2021 Highlights and Summary
The 67th Legislative Assembly adjourned late on April 29, the 76th day of the legislative session. This leaves four days for the full legislative assembly to use during the interim when they meet before the next session convenes in 2023. The legislators will have to return in the interim for the purpose of redistricting and to address the Federal money that is allocated to North Dakota. They can return two different ways — by calling themselves back using the four days they saved, or the Governor may call them back. If the Governor calls them back, he has the authority to set the agenda of business to address.
Budget Overview
Inflationary Increases
State employees will receive salary increases of 1.5% on July 1, 2021 with a minimum monthly increase of $100, and a 2% increase on July 1, 2022.
Bonding
House Bill 1431 authorizes the Public Finance Agency to issue up to $680 million of bonds for the following purposes:
Debt service for the bonds will be made from the general fund, derived from Legacy Fund earnings.
Legacy Infrastructure
Loan Fund and Investment in the State
Debt service for the bonds will be made from the general fund, derived from Legacy Fund earnings. Legacy Infrastructure Loan Fund and Investment in the State House Bill 1425 created a Legacy Infrastructure Loan Fund at the Bank of North Dakota with the purpose of providing loans to the political subdivisions Garrison Diversion Conservancy District and the Lake Agassiz Water Authority for eligible infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, sewer lines and water lines, water storage systems, stormwater infrastructure, road and bridge infrastructure, airport infrastructure, electricity transmission infrastructure, natural gas transmission infrastructure, communications infrastructure, emergency services facilities excluding hospitals, essential political subdivision building and infrastructure, as well as the Red River Valley Water Supply Project.
In addition to creating the Legacy Infrastructure Loan Fund, House Bill 1431 also authorizes the State Investment Board to target allocation of 10% of the fixed income investments of the Legacy Fund to fixed investments within the State of North Dakota. Forty percent of that must be targeted for infrastructure loans to political subdivisions and up to 60%, with a minimum of $400 million, must be designated to the Bank of North Dakota’s certificate of deposit match program.
Also, the State Investment Board is authorized to target another allocation of 10% to equity investments in the state, of which 3% may be targeted for investment of one or more equity funds, venture capital funds, or alternate investment funds with a primary strategy of investing in emerging or expanding companies in the state.
The Streams Bill
House Bill 1380 created a Legacy Earnings Fund, where the earnings from the Legacy Fund will be transferred. The bill also prioritizes where the dollars in that fund will be transferred as shown in the graphic on the right.
It is also the legislative intent of House Bill 1380 that the 68th Legislative Assembly consider additional allocations from the Legacy Earnings Fund including value-added agricultural programs, the Innovation Loan Fund, state building maintenance and improvements and other one-time initiatives. This would allow for initiatives to diversify the state’s economy, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state government and to reduce ongoing general fund appropriations of state agencies.
Health and Human Services Highlights
A major policy change will occur as the result of House Bill 1247 which combines the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services. The director for the Department of Human Services will be the head of the two combined agencies and the Department of Health will become a division of that new agency. The Health Officer will continue to be a member of the Governor’s Cabinet and appointed by the Governor. The two agencies will work on their transition plan during the 2021-2023 biennium and will present one combined budget for the 2023-2025 biennium.
Medicaid expansion was authorized and will continue with the managed care contract with the exception that individuals aged 19 and 20 will be funded through the fee-for-service Medicaid program rather than the Medicaid expansion managed care contract.
Human Services providers will receive an inflationary increase of 2% the first year of the biennium and one-quarter of 1% the second year of the biennium. It is legislative intent that future sessions of the 67th legislative assembly consider an additional second year inflationary increase during the 2021-23 biennium based on any extensions of the enhanced FMAP.
The State Hospital was approved funding of $3 million for architectural reviews and the development of detailed plans for the construction of a new hospital.
Funding for the substance use disorder voucher more than doubled from current funding of $8 million to $17 million for the 2021-23 biennium.
Medicaid will cover the costs of interpreter services for both hearing impaired and language. Funding was also provided to provide Medicaid coverage for continuous glucose monitoring.
Property Rights
The legislature approved the expansion of the electronic posting database from three counties to all ND counties, as well as the continuation of the public land use task force. They also expanded the definition of criminal trespass to include unlawful entry of a fenced enclosure and property posted through the electronic posting database.
Senate Bill 2065 further clarified the definition and regulation of pore space by the Industrial Commission. Pore space may be used to store natural gas, carbon capture, or salt water and is considered a surface owner right in North Dakota.
As in most other states, a written property disclosure will now be required for all sellers of residential property. The law requires licensed real estate professionals to use a formal property disclosure statement. Owners of property they are selling themselves must disclose, in writing, any material facts of which they are aware.
K-12 Education
K-12 schools will receive approximately $427 million in the third round of COVID relief funding that will be released later this year. Guidelines won’t be received from the federal government before the legislative session ends so legislators are planning a special session in December to appropriate COVID relief funds.
A skilled workforce scholarship program with funding coming from a $6 million transfer from the Bank of North Dakota. The scholarship would require a dollar for dollar matching from private industry.
The creation of an early childhood education program for four-year-old children was appropriated in the Department of Human Services budget.
Legislative Management
Members of the legislative management were elected by their peers in the House and Senate respectively in the last weeks of the legislative session.
Interestingly, the number of studies they have to choose from was 60 before the final bills were passed, which is significant as the final bills contained a number of optional studies. Before the last set of bills were passed there were also 10 mandatory studies, which is five less than last session.
If there are studies that you have a significant interest in advocating to be chosen, or conversely to not be selected, please reach out to any member of the Olson Effertz team.
With a larger list for legislators to choose from, they typically appreciate feedback on the topics that they may not be as familiar with. When this list has been compiled by Legislative Council staff, we will send them out to you.
TAX Relief in One List
- HB 1380, the Legacy Fund streams bill, requires that up to $50 million of Legacy Fund earnings be dedicated to tax relief after the first $210 million in earnings is used for retiring infrastructure bonds, funding the state employee retirement system and supporting highway and road projects.
- HB 1412 exempts coal-fired power plants from the state’s coal conversion tax for the next five years, saving the industry an estimated $20 million per year. This will free up funds to invest in innovative projects such as carbon capture, utilization and storage to curb emissions, improve the industry’s long-term viability, preserve jobs, ensure reliable baseload power and protect communities that depend on the coal industry.
- SB 2213 lowers property taxes for veterans by increasing the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Credit to apply to the first $8,100 of taxable valuation. HB 1137 expands the tax credit for charitable contributions from 25% up to 50% of a taxpayer’s income.
- SB 2041 creates an income tax exemption on gains from the sale or exchange of farm machinery.
- HB 1405 expands the existing income tax credit allowed to a corporation for hiring individuals with developmental disabilities or severe mental illness, increasing the credit from 5% to 25% of the first $6,000 of wages paid during the first 12 months of employment.
(Source: Governor Burgum Press Release)
Election Reform
Lawmakers also gave final approval on HB 1253, a major election reform bill. The conference committee focused primarily on shortening the deadlines for post-election work. The biggest change is moving the county canvassing board meeting to 13 days after Election Day.
(Source: NDACo Legislative Blog)
COVID-19 Response
- HB 1175 creates common-sense liability protections to shield health care providers, businesses and others from frivolous claims related to exposure to COVID-19. It applies retroactively to Jan. 1, 2020, covering the entire COVID-19 pandemic.
- SB 2164 allows occupational licensing boards greater flexibility during emergencies and allows licensed practitioners from other states to provide services in North Dakota during emergencies.
- HB 1388 allows for the distribution of per pupil payments to school districts for students receiving virtual instruction.
- SB 2279 allows the state Board of Pharmacy to develop rules for registered pharmacy technicians, after receiving training, to administer medications including immunizations under the supervision of an authorized licensed pharmacist.
- HB 1349 allows public meetings to occur by video or other electronic means and requires sufficient technical capacity to enable all interested parties to attend.
- HB 1338 allows the state agriculture commissioner to waive pesticide certification requirements for antimicrobial pesticides.
(Source: Governor Burgum Press Release)
Vetoes
The Governor has vetoed four bills thus far. The following is a list of the vetoes and subsequent actions by the legislature. If the ending status lists “Passed over veto”, it means both the House and the Senate voted by two-thirds to override the Governor’s veto and the bill became law. The Governor will have 15 days after adjournment to veto or sign the bills that were passed on the last day of legislative session. Appropriation bills become tricky as they can be “line-item” vetoed meaning that certain sections of the bill can be vetoed, and not the entire bill.
HB 1298: Transgender Athletic Participation.
This bill stated that a public school may not knowingly allow an individual of the opposite sex to participate on a school - sponsored athletic team that is exclusively for females or exclusively for males. Veto sustained in Senate, Veto Passed in House. (Both Chambers required to sustain.)
HB 1323: Mask Mandate Ban
A statewide elected official or the state health officer may not mandate an individual in this state use a face mask, face shield, or other face covering. Passed over veto.
SB 2290:
Relating to emergency commission and budget section approval to accept and disburse federal and other funds. Passed over veto.
HB 1378:
The legislative assembly also may convene in December following the election of the members of the legislative assembly to consider and vote on bills and resolutions and conduct any other business the legislative assembly is authorized to conduct during a regular session. Veto Sustained
