state has the authority to enable the development of critical transmission infrastructure." The Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended amendments and, when so amended, a do-pass recommendation (11–0, with two members absent).

The chamber also approved House Bill 13 61, which creates mandatory minimum sentences for certain human trafficking offenses. The bill passed 70 yea to 23 nay.…