LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN – February 3, 2005

As of January 30, 522 House Bills, 34 House Resolutions, 410 Senate Bills and 30 Senate Resolutions had been introduced.  Deadlines for introduction have passed.  Anything new would have to come through the Delayed Bills Committee.  Crossover, when bills must be out of house of origin, is February 18.  The legislature recesses Feb 19-22.   Then the second half, usually the toughest half, begins.   Here are some recent developments.

HB 1008 is the PSC budget including funding for the railroad rate complaint.  The Government Operations Division of House Appropriations doubled the money for the complaint from $900,000 to $1.8 million.  The BNSF had indicated back at the hearing on January 13 that the original amount wasn’t enough.

HB 1333 repeals the confidentiality of railroad property tax records.  It first got a Do Not Pass in committee, but was reconsidered and given a unanimous Do Pass.  It is on the House floor today for final passage.

SB 2405 is the Grain Dealers’ bill to prohibit railroads from requiring FELA endorsements to grain elevator commercial general liability policies.  The endorsements are not available.  The bill was heard on Monday January 31 in Senate IBL and given a unanimous Do Pass on Wednesday.  Thanks to Jamestown insurance agent Larry Ash for testifying for the bill and to Barb Bierbrauer of Ag States Agency who submitted written testimony presented by Grain Dealers.  Brad Haugeberg and Dan DeRouchey also made the hike to Bismarck to testify for the bill.  It is on the Senate floor today for final passage.

SB 2279 would create a state bonding fund to replace auctioneer and grain warehouse bonds.  Grain Dealer testified against it at hearing just this morning, saying the bill attempted to replace a working private business function with more government.   PSC cited many concerns with the bill.  PSC estimated costs far beyond what grain elevators pay today in bond premiums.  It would need auditors on staff to review financial reports to determine eligibility for coverage through the state bonding fund.  The bill was given a unanimous Do Not Pass from the Senate Ag Committee this morning.

HB 1518 is the wheat checkoff increase.  It allows for some money to go to grower groups, but is not a mandate like the controversial bill of the 2003 session.  Hearing is tomorrow in House Ag.  Grain Dealers will testify that any increase in the checkoff level should coincide with the beginning of a calendar quarter.