Stockmen's Association urges committee to reject bill shifting Estuary Fund reporting; committee votes 'do not pass'

Julie Ellingson of the North Dakota Stockmen's Association testified in opposition to Senate Bill 2148, urging the committee to recommend the bill not pass. Ellingson described the Estuary Fund as a fee‑based holding account tied to brand inspection cases and said the association uses older, legislatively permissible balances in the fund to help administer the brand inspection program. "As of last week there was approximately $693,000 in the Estuary Fund," she said, and noted roughly $127,000 of that total represented funds older than 72 months.

Ellingson and other witnesses said the fund has been used intermittently for tangible program expenses such as replacement fleet vehicles, computers and specialized programing; she emphasized the Stockmen's Association returns proceeds to rightful owners when documentation is presented. She warned that removing access to older fund balances could require more frequent fee increases for livestock owners because the brand inspection program operates entirely on per‑head fees and receives no state appropriation.

Senators asked detailed questions about how estuary (unclaimed) animal sale funds are handled, how ownership is established, and the number of estuary cases by year; testimony provided case counts: 2024 — 75 cases; 2023 — 85; 2022 — 156; 2021 — 160. After testimony the committee voted on a motion to recommend "do not pass." Senator Weston moved the motion; Senator Lehi seconded and a roll call produced a majority "yes" and the committee closed the hearing and recorded the do‑not‑pass recommendation.