April 10, 2023 - Update
Posted: Apr 10 2023
This Week at the Legislature
Today is day 62 of 80. The third period has begun, and conference committees met this week as the number of bills the chambers voted “do not concur” on grows. Many policy bills have been sent to conference committee, where the bill receives further analysis as three members of the House and three members of the Senate work out their differences. Some suggest the conference committees are being used as a teaching tool for new freshman legislators with the pending impact of term limits.
Large budget bills remaining in Appropriations include the large $5.5 billion Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Commerce, and Higher Education budgets—all of which have been pressured for cuts.
The first budget analysis of April suggests appropriations have exceeded general fund balances by $1.09 billion, and the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund (SIIF) is $207 million overspent. A deeper look suggests that potential cuts to the Higher Ed and Commerce budgets, as well as a double counting of an infusion to the public employee retirement system of at least $240 million, may bring the deficit down. Legacy Fund earnings, which are ballparked between $486 and $510 million, are not included in these forecasts. The Legacy Fund streams bill, HB 1379, will be worked on next week by Senate appropriators.
Hearings and Other Action Last Week (4.3.23 - 4.7.23)
The most important update - The Credit Union Bill is Dead!
SB 2266 – Credit Union Field of Membership – DEFEATED!!!!!
On Thursday afternoon, the North Dakota House of Representatives defeated SB 2266 by a vote of 39 yeas and 53 nays!
NDBA would like to thank the following House Members for their no vote!
B. Anderson, D. Anderson, Bahl, Bosch, Christy, Cory, Dakane, Dockter, Fegley, Fisher, Hauck, Henderson, Hoverson, Johnson, Jonas, Karls, Kasper, Kempenich, Klemin, Kreidt, Lefor, Longmuir, Louser, Martinson, Mitskog, Monson, Motschenbacher, Murphy, Nathe, Novak, O'Brien, Porter, Pyle, Richter, Roers Jones, Ruby, Sanford, Satrom, Schatz, Schauer, Schreiber-Beck, Stemen, Swiontek, Thomas, Timmons, Toman, Tveit, VanWinkle, Vetter, Vigesaa, Wagner, Warrey, Weisz
In addition, a special thank you to Reps. Austin Schauer, Jorin Johnson, Steve Swiontek, Paul Thomas and Dan Ruby who spoke in opposition on the House floor.
But most importantly, THANK YOU to every banker who reached out to their local legislator to express opposition to the bill. That was the difference!!!
Hearings This Week (4.10.23 – 4.14.23)
04/10/2023 09:00 AM
SB 2330
Committee Work - Relating to the legacy and budget stabilization fund advisory board and legacy fund definitions; and to repeal section 6-09-49.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the legacy infrastructure loan fund.
House Finance and Taxation
Tracking
04/11/2023 09:00 AM
SB 2392
Relating to the definition of deposit account.
House Industry, Business and Labor
NDBA Priority
04/11/2023 09:30 AM
SB 2206
Committee Work - Relating to insurance cash value exemptions.
House Industry, Business and Labor
Tracking
04/11/2023 11:00 AM
HB 1014
Committee Work - A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the industrial commission and the agencies under its control (BND & Housing Finance); to provide for a transfer; and to provide an exemption.
Senate Appropriations
NDBA Priority
How to Contact Your Legislators
During a legislative session, a legislator can be reached at the State Capitol through:
Otherwise, a legislator can be reached by mail, telephone or email at the address listed in the legislator’s biography, or one of the lists provided below. Individual legislator contact information is listed here:
Over the course of the session, NDBA may ask you to call your Senator or Representative to talk to them about a particular bill or to ask them to support or oppose a particular bill.
Legislator contacts from local bankers are extremely important, so, please, if we ask, contact your legislators!
Also, local legislative forums are great to attend because they inform you about issues beyond banking and let you get to know your legislators at home where they are most responsive to your interests and concerns.
Don’t be a stranger; get to know your representatives in Bismarck!