[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6338868,"mediaKeyId","2267023-bcdd9f6ad4086248f85270ff5f4ccc85","parentId",2267023,"title","Committee approves ‘blackout’ license‑plate option; bill would create optional specialty plate with fee","audioSeconds",1005,"startMs",9175000,"endMs",10180000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2267023-bcdd9f6ad4086248f85270ff5f4ccc85&start=9175&end=10180","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2267023-bcdd9f6ad4086248f85270ff5f4ccc85/thumbnail_9175000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6338868/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-blackout-licenseplate-option-bill-would-create-optional-specialty-plate-with-fee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338868-9ae11131a1e04611edb50f3f1a19b743/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180432&Signature=WMQnHWa58HBxPJdn4wUz3LuxQXDwNjf8GOERU94sM9YHRJLoQOjPXQ9kdcnpax9ozMvrbIYsG-7BKMcTE4tDbZ2I18R8Y5mWrIHXDslthDNYYREBvj4J2xPImlRawx79M648kxp6NxRG4Z2hR49SdmNyJwg9pc7Jyu~YtPVvxYWVEerztYBK5LUCEgcw2J6JdbXcNn9tlEALS98XGxFpB8~nUXgAWhUUFz3iYUG7IdrYuACpZpLuQW8M5hBSempnHt-U6E9oOusdd4QrApkSF2v-dsGbDRYM8cpn4yF9~6Xt5brJwhbsK3HMCEdCsnR3ZjYwO0PAfJAGMron3CmWew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature ","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Appropriations Government Operations Division voted to recommend passage of Senate Bill 2133, which would create an optional black-background (“blackout”) license plate for passenger vehicles with an initial fee and an annual surcharge.

Senator Christian Rohrs, sponsor of the bill, said the plates mirror similar popular specialty plates in neighboring states. The bill sets a $15 initial fee, $25 annual fee and an additional $25 annual charge for a personalized configuration, consistent with the state’s structure for specialty and vanity plates.

Robin Reberg, deputy director for driver safety at the Department of Transportation, testified the department supports the bill and reported demand from the public. “We’ve had a lot of requests from the public for this blackout plate,” she told senators, and Roughrider (the state contractor that manufactures plates) provided cost estimates showing a modest per‑plate production premium for black ink.

The fiscal note included a conservative revenue estimate and distribution: the fiscal note projects additional revenue flowing into the highway distribution fund (counties, cities and townships would receive increases based on existing statutory splits), after netting estimated motor vehicle division production costs. The committee noted the fiscal note assumes modest initial uptake; Minnesota’s initial year after a similarly styled plate passed drew large demand, but committee members said North Dakota’s uptake is uncertain.

Committee members discussed identification concerns near state borders and duplication with neighboring jurisdictions’ special plates; DOT staff said required elements — “North Dakota” and the state slogan — would remain on the plate to differentiate it from out‑of‑state designs.

A motion for a do‑pass recommendation carried in committee. If enacted, the law would allow vehicle owners to voluntarily select the blackout plate and the additional surcharge would flow through existing highway distribution formulas.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division Tue, Feb 11, 2025 8:31 AM-12:01 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2133 would authorize a black background license plate option for North Dakota vehicles. The Appropriations Government Operations Division recommended the bill for passage after hearing support from the Department of Transportation and the public; the fiscal note shows a possible net revenue increase to the highway distribution fund.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Government Operations Division, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28900,"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},6338873,"Appropriations committee advances bill redirecting ethanol production incentive funds to low‑carbon fuels program",1710,5880000,7590000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2267023-bcdd9f6ad4086248f85270ff5f4ccc85&start=5880&end=7590","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2267023-bcdd9f6ad4086248f85270ff5f4ccc85/thumbnail_5880000.jpg","/articles/6338873/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-advances-bill-redirecting-ethanol-production-incentive-funds-to-lowcarbon-fuels-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338873-32474f3bda2159cae114b1f33a9305f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180432&Signature=BxdDeG-CREPOc6h8SEFAl0NtEPRTsfabATcT1-0YQ6Du28sYhrJ0T9y4vt1eKtLFIKeC7s6TLjgxFjZfAvkZVUoa~jNokbyCWYYSf6FrbwLLdOVypHhakQD3dOoGnWtgtHtJkmTCzMJXOwYLPU9jtjUeRk-urhBALA7iFUGsBv~CfzqKLSy53yn89uKH-T5h0wfeQd5j1A2dMyf7Atle5Phy4TFGM239i1k7BbaJ1JVK2p73dLbzZquB-dFp6t-NPR4lZwLuSTjqa-MO5k~oA2c1VeERE8gOJXQ-GkxtlRB9DoIVIcr29D5ChbWyp~oz9v3NbJrm6gYRvuZdLunJEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations — Government Operations Division voted to recommend passage of Senate Bill 2333, a measure that would repeal the state’s ethanol production incentive program and reallocate the fund balance to a newly created Low Carbon Fuels Fund aimed at reducing carbon intensity at ethanol plants.

Senator Wansick (presenting the bill) summarized the bill’s core provisions: repeal the production incentive program, move the fund balance (reported at approximately $6 million) into a new Low Carbon Fuels Fund and increase the statutory cap from $7.5 million to $30 million. Distributions would support capital projects that reduce carbon intensity — including CO2 capture and storage, energy-efficiency upgrades and ethanol-yield improvements. The bill limits distributions to any single facility to 50% of project costs, not more than $3 million per biennium and not more than $10 million cumulatively over 10 years from the first distribution to that facility.

Industry witnesses and agriculture groups testified in favor. Jeff Zuger, CEO of Harvest Stone Low Carbon Partners, described operational carbon-capture work at Blue Flint Ethanol and other facilities and said the market demand for low-carbon molecules — including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) pathways — is driving investments. “Since October of 2023 we've been putting CO2 safely into the ground and lowering the carbon intensity for our fuels,” Zuger said, and he detailed how lower carbon-intensity scores are measured from field planting through finished fuel.

Supporters argued the program’s original incentive period had largely expired for facilities, and redirecting the continuing revenue stream (40% of certain farm-vehicle registration receipts) would finance projects to lower carbon intensity and help ethanol facilities sell into emerging low‑carbon markets. Lance Gaby of the North Dakota Farmers Union and representatives of the North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association urged passage.

The committee approved a do‑pass recommendation for SB 2333 after floor discussion and a roll call; senators signaled willingness to carry the measure to the full committee for final consideration.

Provisions in the bill are intended to leverage federal incentives (for example, 45Q and 45Z tax credits) and state matching aid to reduce project risk for private investors in carbon capture and other low‑carbon technologies. The committee record shows industry testimony estimating capital projects totaling tens of millions of dollars at individual companies; Zuger said his company planned roughly $130 million in near‑term investment and had already invested about $70 million at one site.

If enacted, the measure would repurpose a long-running state incentive into targeted support for projects that lower lifecycle carbon intensity and position North Dakota ethanol plants to enter expanding markets for low‑carbon fuels and feedstocks.","Senators voted to do‑pass Senate Bill 2333, which would repeal the existing ethanol production incentive fund, redirect its balance into a new low‑carbon fuels fund, raise the fund cap and provide matching grants to ethanol plants for carbon-reduction projects.",{"_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},6338878,"Committee backs option to post legally required public notices on Secretary of State site, strips appropriation",10224,306000,10530000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2267023-bcdd9f6ad4086248f85270ff5f4ccc85&start=306&end=10530","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2267023-bcdd9f6ad4086248f85270ff5f4ccc85/thumbnail_306000.jpg","/articles/6338878/North-Dakota/Committee-backs-option-to-post-legally-required-public-notices-on-Secretary-of-State-site-strips-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6338878-efc0ea3c0d7c5550f7b7645900f9468c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180432&Signature=RtR27yyc~FMrYcar-NZzudl2W~pYHGpgbMoRD5IBUncaN1QKx5HsX2uIjP2vX6HmMD5Qvo6lTLGuebIFggYcPu7yvuIcZ1Fgw-WgDKemlNGSqlrNsOYYpIQ0dj3iO~baLNS~Ps8lkO-ksoailfyQcmEdzZao5HXqV1aESjZAgls6pV~ktqJ1N66IpkDDctMC4SvhPhJsECQI7gJBj7dP5Cw7kObEW-9dP6IV-68Z9hVCGGOrVKd3XoaYqu1XNhpTzTjNsdxv6dM7NGuB2lWg5~THVm2zaM5H3Mo-vkpyWwnthY-5ekV9HWRtlAb086AMr82uUxpn1fhyO8aLkoavDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators on the Senate Appropriations — Government Operations Division on Oct. 12 approved an amended version of Senate Bill 2069 that would allow — but not require — units of government to post statutorily required public notices on the Secretary of State’s website. The committee removed a proposed appropriation tied to building an expanded public-notices system.

The bill originated at the request of the Public Service Commission. Randy Chrisman of the Public Service Commission told the committee the commission’s goal was to add a publicly accessible backup so a missed newspaper ad would not force cancellation or rescheduling of hearings. “Maintaining our North Dakota newspapers is a huge deal to me,” Chrisman said, “...but what we want to do is add to it and be even more transparent, for people who just do not choose to read a newspaper.”

Bill proponents said the backup would be a \"fail-safe\" when a paid newspaper notice is not published correctly. Sandy McMurdie, Deputy Secretary of State, told senators the office’s current meeting-hosting site (built in 2013) does not support full public-notice functionality and that an upgraded site and vendor support would require funding: the office initially discussed roughly $100,000 to $150,000 for development and ongoing vendor support. “We currently host the public meeting site that does not do public notices,” McMurdie said. “The appropriation that’s on here is really a reflection of us being able to update and create a site that would encompass what this bill requires in terms of public notices.”

Opponents urged caution about replacing or competing with the existing newspaper-based public-notice infrastructure. Cecile Wurman, executive director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association, said her group operates ndpublicnotices.com and that the association’s site already publishes notices from member newspapers at no charge to government. She warned the bill, as drafted and discussed in earlier committee work, appeared to be a step toward eliminating newspaper notices and urged denial of the appropriation. “We have research showing that voters do not want public notices on government websites,” Wurman said, adding the association’s public-notice service dates to 2013 and currently aggregates notices from the state’s papers.

Agency witnesses described practical problems the backup would solve. John Arnold, deputy insurance commissioner, and Victor Shook, director of public utilities at the Public Service Commission, described instances in the current biennium when newspaper publication errors forced agencies into “fire drills,” rescheduling hearings or seeking waivers. Arnold said the backup would reduce the operational impact when independent publishers err. “We are in support of having that safe-gap measure,” he said.

Committee action narrowed the bill. Members voted to remove the bill’s appropriation language (section 2) so the Secretary of State would be permitted — not required — to host notices; that amendment passed on the committee floor by a 4–1 margin. The committee then approved a do-pass recommendation on the bill as amended by a 3–2 vote.

The amended bill leaves newspaper publication requirements intact, while adding an optional posting on the Secretary of State’s site so agencies may meet statutory notice obligations if a paid publication fails to run a notice on time. Supporters said the change is intended as a supplement and a fail-safe; opponents said an expanded state-hosted system could duplicate or supplant existing newspaper services and that the newspaper association already offers a free public‑notice website.

The committee did not appropriate funds for Secretary of State software development after the amendment. Committee members said removing the appropriation gives stakeholders time to explore whether the newspaper association’s site, a Secretary of State link to that site, or a Secretary of State upgrade is the most cost‑effective path.

The bill as amended now proceeds to the next step of the Appropriations process. Further budget or statutory changes would be considered in later committee deliberations should stakeholders return with a jointly developed technical solution or new funding request.","The Senate Appropriations Government Operations Division approved an amended version of Senate Bill 2069 to let government entities post legally required public notices on the Secretary of State’s website as an optional \"fail-safe,\" but removed a $150,000 appropriation to build an expanded notices system.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves ‘blackout’ license‑plate option; bill would create optional specialty plate with fee

Appropriations committee advances bill redirecting ethanol production incentive funds to low‑carbon fuels program

Committee backs option to post legally required public notices on Secretary of State site, strips appropriation