Rep. Steiner seeks repeal of bioscience sales‑tax exemption, citing lack of measurable job data

Representative Vicki Steiner asked the House Finance and Taxation Committee to consider repealing the bioscience sales‑tax exemption enacted last session, saying required reporting and job‑creation data were not available during interim review. "We were sold this tax break on the premise that a hundred companies would be drawn to this tax break," Steiner told the committee. "When the tax commissioner's office came to give us the data ... the number of companies who benefited ... was less than 5."

Steiner said the fiscal note projects additional general fund revenue if the exemption is repealed — roughly $4.36 million to the general fund and smaller amounts to state and county aid — and asked whether the program produced measurable in‑state job gains. She said some grant funds associated with bioscience appropriations paid for out‑of‑state researchers and argued the committee should be able to obtain the performance data the statute required.

Andrea Fenig of the Greater North Dakota Chamber opposed repeal and urged committee members to honor the program’s statutorily prescribed sunset (2029) and timelines because businesses make investment decisions based on the statute as written. Tax Department counsel Shannon said confidentiality rules can restrict release of some company‑level data until statutory timelines expire, and that releasing the information before the statute permits it would be limited. The committee closed the hearing and discussed whether to pursue statutory clarification to enable better oversight and reporting.