BISMARCK — Along with a swath of bills aimed at
improving access to rural health care,
the North Dakota Legislature this week passed several other pieces of unrelated legislation during the special session.
The House and Senate unanimously passed
House Bill 1625,
which allows the University of North Dakota to sell a portion of Ray Richards Golf Course in Grand Forks for an underpass project at 42nd Street and DeMers Avenue.
House Bill 1626
amends property tax legislation to ensure residents get the full $1,600 primary residence credit approved last year. North Dakota discounts 5% off property tax bills that are paid on or before Feb. 15. Some counties were applying the $1,600 tax credit before the discount, meaning some residents weren’t getting the full credit, lawmakers said.
HB 1626 ensures the credit is applied after the discount. The House passed the bill unanimously and the Senate approved it 40-6.
Senate Bill 2403
provides up to $5 million in emergency loans from the Bank of North Dakota to Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center in Elgin. The hospital that employs more than 100 workers in southwest North Dakota is facing closure amid a financial crisis.
The Senate unanimously passed the bill and the House approved it 80-12.
Senate Bill 2404
allocates $1.5 million to the North Dakota Information Technology Department to update state websites and digital content to comply with the American Disabilities Act. It also appropriated $325,000 to the Public Service Commission for “federal lawsuit intervention efforts.” Both the House and Senate passed the bill unanimously.
The House and Senate also approved a resolution recognizing the 175th anniversary of the Young Men’s Christian Association.
April Baumgarten is the Fargo city government reporter. The North Dakota native started her journalism career in 2011 and joined The Forum in February 2019. Readers can reach her at 701-241-5417 or abaumgarten@forumcomm.com.
