The North Dakota 68th Legislative Meeting accomplished 35 days of session as we headed into crossover break final week (when Home payments go over to the Senate and vice versa). A number of important themes have arisen from this session together with tax reduction, pension reform, vitality and agriculture laws, training, and how you can responsibly handle our price range surplus.
North Dakota Senate Majority Chief David Hogue, R-Minot
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There are presently six tax reduction payments in consideration, together with a property tax buy-down, homestead tax credit, two flat earnings tax proposals, earnings tax credit, and a “path to zero earnings tax” primarily based off the standing of the overall fund. Ultimately, we hope to supply a mixture of significant tax reduction that can profit the most individuals in the simplest approach.
State worker pension reform can be a significant focus this session. Each the Home and Senate moved payments to deal with the present $1.9 billion unfunded legal responsibility presently on the books. That is debt owed by the state that should be paid and revised going ahead or the plan will proceed to accrue liabilities and will turn into bancrupt. Our objective is to make sure that each greenback promised to present employees and retirees will likely be met, whereas taking the rising value burden off the present and future taxpayers of North Dakota. There is no such thing as a easy answer, however we imagine we now have the data essential to get the state on the best path.
Vitality and agriculture proceed to be main points for the state. Most likely most important is HB 1371, which might permit these taken with animal manufacturing to kind a enterprise construction that mirrors the enterprise constructions widespread in different states. It utilized solely to beef, swine, dairy and poultry manufacturing and limits these operations to 10 shareholders proudly owning a most of 160 acres. This positively impacts the financial system by rising the worth of native grains, offering higher utilization of marginal floor to develop feed, and creating pure fertilizer. We additionally hope to see a rise in feed mills, development jobs, and within the turnover of recent cash locally.
Schooling additionally continues to be a high precedence. The Home handed HB 1532, which establishes an academic reimbursement program for folks who enroll their youngster in a personal faculty situated in North Dakota, in addition to a invoice for dyslexia screening and intervention. The Senate handed out a significant Okay-12 training funding invoice, which incorporates elevated {dollars} for on-time funding and per pupil funds.
As well as, each chambers have labored onerous to go laws that advantages regulation enforcement and first responders in North Dakota, together with an appropriation to the Legal professional Normal for a “again the blue” grant program and growth of employees compensation for regulation enforcement and firefighters, which offers a retroactive clause to cowl the case of West Fargo Police Officer Tim Brown (who was beforehand denied protection as a consequence of a spot in statute that didn’t acknowledge service outdoors the state). This invoice handed each homes unanimously and was signed by the governor.
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As we begin once more after crossover, we stay up for doing the work earlier than us of crafting coverage and managing sources for the advantage of our residents. We’re lucky to benefit from the high quality of life that we do and grateful for the folks throughout our state that make that occur.
David Hogue, R-Minot, is majority chief of the North Dakota Senate and Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, is majority chief of the North Dakota Home of Representatives.
This letter doesn’t essentially mirror the opinion of The Discussion board’s editorial board nor Discussion board possession.
Coming out of a difficult non-conference span of games, this past week was likely a step down in competition for the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team.
Beginning on Wednesday night, the Crimson Tide did what most programs do not often do, traveling across the country mid-week for a true road game against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Alabama would however win that contest in a closer game than most expected, 97-90, and then returned home Sunday for a showdown with the Kent State Golden Flashes in which they were victorious, 81-54.
Because of these results, Alabama now sits at 10-2 overall for the 2024-25 season with the Crimson Tide’s non-conference schedule winding down, and the start of SEC play looming in early-January.
However, just how much did these results affect Alabama’s AP Poll Top 25 ranking, if at all?
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After carrying a ranking of No. 6 last week, Alabama rose one spot up to No. 5 in the latest AP Poll released Monday afternoon. The Crimson Tide were also the third highest-ranked SEC team, trailing only No. 1 Tennessee and No. 2 Auburn.
Riding a four-game winning streak, the Crimson Tide will officially be back in action this upcoming Sunday, Dec. 29 at home against South Dakota State, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. ET on either SEC Network+ or ESPN+.
It has been a year of adjusting for North Dakota State Junior Guard Brennan Watkins, who has found a new home in Fargo after two seasons at VMI.
“It’s different in the stand point that I get to just focus on basketball more. At VMI there was military, a lot of academics and then basketball was kind of an after thought. Obviously there is time for academics but I have more time to be in the gym and get more shots up,” said Watkins looking back at his time out east.
As the Missouri native navigates his first season with the green and gold, Watkins also has to adjust to some new headgear after a gruesome injury in the game against Weber State earlier this season.
“I didn’t even know where I got hit. I just knew there was pain radiating around my face. My reaction was to just put my hands to my face. I kind of took my hands away and my hands were just completely filled with blood and I was like oh no that’s not good” he said.
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Watkins suffered a compound fracture breaking his nose in two places.
“When I was at the game the team doctor readjusted it partially there and they said it was too swollen to completely adjust it. I think once I go back to the doctor they are going to adjust it a second time too. There is not pain but it is difficult to breathe. I’m not really getting as much airflow through my nose as I am used to” said Watkins describing his challenges with the broken nose.
Despite the injury, Watkins hasn’t missed a game or a beat becoming the “Masked Man” for the Bison.
“It’s completely different. I can’t really see out of my peripherals. Once I start to sweat the clear mask starts to fog up so that creates another problem. It’s truly difficult. I don’t think people understand how much of a difference it makes,” he said.
“Brennan has always been a really talented basketball player. Gifted offensive player and we have challenged him on the little things, the winning plays and he is starting to understand those and execute those things and that’s the next step for him,” said NDSU Head Coach, Dave Richman.
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A warrior, Watkins is determined to stay on the floor and make those winning plays for North Dakota State.
“Just do anything for my team and help them win that is just kind of the player I am. It doesn’t matter if I have a broken nose. If I am able to play I’m going to be out there,” said Watkins.
The Bison Men’s Basketball Team has one more non-conference match up against CSU-Bakersfield on Monday night before conference play begins on January, 2nd.
Sam Goetzinger joined WDAY News as a reporter and anchor in 2022 after graduating from St. Cloud State University. Sam worked alongside his Dad in the radio industry for 10 years in his hometown of New Prague, Minnesota before heading off to college. Along with his news responsibilities, Sam also handles play-by-play duties for North Dakota and Minnesota high school athletics.
FARGO — For the second year, most North Dakota homeowners have the chance to save $500 on their taxes.
The primary residence tax credit returns after being passed in 2023 legislation.
Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus says last season, more than 90% of people who were eligible to apply sent in their application and saved a combined total of nearly $70 million dollars.
The North Dakota Tax Commission is hoping for an even higher application rate this season.
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The commission has been working with lawmakers to add individuals with homes in a trust. Because of language in the bill, they didn’t qualify in 2023.
Kroshus said those residents now will be eligible for credit from last year, as well.
“So far, we’ve received over 35,000 applications already in just a couple of weeks. And to put that into perspective, last year, we received 135,000 applications in total, but we’re already at the 35,000 mark, and last year, we didn’t open until Jan. 1. This year, we decided to pull the trigger just a little bit earlier,” he said.
For questions about eligibility or the application process, you can call the commission toll-free at (877) 649-0112.
You can apply for the tax credit
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on their website
.
Ryan McNamara joined WDAY as a reporter in late 2024. He is a native of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota and graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2024.
His time as a Husky included copious amounts of time spent at “The Herb” reporting on Husky hockey, or at Halenbeck Hall calling Husky basketball. He also spent two summers with the Northwoods League’s St. Cloud Rox. Along with his duties in news and sports, Ryan dons a headset for occasional play-by-play broadcasts for North Dakota and Minnesota high school sports.
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When he’s away from the station, he’s most likely lifting, finding time to golf, or taking in as much college basketball as possible, in order to complete the elusive perfect March Madness bracket.
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