The legislative session has come to a detailed, and there are a number of necessary updates that I needed to share with readers. North Dakota is blessed to be in a powerful monetary place, and the Legislature made significant progress in a number of areas.
Tax Aid — HB 1158 gives $515 million in tax reduction over the subsequent two years. This invoice will present significant and broad-based tax reduction. It zeroes out the state’s backside tax bracket and combines the highest 4 brackets into two brackets with decreased tax charges. Moreover, it affords a $500 tax credit score for the property taxes on an individual’s major residence and expands our state’s Homestead Tax Credit score to decrease the property tax burden for extra residents who’re over 65 years previous and could also be on a set revenue. That is the most important tax reduction bundle within the state’s historical past and ensures all North Dakotans share in our state’s financial development and funds surplus.
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Legislation enforcement — We handed a sequence of payments to help regulation enforcement and public security, together with by funding advantages for peace officers. By supporting regulation enforcement, we’ll prioritize protected communities in North Dakota, which is a vital a part of ensuring our state an awesome place to dwell.
Youngster care — HB 1540 gives a sequence of insurance policies that may enhance affordability and childcare in our state. The associated fee and availability of childcare is likely one of the largest financial challenges for working households in our state, and the adjustments made this session will assist to empower households, help early childhood growth, and develop our financial system and workforce.
Retirement system closure — Sadly, laws was handed to shut the state’s foremost retirement system to new staff. Whereas I opposed that transfer and am disenchanted on this end result, I’ll proceed to advocate for aggressive compensation for our public workforce in a method that’s financially accountable with taxpayer {dollars}.
Human Providers — I loved serving on the Senate Human Providers committee, the place we had a productive session. Two payments that I used to be the first sponsor handed the Legislature almost unanimously. SB 2187 will permit North Dakota to enter an interstate Counseling Compact, increasing service alternatives for North Dakota counselors and the folks they serve. That is particularly necessary at a time when telehealth is changing into extra prevalent and there’s a scarcity of behavioral well being providers in our state.
The second invoice establishes a pilot program for in-home caregivers for households with family members on the Medicaid dwelling and community-based providers waiver. Due to our state’s workforce scarcity, many households are unable to search out workers to satisfy the providers they’re eligible for underneath Medicaid, and this invoice will assist to supply these providers and preserve households collectively.
I’m grateful for the work of my colleagues in advancing these and different necessary payments. Now we have extra work to do, however I’m assured North Dakota’s greatest days are forward of us.
Sean Cleary, R-Bismarck, is a state consultant.