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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The North Dakota Legislative session’s pace has clearly picked up. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have reached their bill introduction deadlines for this session.
Valley City State Senator Larry Robinson said the count on bill introduction this session shows that both the House and the Senate are down in the total number of bills introduced. As of Monday, January 23, the deadline for the Senate to introduce bills, the count in the Senate was 343. In the House, the number of bills introduced stood at 434.
Robinson said, although the total number of bills introduced is down from previous sessions, there is no shortage of of sensitive issues. We have before us bills to increase the speed limit on both Interstate Highways and state roadways. There is a proposal to lift Sunday morning blue laws, opening the way for liquor sales on Sunday morning. There are two separate proposals to cap property taxes at the local level. Additionally, there is a proposal to direct approximately 70% of the wind tower tax to the state General Fund. The local political sub divisions would lose tax dollars with this proposal.
We are also responding to the Department of Transportation’s proposal to close several State Highway Shops. In our area, they include the shops at Litchville and Courtenay. Needless to say, that closure will have a direct impact on our rural residents. Whether it be medical emergencies, access to the roadways to get to work, or insuring that the roads are clear for our school buses, this proposal is a real concern.
Other sensitive issues include zeroing out the budget for Breathe North Dakota, a very successful tobacco cessation program. The proposal calls for reducing funding for the program and transferring the responsibility to the Health Department. The Health Department will also be working with the Attorney General’s Office on the implementation of the Medical Marijuana issue, which was approved by the voters in the November General Election.
Robinson said there are many other pressing issues facing this session of the legislature. Chief among them is the revenue shortfall for the state of North Dakota. Revenue continues to fall short of projections. Unfortunately the needs are still there. We have an ever growing prison population. Although there are a total of 780 jail cells under construction across the state, the problem of overcrowding still persists in the Department of Corrections.
District 24 State Senator Larry Robinson gave this report to NewsDakota.com
He said our next legislative forum will be on Saturday, January 28th in Enderlin at the City Hall. The forum will begin at 9:00 and last until 11:00 a.m. We would invite you to join us there to discuss the many issues facing the 2017 Legislative Assembly. We would like to hear form you. Until then, you can reach me at lrobinson@nd.gov.