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House committee advances update to Public Service Commission code removing century‑old vehicle carrier language
Summary
The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to recommend passage of House Bill 1062, which removes outdated Century Code sections that reference vehicular common carriers and clarifies the North Dakota Public Service Commission's authority over rail and electric utilities.
The North Dakota House Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted to recommend a do‑pass for House Bill 1062, which would remove obsolete Century Code language related to vehicular common carriers and update the statute to reflect modern duties of the North Dakota Public Service Commission.
Commissioner Jill Kringstead of the North Dakota Public Service Commission testified in support of the bill. "House Bill 1062: Public Service Commission has not regulated vehicular common carriers such as taxi or trucking companies since 1975," Kringstead said, and she told the committee the measure "will update the century code to reflect the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the North Dakota Public Service Commission." She added that the amendment "does not affect the PSC's ability and authority to continue to regulate rail service in North Dakota, which is covered in chapter 49‑10.1 of the North Dakota Century Code."
The bill as discussed removes the term "term traffic" from section 49‑04‑07 and eliminates sections 49‑04‑08, 49‑04‑09, and 49‑04‑10, per Kringstead's testimony. She framed the change as a statutory clean‑up to align current statutory text with the commission's present regulatory scope.
After testimony, Representative Lisonbee moved a do‑pass recommendation, seconded by Representative Novak. The committee called the roll and recorded affirmative votes from Chairman Porter, Vice Chair Anderson, Vice Chair Novak, Representative Conmee, Doctor, Voss, Hager, Hedlund, Heinert, Johnson, Marshall, Olsen and Ruby; the motion carried. The committee did not record any floor amendments at the hearing.
The sponsor and staff characterized the measure as technical and limited to statutory language updates; Kringstead emphasized it would not reduce PSC authority over rail operations. The committee will send its recommendation along with the committee report to the full House as part of the normal legislative process.
No public testimony in opposition appeared in the live hearing record; the committee proceeded to other business after the vote.
