Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Legislative Report: March 22-26, 2021

The week started in Appropriations with the Water Commission budget. I am serving on this subcommittee and conference committee. The Water Commission budget is large, with many different water basins and flood control projects. The goal of the subcommittee is to make the best use of the resources we have in order to provide maximum results.

We will be looking at the Western Area Water Supply projects, the Northwest Area Water Supply Project, the Red River Valley Water Supply Project, the Southwest pipeline, rural water, municipal water, Mouse River Flood protection, Mandan Raw Water project, and the Fargo Flood control project. Our work will also take us to discussions on adequate funding for these projects, given the resources available of the state and federal dollars. I will provide more information once we begin our subcommittee work, which will be the week of March 29 - April 2.

We are working on HB 1394 to address the Federal Cares Act dollars. The passage of this provides authority for agencies to continue to expend these funds through the end of 2021, as per the new regulations received from the federal government. HB 1395 was also heard, and this bill reallocates the unspent Cares Act dollars. There is $108 million, in turnback funding, which will be distributed through requests from various agencies. When we heard this bill, there were requests for $150 million. This means that approximately $42 million in requests will not be able to be fulfilled.

I participated in subcommittee work on the budget for Workforce Safety and Insurance, as well as the budget for the Department of Public Instruction. We will continue work on both budgets. The work on the budget for DPI will continue, after we hear the funding requests for the State Library, School for the Deaf, and School for the Visually Impaired. Our work on the Attorney General’s budget will be wrapping up soon, with only a few more items to finalize. One of those items is whether to move requests for attorneys into agency budgets, or into the Attorney General’s office. There are two sides to this story, and I am hoping that agencies will help define their needs, as we work through the AG’s budget. Currently, some agencies have in-house attorneys, and some have assigned attorneys from the AG’s office.

Here are a few bills we passed this week in the Senate:

• HB 1233: I am a co-sponsor on this bill, which would change the penalty for underage alcohol consumption from a class B misdemeanor to an infraction, with the additional penalty of the violator having to participate in an evidence-based alcohol and drug education program. This bill was proposed at the request of five judges in the Northeast Central Judicial District. This bill does not change DUI laws for minors. This bill promotes fairness, efficiency, and recognizes that harsh criminal penalties are not the best way to deal with substance abuse. This bill passed the Senate, and is on its way to the Governor for his approval.

• HB 1420 and HB 1501 were both defeated in the Senate. These bills would provide for recreational use for marijuana, and provide for a taxation system like the tobacco tax. HB 1420 had significant debate, and the issue came down to bringing this to a vote of the people. The defeat of HB 1420 now provides impetus for initiated measures which will be wide open in its content. HB 1420 was carefully crafted to provide for recreational use, while providing parameters for regulation. I supported HB 1420 for that reason. We already know that there will be at least one initiated measure addressing recreational marijuana that will probably allow for home grown marijuana. So, attempts to provide what other surrounding states are now implementing, has gone by the wayside. It will be interesting to see the language in the initiated measures coming in the next election.

On another note, I appreciate all the e-mails I have received with your views on bills. I also appreciate the many post cards I received from AARP members supporting legislation to lower prescription drug prices. This is an important issue for all of us, and especially those on fixed incomes.

Heading into next week, we will have a hectic schedule in Appropriations, as well as votes on the House bills coming out of committee.

You can reach me at [email protected] or by calling 701-302-0355. Have a wonderful Easter week.

 
 
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