[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6372684,"mediaKeyId","2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04","parentId",2147342,"title","Committee hears bill to split pronghorn tags 50/50 between landowners and non‑landowners; Game and Fish raises allocation tradeoffs","audioSeconds",660,"startMs",5520000,"endMs",4860000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04&start=5520&end=4860","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04/thumbnail_5520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6372684/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-bill-to-split-pronghorn-tags-5050-between-landowners-and-nonlandowners-Game-and-Fish-raises-allocation-tradeoffs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372684-9998d15266c208ac003d70c121137e1d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182978&Signature=hu8UHixGBZmqOeNw-HiEMU9v0ruHYBAb68MJlCRkuCmEG7s7EkxOuKOCmnMQ5w6etayAhTYDkT8bYho8jc7Gv9M04zGsdVmtVgjEvQqPWVs5C-L-B3303OYq~5D2nXjee0txqq1l2RnlVcMyw86vJMsCehIouGSRa2iuGVyM-kMfbFIQiJNKP5Ju9KJS4il-s3~zdq-l9~1H-DBCuAN0CJvry6K8H3g8SMLv3QCYbOQ4DdQuY9Jx3MTIZaHwaPgCccdypt3FxUhob-w1aGYPWSVsHaSreFNE8RIjeEEHRt2e7En7V4ZIS6-x85FDN3JLxAWmTKRs0YvEITnHp4PO7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Energy and Natural Resources, ND","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 2155 would amend state law to allocate any pronghorn (antelope) licenses in each hunting unit on a 50/50 basis between landowner (gratis) and non‑landowner applicants. The sponsor said the change is intended to correct current allocations in low‑population units where the law’s automatic reservation of the first 50 tags for landowners can leave very few tags for the general public.

Senator Sean Cleary, the bill sponsor, said the bill aims to “ensure more equitable distribution of pronghorn hunting licenses between landowner hunters and non‑landowner hunters,” and acknowledged a small drafting error that he planned to fix with an amendment to preserve the lottery for the remaining split tags. Testimony in favor came from hunting organizations including Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the North Dakota Bow Hunters Association, and the North Dakota Wildlife Federation, which argued the current distribution can leave nonlandowner hunters waiting a decade or more in some units.

Brock Wall of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers said in one unit 172 of 344 tags in 2024 would have gone to nonlandowner residents under the proposed 50/50 split, an example of how the change would boost chances for nonlandowner residents in low‑supply units. Daryl Belisle of the North Dakota Bow Hunters Association called the present statute “very outdated,” saying pronghorn numbers are lower than in past decades and tags are now much more scarce.

Casey Anderson, wildlife division chief for North Dakota Game and Fish, provided neutral agency testimony and circulated unit‑level data showing a wide range of outcomes: in some units the current distribution has produced nearly all landowner tags and very few public tags, while other units would be unaffected if populations increase. Anderson also highlighted that gratis (landowner) tags have lower hunter‑reported success and that landowners are required to hunt on their own property, which factors into how licenses translate into harvest and opportunity.

Committee members discussed amendments suggested by proponents and the department, including ensuring landowners who are not drawn in the gratis set‑aside remain in the subsequent public lottery without paying an additional fee, and the sponsor and committee said they would work on technical drafting and possible amendments before acting. No committee vote on SB 2155 is recorded in the provided transcript; the bill remained under committee consideration for amendment work.

Supporters said the change would rebalance opportunity where pronghorn numbers are low; opponents who submitted online testimony argued for preserving landowner privilege. The department’s unit‑level data and the committee’s conversation indicated the practical impact depends heavily on local pronghorn population levels and the number of landowners applying within each unit.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Energy and Natural Resources Jan 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2155 would require that any pronghorn tags available in each unit be split evenly—50% to landowners (gratis) and 50% to non‑landowner applicants—aiming to increase opportunity for resident hunters in units with low tag numbers.","taxTitle","Energy and Natural Resources, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28903,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6372689,"Senate committee hears bill to exempt 100% disabled veterans from deer lottery; agency and wildlife groups urge caution",369,2661000,3030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04&start=2661&end=3030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04/thumbnail_2661000.jpg","/articles/6372689/North-Dakota/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-exempt-100-disabled-veterans-from-deer-lottery-agency-and-wildlife-groups-urge-caution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372689-cdbed8fc20d48b96681a96148a0e99ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182978&Signature=AnKKQ9h1e56GLV3dAPYz7zFfU6e8P0h53reR1anuz5LKhJT4rvbTvHIiL7HChS0ZGllO5Swa~DO3dlpp0e2fqVQBpT85pxkaojdzq8KOxuoHZC9vX0veCewQPwWX1-rlh1f0P8iy7q2DcrE1Vqukr75aC2KaaqLHt1stikHaTnW08GTpjmrHMjXvgMFwmj~lcWZfK7UF3WZJLY8e7kMf4rhm5SHwZ3ejhbue-iR7HH7YbKe39H53ofavBT9WWZqq0d5hvSPEfDLgCO~ErRzay7CyDbl89PBBEWmxZQGdCQ~x39s1dEU-HlNfqPw3FSI8lik7zkrVk1QFX-8nxF9MwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2199 would allow veterans rated 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to receive a North Dakota deer license upon request without entering the lottery. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony from the bill’s sponsor and multiple stakeholders but did not take a committee vote during the hearing recorded in the transcript.

Senator Mike Wapman, sponsor of the bill, described the measure as “a reasonable consideration” to recognize veterans who have been physically or psychologically injured in service. He said the change responds to constituent testimony from disabled veterans frustrated by long waits to draw a deer license through the state’s lottery and estimated the pool of likely users to be small compared with roughly 50,000 deer licenses available statewide.

Supporters framed the bill as an honorific and practical accommodation. Several legislators and veterans emphasized veterans’ service and urged accommodation for those with severe service‑connected disabilities who face barriers in applying or waiting in a lottery system.

Opponents including John Bradley, executive director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation, urged the committee to reject the bill as written. Bradley said the deer lottery is a limited resource and that opening guaranteed access to all eligible 100% disabled veterans could place “undue pressure” on deer units where tags are scarce; he cited existing programs that provide dedicated hunting opportunities for veterans, including annual disabled‑veteran hunts and other statutory provisions.

Scott Peterson, deputy director of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, testified neutrally and urged caution. Peterson noted the deer lottery contains highly coveted tags for certain units and that total demand far exceeds supply in some areas; he suggested the department could explore alternatives such as preference points so veterans gain greater chance without receiving guaranteed annual tags.

Committee members asked whether the pool of eligible users is large and whether the measure would change hunter behavior or create pressure on scarce tags; one senator asked whether a hybrid approach—preference points or a staggered guarantee—might better balance recognition with resource limits. Several members asked staff and the department to explore amendments.

No committee action or vote on SB 2199 is recorded in the transcript. Committee discussion closed for further follow‑up; members said they would consider amendments (for example, preference points or limiting guaranteed issuance to specific seasons or frequencies) before taking final committee action.","Senate Bill 2199 would let veterans rated 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs obtain a deer license upon request without entering the lottery. The committee heard testimony for and against the bill and neutral agency testimony urging caution; no committee vote was taken.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6372694,"Committee advances bill to add water director to Clean Sustainable Energy Authority advisory panel, funds loan and grant pools",2240,400000,2640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04&start=400&end=2640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04/thumbnail_400000.jpg","/articles/6372694/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-bill-to-add-water-director-to-Clean-Sustainable-Energy-Authority-advisory-panel-funds-loan-and-grant-pools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372694-d6a71d983810bcc8b630074e61714834/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182978&Signature=irMzaoXZKL0CKy2VI1a0k4CZmDy2efsV3YcMtBBOxWbZZk655wDWX5mgG7tfwNh96QkLB2nX8RKLgkqYKQ1rNqkIxEIZohTSgQaK6pqtQW7rgPcNV1WFot3YeEQEv2ovoAIgZlu7SGoBeTSxEDmkcr-R6PvupiskR~qMyU0WxMFV1iOIdpRGrpaeSZUGjFJG1D~K7eXmSUA7nix2Nh4UANbDPlOh1~vKoagWvT9IIYovAiJVB4QvkLf23WmuPyjMrKFiyjbEJDvtXVcUYV2jSP4~6wPlRwSZVA6qkhRdBwfdtEadT0i-4pK78rG7cutV7j~Jq-RteRugaVweupAi5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2188, which would add the director of the Department of Water Resources to the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority’s nonvoting technical advisory committee and increase funding for the authority, moved forward from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on a unanimous committee vote after a clerical amendment.

The bill would add the department’s director as a technical adviser and provide $30 million for grants and $100 million for additional loans for the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the program the Legislature created to fund innovative energy projects by grants or loans. The bill passed a committee amendment to correct a numeric typo and then received a due-pass recommendation and referral to the Appropriations Committee.

The authority administers grant and loan awards designed to move research-stage energy ideas to commercialization. Kelvin Hullett, chief business development officer at the Bank of North Dakota, described the authority’s multi-step review: technical review by independent reviewers, financial underwriting by the bank, advisory review that includes state agencies, and final consideration by the authority before the Industrial Commission makes the ultimate funding decision. “It is probably one of the more extensive ones that we have for economic development projects in the state of North Dakota,” Hullett said.

Rhys Haas, director of the Department of Water Resources, testified in support of adding the department to the technical advisory committee. “Water, of course, is a critical resource for all of our industries in North Dakota,” Haas said, adding that water expertise helps evaluate projects where water use, cooling, processing or other operational water needs could determine viability.

Witnesses representing industry and resource interests urged continued funding. Ron Ness, president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said the authority helps “finish” large value‑added projects that otherwise stall in late-stage financing, noting projects using North Dakota natural gas and coal can require large, state-level financing commitments to reach final investment decisions. Jonathan Fortner of the Lignite Energy Council and other industry speakers cited Project Tundra and other large projects that have used the authority as examples of where state loan or grant support is leveraged with federal and private financing.

Bank of North Dakota materials shown at the hearing reported roughly $44 million in loans outstanding and a line-of-credit figure the bank described as available for additional commitments; the hearing record shows the committee approved an amendment correcting the bill’s numeric language so the loan increase reads $100,000,000. Committee co-chairs and witnesses emphasized that loan terms are typically low-interest (the statute provides a 2% loan rate) and relatively short (often 5–12 years) so the loan fund can revolve as projects repay.

Committee members repeatedly cited infrastructure concerns that can affect project viability. Committee discussion emphasized that adding the water director to the technical advisory committee is intended to surface infrastructure impacts—water pipelines, natural gas capacity, roads and other needs—early in reviews so those costs and dependencies are known before the authority makes a recommendation. Committee members also noted that some large projects previously committed to the authority, including a $250 million state loan commitment for Project Tundra, are still awaiting final investment decisions and federal policy certainty.

The committee adopted a clerical amendment to correct an extra zero in the bill’s funding line, then voted 7‑0 to recommend the bill for passage and referred it to Appropriations.

The bill’s next steps are consideration in the House Appropriations Committee if it reaches crossover. Supporters said the added water expertise and funding increase would help the authority better evaluate and scale projects that depend on water or other infrastructure; opponents did not appear at the hearing.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved a clerical amendment to correct the funding line (amendment passed 7‑0) and gave the bill a due-pass recommendation, 7‑0, with referral to Appropriations.","The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced Senate Bill 2188, which would add the Department of Water Resources director to the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority’s nonvoting technical advisory committee and authorize $30 million in grants and $100 million in additional loan capacity for the authority.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6372679,"Senate committee votes not to advance Dark Sky Week resolution after safety, zoning concerns",4043,4885000,8928000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04&start=4885&end=8928","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2147342-1fe2f284e454a4264ca284e4561d9a04/thumbnail_4885000.jpg","/articles/6372679/North-Dakota/Senate-committee-votes-not-to-advance-Dark-Sky-Week-resolution-after-safety-zoning-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6372679-31543a9fe0c135bf4faeeaf040473b7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182978&Signature=MNUKd6IJfUdNGOBTI-TCkstmjSFLaj51m4xxdqXinmNZlsAm~VtHf~9klITOhMHJua5e6f9pYUhHn5BUS5NqwcAS6wgdJUdjo8OKrggD1Ql4xbxdeVkjmo8~rc4dTuOgPhAjq-em8k~wQtGL93PtDREOlmas5F9aqfTyBau3SV6IRI4prFfAqcsWhj8cchsXVh30UtySlyLvmPsmNju8mhWZHvdlGOUWAzOTun7aBQKqoNgOC-y3RmSdnkW4oImuu8TCMpAXWl8IGihNjZCLB7--0RlnayooOh9Ir-gUF9glj12P-CWy2M2anMkNFM7f7WC2F~ZrZ0rowXypDimJyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Concurrent Resolution 4004, which would declare April 1 through April 28, 2025, as North Dakota Dark Sky Week and urge residents and political subdivisions to observe and reduce light pollution, drew testimony from environmental and dark‑sky advocates and from committee members who expressed safety and zoning concerns. After committee discussion the resolution received a do‑not‑pass recommendation, 6‑1.

Sponsor Senator Tim Mathern said the resolution is intended to raise awareness about light pollution and its effects on birds, plant and human health, and to encourage municipalities to consider ordinances and building designs that reduce light pollution. “Taking part encourages residents of North Dakota to observe, ponder, and support the natural dark‑sky resources of this state,” Mathern said when introducing the resolution.

Patrick Sommer, a volunteer delegate for Dark Sky International, testified in support and cited wildlife impacts and public‑health research linking artificial light at night—particularly short‑wavelength (blue/white) LEDs—to sleep disorders and other health risks. Sommer also highlighted economic opportunities from astrotourism and noted national dark‑sky designations for parks in other states.

Committee members raised concerns about practical implications. Several senators noted the resolution could encourage local ordinances to limit street and infrastructure lighting, and they questioned tradeoffs with public safety, traffic and crime prevention. One senator pointed out that many bird collisions occur at tall buildings and wind turbines and asked whether the resolution would imply broader regulatory changes.

After discussion, a committee motion for a do‑not‑pass recommendation carried on a roll‑call vote, 6 in favor of do‑not‑pass and 1 opposed. The roll call recorded: Senators Babb (Aye), Beard (Aye), Inghitt (Aye), Gearhart (Nay), Kessel (Aye), Van Eusting (Aye) and Chairman Patton (Aye).

Supporters said the resolution is educational and nonbinding; opponents and some members said it raised too many downstream implementation questions, including potential local zoning and safety tradeoffs. The committee’s do‑not‑pass recommendation will be included in the record and the resolution will not proceed from this committee at this time.","Senate Concurrent Resolution 4004, which would declare April 1–28, 2025, North Dakota Dark Sky Week and urge reduced light pollution, drew testimony on bird migration, human health and tourism value. The committee voted 6–1 for a do‑not‑pass recommendation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to split pronghorn tags 50/50 between landowners and non‑landowners; Game and Fish raises allocation tradeoffs

Senate committee hears bill to exempt 100% disabled veterans from deer lottery; agency and wildlife groups urge caution

Committee advances bill to add water director to Clean Sustainable Energy Authority advisory panel, funds loan and grant pools

Senate committee votes not to advance Dark Sky Week resolution after safety, zoning concerns