LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN – February 18, 2005

LEGISLATURE TAKES CROSSOVER BREAK

            The North Dakota Legislature completed the first half of the session on Thursday February 17 and now takes a break until Wednesday next week.

          Rate complaint funding approved.  By a vote of 77-13 the House approved the Public Service Commission’s budget including $1.2 million to prosecute a railroad rate complaint.  The amount had originally been $900,000.  Then it was doubled; then it was reduced; and now finally passed at $1.2 million.  This money will come from the beginning farmer loan program balance at the Bank of North Dakota.  That is an $18 million fund, of which only $8 million is now being used.  If the rate case is successful and there is a refund in addition to future lowered rates, the fund could be repaid.  That depends on how a rate complaint is prosecuted and settled.

          Judging from what was said in floor speeches by opponents, some of the votes against it were because of the source of funds.

          As previously reported, HB 1333, repealing the confidentiality of railroad property taxes passed the House.  Our FELA bill, SB 2405, won unanimous approval in the Senate.  The fuel surcharges bill, HB 1370, won unanimous approval in the House.

          HB 1518 is the Wheat Commission checkoff bill.  It raises the checkoff from a penny to a penny and a half.  It passed the House, but not by the necessary two-thirds vote for the emergency clause to take effect.  Therefore the new rate won’t go into effect until July 1, if the bill clears the Senate and is signed by the Governor.  This bill comes up for hearing in the Senate Ag Committee on Friday February 25.