[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6329606,"mediaKeyId","2315885-4c9dab43c0b3014ede529f3c8a9b0737","parentId",2315885,"title","Committee approves mileage-based formula for County and Township Infrastructure Fund (Operation Prairie Dog)","audioSeconds",1103,"startMs",2407000,"endMs",3510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315885-4c9dab43c0b3014ede529f3c8a9b0737&start=2407&end=3510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315885-4c9dab43c0b3014ede529f3c8a9b0737/thumbnail_2407000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6329606/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-mileage-based-formula-for-County-and-Township-Infrastructure-Fund-Operation-Prairie-Dog","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329606-429e57a59c40d15b2bc921124385d7d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152963&Signature=V8mA7umZqWe82w1HJO6F4JqCOKDKa6JqYZro30a~ZuHMVXPumLGrk4W42qfokr8i5TXNQL-qUizrIx5RtCxGCZa5SEHepjImgpZAmBJLW011C5hKXvqXlnSkLl57XoTk-FGc0HNkp39V7hYuuWETT5W2VaMj4ONsO5C0RnPkA7lMHaDB6BqbhBR5WRLlS~7FMrothnfidGbN87eXBJQ5zF-kCoebxxQLWgPJoBf8HxVoxPMnY9kS09zRLuoLg~h5~Xy2R2BxKLVknH7DOW2x1j-jNYucCIRvFsdQ0n9BSusDEgU2fH579ydQ1bq3U1D6Xv6yKU5PTO4KIIvFRtH4wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","State Treasurer Thomas Bridal told the Transportation Committee that House Bill 1065 would revise how the township portion of the County and Township Infrastructure Fund is distributed, moving from equal per-township shares to a mileage-based formula.

\"This fund was created during the 2019 legislative session,\" Thomas Bridal, North Dakota State Treasurer, told the committee, describing the fund as part of the oil-and-gas production tax revenue \"waterfall\" commonly called Operation Prairie Dog. He said the overall county-and-township bucket can total $115,000,000 during a biennium, and the township share is set at 13 percent, or about $14,950,000.

Bridal said the current equal-share approach produces a remainder when the dollar amount does not divide evenly among townships and, more importantly, does not align distribution with maintenance needs. \"Right now, under current law, we give the same dollar amount to a township whether they have 1 mile or 20 miles,\" Bridal said, arguing a mileage basis would better reflect road-maintenance needs and make the distribution process cleaner for his office.

He provided a county-by-county impact breakdown that shows some counties would receive less under the mileage approach while others would receive more. Bridal noted Stark County sometimes does not qualify; when it does not, its roughly $360,000 share is redistributed to qualifying counties.

Committee members raised implementation and fairness questions. Senator Rummel asked whether per-mile funding properly accounts for road condition or pavement type; Bridal said the committee could not practically execute a more granular formula tied to pavement condition and that a pure mileage numerator/denominator method is administrable. On reporting, Bridal said township distributions under Prairie Dog carry no reporting requirement: counties or organized townships receive funds for infrastructure use without subsequent spending reports.

Testimony supporting the bill came from stakeholders. Larry Severson of the North Dakota Township Officers Association said the mileage formula \"indicates the townships that are using the most funds to maintain the most roads. We think that's the most equitable method of doing it.\" Jenny Dietzmann of the Association of Counties said counties administer funds for unorganized townships and that the counties support the mileage-based distribution.

After public testimony the committee voted. A motion for a do pass on engrossed House Bill 1065 was made and seconded; the roll call showed Senators Paulson, Romo, Clemens (chair), Vice Chair Corey, Hogan and Klein voting aye. The motion passed; Senator Paulson agreed to carry the bill.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation Friday, Feb 14, 2025 8:52 AM - 10:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","State Treasurer Thomas Bridal and stakeholders told the Transportation Committee that House Bill 1065 would change township distributions in the County and Township Infrastructure Fund (\"Operation Prairie Dog\") from equal shares to a mileage-based allocation. The committee voted to give the measure a do-pass recommendation.","taxTitle","Transportation, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28909,"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},6329612,"Committee advances bill to remove outdated vehicular carrier rules from Public Service Commission statutes",184,582000,766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2315885-4c9dab43c0b3014ede529f3c8a9b0737&start=582&end=766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2315885-4c9dab43c0b3014ede529f3c8a9b0737/thumbnail_582000.jpg","/articles/6329612/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-bill-to-remove-outdated-vehicular-carrier-rules-from-Public-Service-Commission-statutes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329612-7baecaf34df2842d2614a3a64a68e1aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152963&Signature=c~zMLB14gVr6RuSHBkKFYluxdBH4GxFt6d4DhvdAw93qF72yLO5~c28d7fnm20gNgyPVe-mkjdCl8ljf-EaQPl~AmALPDWjC9aRe1ADG3F62uyqMNI4MmVfs5DXm5qUMpttXE664mT4S-usAZf4jYgTCcQEmYDPHaUr9oGrBhRmotHyUqb2wzZQh1WdqA9RKjIXEaGaocvmq2sAnwA4~eEoT~X5m8p5spUB8qn8UN1qmtuQ5EejwEWlhBrsJTPmKZDwM4gcg-xB1f9~un410wZFDLTWPOnjDmLWJBR0cgoJbUQdU7dmrSvKgCQ7pQvmiokE-pOz2oixjOyqQVYbFag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Clemens opened the hearing on House Bill 1062, and State Public Service Commission Commissioner Jill Kringstead testified the measure is a clean-up to chapter 49-04 of the North Dakota Century Code.

\"House Bill 1062 is a cleanup bill to chapter 49-04 of the North Dakota Century Code,\" said Jill Kringstead, a commissioner on the Public Service Commission, adding that the PSC has not regulated vehicular common carriers such as taxis or trucking companies since 1975.

Kringsstead told the committee the bill removes the word \"traffic\" from 49-4-7 and deletes sections 49-4-08, 49-4-09 and 49-4-10 to align the code with the PSC's actual duties. She also emphasized the change would not affect the PSC's authority to regulate rail service, which is covered under chapter 49-10.1 of the North Dakota Century Code.

Committee members asked background questions. Senator Holden asked about when the provisions were enacted; Kringstead said she did not know the exact year and that much of the industry deregulation happened around 1975 and some responsibilities were later transferred to the Department of Transportation. Senator Griggs noted the deleted sections appeared related to pricing and carrier collaboration and observed that those functions likely remain but are managed elsewhere; Kringstead agreed.

After closing the hearing, Senator Hogan moved a \"do pass\" recommendation on House Bill 1062; Senator Rummel seconded the motion. The clerk called the roll. Senators Klein, Paulson, Rummel, Clemens (chair), Vice Chair Corey and Hogan each voted aye. The committee recorded the motion as passed. Senator Klein agreed to carry the bill.

The committee record shows no public testimony in opposition or neutral testimony before the committee gave the bill a favorable recommendation.

The bill will move forward with the committee’s recommendation and a sponsor to carry it in the full chamber.","The Transportation Committee heard testimony and voted to give House Bill 1062 a “do pass” recommendation to update chapter 49-04 of the North Dakota Century Code by removing provisions that no longer reflect the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) current duties over vehicular common carriers.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee approves mileage-based formula for County and Township Infrastructure Fund (Operation Prairie Dog)

Committee advances bill to remove outdated vehicular carrier rules from Public Service Commission statutes