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Minot attorney outlines legislative progress on flood funding, NAS and property tax bills
Summary
City special counsel reported on state legislative activity affecting Minot, including a proposed $125 million acceleration for Mouse River flood protection, funding for NAS water projects, hub-city oil revenue grants and several property-tax proposals now headed to the senate.
Shane Gettle, the city—s special assistant to the city attorney on legislative matters, updated the Minot City Council on bills and funding the city is tracking during the 2025 legislative session.
Gettle said the most significant item for Minot is a House proposal that would accelerate funding for the Mouse River enhanced flood protection project to $125 million for the biennium, up from $76.1 million in the current biennium. "That $125,000,000 estate funding ... is up from the 76,100,000.0 that we're at for this present biennium," Gettle said, adding the increase was pursued to limit the project delay effects of inflation.
The proposal passed the house unanimously and faces senate consideration. Gettle said the package includes two cash-management tools: a $200 million project line of credit and bonding for a $100 million southwest pipeline project. Together, he said, those tools would give state water managers flexibility to accelerate work and free carryover cash for other projects.
Gettle also described support in the legislature for NAS-related water infrastructure, including funds for pipe, pump stations and a biota treatment plant to continue Missouri River water delivery.
On other fronts, Gettle said a bill reallocating oil-tax revenue to support hub cities passed the senate unanimously and would provide Minot roughly 10.46% of a new energy-impact grant fund; the estimate is about $2 million a year for Minot.
He summarized an active slate of bills that could affect local courts, land-use and taxes. Among them: House Bill 1032, a municipal-court statute overhaul that passed the house and is pending in the senate; House Bill 1168 aiming to reduce local school property levies by shifting state funding; House Bill 1176 raising the primary-residence tax credit and capping local levy growth; and House Bill 1575 broadening tax-relief measures. Gettle said the three major tax packages are likely to be consolidated or reconciled as the session continues.
Gettle urged city representatives to testify when bills affecting Minot come up. "Any of you are certainly welcome to come down and testify in any bill of concern on behalf of the city," he said.
Why it matters: State support and bill mechanics will affect the schedule and local share of the long-running flood-control program and other infrastructure projects important to Minot's growth and public safety. The council heard that acceleration could limit inflation-driven cost increases but would require the city to model what it could deliver with a larger state appropriation.
What happens next: Gettle said the council—s delegation will travel to testify on Friday hearings; several of the bills he described will be taken up in upcoming committee and floor sessions and may be consolidated before final passage.
