Legislation

Veterans Preference

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 1-03-01, subsection 1 of section 37-19.1-04, subsection 6 of section 44-04-18.4, subsection 8 of section 54-06-25, sections 54-06-26 and 54-44.3-01.2, subsection 2 of section 54-44.3-03, and sections 54-44.3-05 and 54-44.4-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to holidays, bids and proposals received by public entities, notification of nonapplicability of veteran's preference, electronic ballot submission, long distance tolls, salary compensation comparison records, state personnel board vacancy filling procedures, secret ballot election rules, and reports of services.

This bill does not effect the benefit to veterans. This bill:

• relates to ND Veterans Preference
• allows for notification of non-hire to be made by electronic notification through the online recruiting solution system
• removes "Certified Mail" as an option

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• No amendments to Section 1
• Committee recommended DO PASS 14-0-0 HJ 100
• PASSED HOUSE 87-4 HJ 118​

​SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Amended: reinserted "Certified Mail" as an option
• Committee recommended DO PASS 6-0-0 SJ 722
• PASSED SENATE 47-0 SJ 755

HOUSE CONCURRED TO SENATE AMENDMENTS 

• PASSED HOUSE 89-1 HJ 1431

SIGNED BY PRESIDENT SJ 1293

SIGNED BY SPEAKER HJ 1593

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR HJ 1618

Income Tax Deduction for Retired Military Benefits

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 57-38-30.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an income tax deduction for retired military personnel benefits; and to provide an effective date.

Bill would provide:

• Retired military personnel benefits exempt from ND Income Tax

FISCAL NOTE: $4,600,000

HOUSE AMENDMENTS AND ACTIONS

• No amendments
• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 12-1-1 HJ 155
• Placed on house calendar
• FAILED TO PASS 23-66 HJ 231

Property Tax. Freeze value of residence Disabled Veterans and over 65

A BILL for an Act to create an enact a new section to chapter 57-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to an optional residential property tax freeze for owners who are disabled or age sixty-five or older; and to provide an effective date.

This bill provides:

• Person with annual income less than $42,000 and,
• Permanently and totally disabled or,
• Eligible for disabled Veterans credit or,
• Age 65 or older may:
• File for a property valuation freeze on residence owned and occupied by claimant

FISCAL NOTE: Cannot be determined

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 13-0-1 HJ 262
• FAILED TO PASS 23-70 HJ  305

Homestead Credit Exemption Disabled Persons or Over age 65

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 57-02-08.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the expansion of the homestead credit exemption for individuals age sixty-five or older; and to provide an effective date.

This bill provides...

• Individual sixty-five years of age or older or permanently and Totally disabled, dependent on income, to receive a reduction in the taxable value of that individuals homestead.
• Exemption on up to $350,000 of true and full value of homestead
• Graduated scale used on percent of exemption
  • 65 years old= 5%
  • 66 years old=10%
  • etc.
• Exemption applied even if individual resides in a nursing home.

​FISCAL NOTE: $55 million a year.

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• No amendments
• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 13-1-0 HJ 182
• Placed on Calendar
• FAILED TO PASS 9-81 HJ197

Retired Veteran and Non ND resident land owners nonresident fee waived

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subdivision a of subsection 3 of section 20.1-03-11, subsection 4 of section 20.1-03-11, and subsection 4 of section 20.1-03-12 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to waiving the nonresident landowner deer hunting license fee for retired veterans.

This bill would...

• Allow non-ND resident land owners who are retired veteran of the US armed forces free big game hunting license

Fiscal Note: $12,500 (not general funds)

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 14-0-0 HJ 371
• FAILED TO PASS 9-81 HJ 469

HIGHER EDUCATION TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AID COUNSELING TO VETERANS AND DEPENDENTS 

A concurrent resolution urging the State Board of Higher Education to develop a policy and

procedures for providing specific, tailored financial aid counseling to recipients of education

benefits under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, and to include in the

counseling comparisons of those education benefits to other aid packages and financing

options available to the recipients.

This bill would:

• Urge the State Board of Higher Education to develop a policy and procedures for financial aid counceling for recipients of benefits under the Servicemens Readjustment Act of 1944.

FISCAL NOTE: $0

HOUSE AMENDMENTS AND ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 11-2-1 HJ 451
• FAILED TO ADOPT 35-54 HJ 556

"POST TRAUMATIC STRESS INJURY AWARENESS DAY"

HOUSE AMENDMENTS AND ACTIONS

• Added continuation for every year thereafter
• Added ND Cares to list of agencies
• Added Department of Human Services to list of agencies
• Added Families and Survivors to list of persons to educate
• Committee recommended a DO PASS 13-0-1 HJ 932
• PASSED HOUSE 91-0 HJ 977

SENATE AMENDMENTS AND ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO PASS 6-0-0 SJ 878
• PASSED SENATE SJ 887

Signed by President of Senate SJ 955

Signed by Speaker of House and filed with Secretary of State HJ 1198

Appropriations - North Dakota Veterans Home: Legislative Appropriations Bill

Pre-approved by ND Veterans Home Director and ACOVA.

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ND Veterans Home. Governors budget rate at 90% of 2015-2017 base budget.

This bill is to be combined with SB2067 by end of session. SB2007 will be final ND Veterans Home budget.

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Replaced $2,111,404 of General Fund appropriations with Special funds (Non-General Fund Dollars)
• Appropriated $157,000: From Special (Non-General Fund Dollars)
  • $59,500 for Equipment
  • $15,000 for Health information exchange software
  • $82,500 Nurse Call System upgrade
• Committee recommended DO-PASS 14-0-0 SJ 384
• Amendments Adopted SJ 409
• Passed 45-0 SJ 410

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Reduced operating expenses by $62,761
• Reduced capital assets by $7,239
• Reduced equipment by $15,000
• Provided an exemption for Shop addition project funding. (Non-General Funds)
• Committee recommended DO PASS 19-0-2 HJ 1324
• Amendments passed 90-0 HJ 1384
• Passed House 90-0 HJ 1428

SENATE CONCURRED SJ 1286

• Passed Senate 46-0 SJ 1286

SIGNED BY SPEAKER HJ 1593

SIGNED BY PRESIDENT SJ 1358

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR SJ 1412

Appropriations - ND Department of Veterans Affairs (NDDVA) Budget: Legislative Appropriations Bill

Pre-approved by Commissioner and ACOVA.

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of veterans' affairs. Governors budget rate at 90% of 2015-2017 base budget.

NDDVA Requested budget changes: Optional Package-NOT included in budget.

• Restore Base Budget funding to $98,900. Gov. Dalrymple recommends to restore $26,895 for Desktop support
• Salary Equity Funding: $96,143
• Funding for Stand Downs: $20,000
• Funding for Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD: $50,000. Senate Approved $50,000
• Training Position: $145,152
• Funding Grant for Veteran Service Organizations NSO officer: $300,000
• Funding for Temporary Employees: $49,500
• Marketing and Outreach: $20,000
• Funding for Transportation Vans: $30,000 Gov. Dalrymple recommends $15,000. Senate provides NO van funding
• Increase Post War Trust Fund Principal: $1,750,000
• NDDVA Website upgrade: $67,689
  • Agent Orange Outreach: $50,000

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Reduced General funds for NDDV by $215,815
• Reduce staff by one Full Time Employees (FTE)
  • Per Governor Burgums recommendation to go back to 2011-2013 biennium FTE count
• Require NDDVA to use Federal Highly Rural Transportation Grant (HRTG) program funds to pay portion of two NDDVA staff members salaries
  • $100,000
  • Functionally eliminating HRTG coordinator position
• Reduced Federal Funding authorization of State Approving Agency by $15,778
• Restored $26,895 in Desktop support hardware
• Restored Service Dog funding of $50,000 SJ 492
• Provides that $15,000 of NDDVA operation budget be used for transportation van purchase
• Budget leaves Senate at 76% of base funding and 90% of FTE staff 0 Temp staff
• PASSED SENATE 45-0 SJ 492

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Reduced General funds by $134,005.00 (in addition to Senate reductions)
  • Reduced staff by one additional Full Time Employee -$130,000
    • Per Governor Burgums' recommendation to go back to 2011-2013 biennium FTE count
      • This makes 2 FTE's removed. Governor Burgums' recommended 1 be removed.
  • Reduced funding for PTSD dogs -$25,000
  • Reduced Health care funding -$1,205
  • Added funding for transportation vans $18,600 (funded from additional FTE removal)
  • Added funding for transportation vans $3,600 (funded from additional FTE removal)
• Adds mandate that $18,600 one time funding to only be used for transportation van program
• Budget leaves House at 72% of base funding and 78% of FTE staff and 0 Temp staff (overall staffing at 60%)
• Committee recommends DO PASS 17-0-4 HJ 1299
• PASSED HOUSE 90-1 HJ 1313

SENATE REFUSED TO CONCUR SJ 1193

• Senate conference committee appointed: Kilzer, Dever, Robinson SJ 1193
• House conference committee appointed: J. Nelson, Kading, Holman HJ 1531
• Conference Committee scheduled Hearings
• Conference committee actions:
  • Raised Service Dog funding to $50,000
  • Maintained funding for vans at $37,200
  • Did not return any FTE's
  • Did not correct the HRTG fund supplanting issue
• PASSED SENATE 45-0 SJ 1553
• PASSED HOUSE 86-5 HJ 1795

​​SIGNED BY SPEAKER HJ 1804

SIGNED BY PRESIDENT SJ 1582

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 

Appropriations - North Dakota Veterans Home: Governor Dalrymple's Bill

Pre-approved by ND Veterans Home Director and ACOVA.

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the ND Veterans Home. Governors budget rate at 90% of 2015-2017 base budget.

This bill is to be combined with SB2007 and defeated by end of session. SB2007 will be final ND Veterans Home budget.

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 14-0-0 SJ 204
• FAILED TO PASS 0-45 SJ 213

Refer to SB2007

Appropriations - ND Department of Veterans Affairs (NDDVA) Budget: Governor Dalrymple's Bill

Pre-approved by Commissioner and ACOVA.

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of veterans' affairs. Governors budget rate at 90% of 2015-2017 base budget.

This bill is to be combined with SB2025 and defeated by end of session. SB2025 will be final NDDVA budget.

SENATE  AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 14-0-0 SJ 206
• FAILED TO PASS 0-45 SJ 213

Refer to SB2025

Gaming funds to be used for Veterans organizations

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 53-06.1-11.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to eligible uses of net proceeds by licensed gaming organizations.

Bill allows veteran organization gaming to...

• Utilized gaming funds for direct benefit of the organizations
• Utilize gaming funds for erection, acquisition, improvement, maintenance, or repair of real or personal property owned or leased by an organization

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Declared an emergency
• Committee recommends DO PASS 5-0-1 SJ 156
• PASSED SENATE 44-0 Emergency Clause Carried SJ163

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO PASS 10-3-1 HJ 932
• PASSED HOUSE 93-0 Emergency Clause Carried HJ 993

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR: 3/22/2017 SJ 872

Funeral Honor Coins for Veterans

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 37-18 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the conferment of a veterans commemorative memorial coin; and to provide an appropriation to the department of veterans' affairs.

• Provide $8,500 of general funds for design and purchase of a Veterans Commemorative memorial coin
• Require private matching funds up to $25,500 for purchasing of coins
• Provide that up to $4,000 of the $8,500 in general funds be used to design the coin

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Added retroactive: regardless of date of veterans death
• Family member may purchase coins 
• Require funding for at least four thousand coins 
• Committee recommends DO PASS 5-0-1 SJ 231
• Amendment adopted referred to Senate Appropriations
• Committee recommends DO PASS 13-0-1 SJ 361
• PASSED SENATE 46-0 SJ 381

HOUSE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Changed from creating one section to two sections of NDCC 37-18
• Changed from "Deceased Veteran" to "Deceased North Dakota Veteran"
• Removed the $8,500 appropriation and the appropriations section
• Added new section creating a "Commemorative memorial coin fund"
  • Moneys appropriated to this fund to be used by NDDVA for the coins
  • Allows gifts, grants, and donations to be received by NDDVA for this fund
  • Allows NDDVA to use these donated funds on a continuing basis
• Committee recommends DO PASS 13-0-1 HJ 933
• Referred back to Committee for further amendments HJ 1001
• Removed all references to provide appropriation
• Removed the new section creating a "Commemorative memorial coin fund"
  • Replaced with a new line to section 4 allowing NDDVA to accept and expend gifts, grants or donations for these coins
• Committee recommends DO PASS 13-0-1 HJ 1032
• PASSED HOUSE 93-0-1 

SENATE REFUSED TO CONCUR  SJ 1047

• Senate Conference committee appointed: Bekkedahl, Vedaa, Marcellais SJ 1047
• House Conference committee appointed: Laning, Beadle, P. Anderson HJ 1387
• Conference Committee Scheduled Hearings
• Conference Committee amendments
  • Added legislative intent section: Legislative intent is that ACOVA consider use of PWTF dollars to fund at least 4,000 coins.
• Amendments refused sent back to conference committee
• Conference Committee amendments
  • Section 1 # 3 added subsection (b): Definition of a veteran added and was ND resident during any period of the individuals life
• PASSED SENATE 46-0 SJ 1444
• PASSED HOUSE 87-0 HJ 1695

SIGNED BY SPEAKER HJ 1731

SIGNED BY PRESIDENT SJ 1509

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR SJ 1579

Gaming Tax on Veteran Organizations. 50% percent to go to PWTF

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 53-06.1-12 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to gaming tax deposits and allocations.

This Bill would...

• Allow 50% of the gaming tax paid by Veteran Service Organizations Gaming be placed in the Post War Trust Fund (PWTF)
  • The PWTF is a fund in which the payable interest earnings are utilized by the Administrative Committee On Veterans Affairs for services to ND Veterans and their eligible dependents.

FISCAL NOTE: $254,000

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Finance and Tax Committee recommended DO NOT PASS 5-1-0 SJ 300
• FAILED TO PASS 10-34 SJ 318
• Bill Video

VETERAN HUNTER EDUCATION

A BILL for an Act to create and enact section 20.1-03-01.6 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to hunter education requirements for veterans; and to amend and reenact section 20.1-03-01.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to hunter education requirements for veterans.

This bill would...

• Allow an honorably discharged veteran to take a 4 hour online hunting course rather than the required course of ND citizens.

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Committee Recommends DO NOT PASS 7-0-0 SJ 268
• FAILED TO PASS 19-26  SJ 281

Hunting license for ND Veterans Selected by Nonprofit outdoor recreation organization

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new subsection to section 20.1-03-11 and section 20.1-04-07.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to deer and wild turkey hunting licenses for veterans receiving hunting expeditions from a nonprofit organization.

This bill would...

• Allow six deer licenses and permits for veterans to hunt with guns
  • Selected by nonprofit organization
• Allow four spring wild turkey licenses and permits for veterans
  • Selected by nonprofit organization

FISCAL NOTE: $480 (not general fund dollars)

SENATE AMENDMENTS & ACTIONS

• Committee recommends DO NOT PASS 7-0-0 SJ 268
• FAILED TO PASS 6-39 SJ 280

Section 2 (Wild Turkeys) of this bill brought back as amendment to HB1025 by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee SJ 896

Appropriations - Veterans Home Budget

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the veterans' home; to provide an exemption; and to declare an emergency

Appropriations - ND Department of Veterans Affairs Budget

Pre-approved by Commissioner, ACOVA and NDVCC

A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of veterans' affairs.

Requested budget changes: 

• Increase Post War Trust Fund Principal by $1,750,000.Not Approved.
• Grant funding for Veteran Service Organizations for NSO's $300,000. Not Approved.
• Appoint State Approving Agency (SAA) to ND DVA. No state funding.-included in Governor's budget, House approved, Senate approved.Approved.
• Salary equity funding of $55,100-included in governors budget. -Removed by House, Added back by Senate,Removed in Conference committee. Not Approved.
• Add training position to NDDVA $135,575. Not Approved.
• Website upgrade: $60,935. Not Approved.
• Temporary employee funding of $59,488. Not Approved.
• Continued funding for PTSD dogs at $100,000. House denied, Senate added to budget at $50,000. Conference committee Approved.
• Continued funding for Agent Orange Outreach program at $50,000. Not Approved. Approved in HB 1372.
• increase stand down budget from $10,000 to $20,000 -included in governors budget.-House reduced to $15,000 added requirements, Senate increased to $20,000 removed requirements set by House.Approved at $20,000.
• Continued funding for transportation vans at $15,000-included in governors budget, House approved, Senate approved.Approved.
• Add marketing and advertising to budget at $20,000. Not Approved.
• Add PTSD and TBI treatment study at $108,352. Not Approved.

North Dakota National Guard Operations

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 37‑01‑43, 37‑04‑16, 37‑07.2‑01, subsection 6 of 37‑28‑02, and section 37‑28‑03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the operation of the North Dakota national guard; and to declare an emergency.

Criminal History Record Checks

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new subdivision to subsection 2 of section 12-60-24 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to criminal history record checks for the office of the adjutant general; and to declare an emergency.