012017  Week 3; Back and Forward, Rep. Rick Holman, ND District 20.

In this post, I'll be looking in both directions. Since all House bills had to be in last Monday and all Senate Bills Monday the 22nd, we can now have a good look at just how many changes are being proposed.

In the Senate, there's a bill to continue the Challenge Grants that have been successful in generating outside funds for our higher education institutions. This past week, Dr. Gary Hagen and Steve Bensen presented the Mayville State story to the Senate Appropriations Committee and as in past sessions were well received. In the past several years, prudent fiscal management and increased enrollment have put MSU in a position to weather the reduced funding proposal put forth by Governor Burgum. Hopefully any the reductions to will be short term.

This coming week, on the Human Resources Committee we'll be hearing from the public on needs and wants for the coming two-year budget cycle. Since governor Burgum and the legislature are in no mood to raise taxes, those who are asking for increases, even though justified in many cases, will not hear what they want. For six years the legislature and administration have adjusted the tax code giving breaks, often to entities that did not ask for them, resulting in state income insufficient to cover ongoing expenses or needed increases in areas such as mental health, long term care, or education.

An issue that came to the table last week and will be there going forward is the Medicaid Expansion which has grown to cover nearly 20,000 North Dakotans who did not previously have health insurance. We looked at three options for continuing this program with a concern that actions by the new administration in Washington may change or even eliminate the program with the potential of putting more people on regular Medicaid. Over the next five years, the Federal share will drop from 100% to 90%, still much better than the current regular Medicaid match of fifty percent. Hopefully one of the three proposals will be authorized before the end of the session. This is just one issue that comes forward. When asked what is the greatest need most of the regional Human Service Centers tell us that addiction counseling is their greatest need. If we don’t fix the problem now, it will haunt us later with increased health care or incarceration costs.

Similar to past legislative sessions, many bills are tied to national movements. On Thursday and Friday, the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee will be hearing nine bills related to the use of firearms.  In another hearing room, the Government and Veterans Affairs Committee will hear legislation tied to elections, lobbyists, campaign finance, residency and more. Some may pass and some will fail, but all will receive a fair hearing.

North Dakota has a history of what are called Blue Laws. When I was young trying to buy anything on a Sunday was difficult in the small town near our farm. I did have gas since I took it from the tank on the farm, but since C-Stores were in the future, not much else was available. Over the years, we have gradually moved away from restrictions on business hours of operation. HB 1163 proposes changing the law to allow more leeway on when to be open.  

Legislative Activity is increasing. Stay tuned.
Rep. Rick Holman.