[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6326752,"mediaKeyId","2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec","parentId",2323628,"title","Proposal to buy down school mills for agricultural land draws support from farm groups","audioSeconds",824,"startMs",7253000,"endMs",8077000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec&start=7253&end=8077","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec/thumbnail_7253000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6326752/North-Dakota/Proposal-to-buy-down-school-mills-for-agricultural-land-draws-support-from-farm-groups","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326752-c428e5c0dc62d93938013cd16ddda764/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113973&Signature=LkieVqtoqWzMdsF98pgNNYPQ2e0BjEjmv4~j2Nz~IJl~9w5FOh2uqBBOWYB~09jT98O5~i4jyTz3GkA4WEl1jECnozoNSB7OpL-pxklFCRSadBDRBvPIZIGaAqwB6MG~M5MHkQBYpXpIDBLXKNRSQENPcFcRIbO-cGqwGSUjj0Tmqtgtyi98HCmd2l6jrlHPxy41GUI~fzY7xIKWZF6XqeHqSXVtceMo3eCUeYhjRNHoNjKtledISOn-I0RbbUSwkL3qhtJZytEM26LzuMVq9IV~DjAuLa~a5hAxhQ7tMyqN21ypgiM8R2XF0tvwl~QU0rk04CC--RUs3tR9g-6BEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","Senators considered a proposal to reduce the school portion of property taxes on agricultural land during discussion of Senate Bill 2363.

Sponsor Senator Eberly (self-identified in testimony as the bill sponsor) and supporters described the measure as a way to ensure equity in any broader property-tax-relief package. The proposal would buy down the school mill rate applied to agricultural land from 60 mills to 30 mills. Advocates and commodity groups told the committee agricultural property bears a disproportionate share of local tax collections in many counties.

Why it matters: Witnesses and staff cited statewide data: agricultural property accounted for about 19% of property-tax collections (excluding special assessments) in 2024; the state has roughly 25,000 farms and 95% of farmland is operated by about 12,677 farms. Testimony summarized that about 1.6% of the population (farm operators) provide roughly 15.6% of property-tax collections — underscoring the distributional effect of relief targeted only at residential property.

Fiscal and administrative issues: The fiscal note for the buydown was described as approximately $80.5 million. School-finance staff noted implementation timing issues: the Department of Public Instruction calculates state aid using the prior-year taxable valuation (taxable valuation for 2024 is used for the 2026–27 funding cycle). Adam Tesher, school finance officer at DPI, said the department could implement the change, but doing so for the upcoming funding cycle would require updated 2024 valuation data by school district; otherwise implementation could be delayed one year or DPI would need to retroactively collect county data and recompute distributions.

Supporters and testimony: Agricultural and ranching organizations strongly supported the bill. Julie Ellingson of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, Pete Hanover of the North Dakota Farm Bureau and Leslie Isengild of the Corn Growers Association asked the committee to pass a package that includes ag-property relief so that reductions to residential property do not simply shift the tax burden disproportionately onto farm landowners.

Questions from lawmakers addressed the map showing county-level shares of property-tax collections attributed to agricultural land, and the committee asked the tax commissioner and DPI whether counties could administratively implement a separate mill rate for agricultural land. Tax department staff indicated counties could apply the change in their templates and said administration was feasible; DPI staff flagged timing/data issues but said the change could be integrated with an extra data collection or by deferring the change one year.

Ending: Supporters asked the committee for a favorable recommendation so agricultural property would be included in any final property-tax-relief package. No final committee vote on SB 2363 was recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division Mon, Feb 17, 2025 8:30 AM-12:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2363 would reduce the school portion of property taxes on agricultural land from 60 mills to 30 mills, a change supporters say would provide targeted relief to farm and ranch owners who carry a large share of local tax burdens in many counties.","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},6326757,"Proposal for $5M study to reassess transit funding for North Dakota’s four fixed-route cities",1462,5849000,7311000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec&start=5849&end=7311","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec/thumbnail_5849000.jpg","/articles/6326757/North-Dakota/Proposal-for-5M-study-to-reassess-transit-funding-for-North-Dakotas-four-fixed-route-cities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326757-f410c93c0360733c16e5da042ffb7bb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113973&Signature=NYgZ5ZW6OmNWMB5mZJa9jWovvEp-hwjzTbq3xnhH6D7jg~i7D-pgapzrKuPtR9NcsGNcYr36tr~q7G9Ljl7OwX4HV0xxw5GY043hTR1eSWWBFQFzS0zjmgcxgNkj3-h9xAYXnp~Q~GKNokNB0~oWi3s4eLRBOYMjeSkd2jiBapN8Pm0mBog2N6d0xkDJWtFM5Qs7S1RbmSTFAamsJlreycMZ6L5KNe-ALH8nDGumuIQfmOHGAxaq~J770ApxQaaUrrPTljZIetgKJXvPZSRJZgdO6-X6TjyhEF0v63WB6rZ4eGGEYNMr2zUWC1vF0dRsvZswPWXRZ1Ip3CF3BFVLrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators heard from local transit officials and advocates on a proposal to fund a study and one-time grants to four cities that operate fixed-route transit systems.

Senate Bill 2254, presented by Senator Josh Baucher, would provide $5,000,000 in one-time state grants to Minot, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Fargo to support fixed-route and paratransit operations and to fund a study during the next interim that would examine the feasibility of updating a state transit funding formula.

Why it matters: Baucher told the committee that recent population growth and changes in federal transit designations have reduced federal funding for Minot and Fargo. He said COVID relief in prior biennia temporarily offset shortfalls and that as federal relief recedes, communities face budget stress that could cut routes and services residents rely on for work, education and health care.

What proponents asked for: Baucher said the study should tap in-state consultants to help devise a sustainable funding model that could account for general ridership (not just seniors and disabled riders) and changing service patterns such as on-demand transit. Transit advocates asked the committee either to put the $5 million directly into the DOT budget or to authorize the study and grants through the bill. Trevor Vanette, an advocate for statewide public transit, supported including human-services appropriation chairs in the study because of the overlap with medical transportation.

Local testimony: Cale Dunwoody with the Fargo-Moorhead Chamber emphasized workforce impacts: \"If you can't get to work, you can't work,\" he said, urging support for the bill. Corey Peterson, former mayor of Horace, said Horace’s rapid growth (from about 2,200 to nearly 7,000 people during his tenure) makes a transit study worthwhile to assess new service needs.

Funding mechanics and next steps: Testimony explained that federal transit formulas rely on census-based designations; Minot and Fargo’s reclassification reduced federal aid even as ridership and local needs grew. Committee members discussed possible funding sources in the DOT budget, flexible-transportation funds and motor-vehicle excise-tax allocations. No formal committee vote on SB 2254 was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: Supporters asked the committee to provide a study and short-term grants while work continues on a sustainable formula that accounts for general ridership and changing local transit models.","Senate Bill 2254 would authorize a one‑time $5 million appropriation to the Department of Transportation to grant Minot, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Fargo funds and commission a study of fixed-route and paratransit funding formulas. Proponents said federal reclassification and the end of COVID-relief funds have strained local transit systems.",{"_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},6326761,"Regional councils push Rural Catalyst grant to help small-town projects and capacity",706,2196000,2902000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec&start=2196&end=2902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec/thumbnail_2196000.jpg","/articles/6326761/North-Dakota/Regional-councils-push-Rural-Catalyst-grant-to-help-small-town-projects-and-capacity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326761-bf7f017c7cc76bdb8690836503ac9879/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113973&Signature=bCd9HeWYnPE6yvGtAQYdPR64kfxrauyqRBtipeHxcEqPXIjV-sXi~UmfCWA1hNBNxRV7-8xRIEDoxNkSUroZ2Tj4ndhTO9R6VE-uQ~-DNMnl5C53LFwSlnEvslXQOYx9k7CuS1F9OzD3XucivEc1rN4r-FqpaunI1AfyBwZFyN0-3afvAspLtFff25l6xMIn9J03vbej-7xsYEN2UmYnF49fKEo1N-3wrBR8hK-WKo~Y5I8bUyv55MpDd8s9TQRybXTz9Hj-g5sjRTnwGEUGN52exKVhEFEBHE-HgHP1kinDp4lEmMdOETEXBSkLsNVfgRJTixrQyIVC61ceVhyS~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members heard testimony on Senate Bill 2390, a proposed Rural Catalyst challenge grant designed to help towns of up to 8,500 people finance community projects and to encourage regional collaboration and philanthropy.

Don Mant, executive director of the Red River Regional Council, told the committee the grant complements other project-related proposals and helps small towns that do not qualify for some state or federal programs. Mant described several local projects that would qualify, including a Gilby community-center HVAC replacement (estimated at about $35,000), a $20 million Park River wellness center, and a $1.4 million Walsh County child-care expansion that remained $370,000 short despite more than a dozen funding sources.

Why it matters: Supporters said many small towns lack the staff capacity and matching funds required by federal programs and that a challenge-grant model with a match requirement would leverage philanthropic and local investments. Mant and other witnesses pointed to widespread regional council success: councils helped secure hundreds of millions in projects statewide over five years and directly assisted communities where grocery stores or pools have closed.

Program design and capacity: The Rural Catalyst proposal would set aside funding for very small towns (the policy committee had proposed a 50% set-aside to communities under 1,000), encourage matches in local cash or volunteer hours, and allow regional councils to provide grant-writing and project-development assistance. Don Mant and other advocates also referenced House Bill 1524, which would boost staffing capacity at regional councils to help more projects get through application, permitting and construction.

Support and examples: Peril Grossman of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association reiterated the association’s support for the measure, praising reporting and transparency features and the match requirement. Testimony noted frequent disaster declarations in Region 4, which increase the need for regional planning and resilient infrastructure.

Questions from senators centered on funding tiers, how matches would be evaluated, and whether the grant process would be simple for small projects while scalable for larger proposals. Witnesses asked the committee to permit simpler, lower-burden applications for smaller projects and more detailed review for large ones, with regional councils helping to prepare applications.

Ending: Committee members closed the public testimony; no formal vote on SB 2390 was recorded in the transcript.","Witnesses urged senators to support Senate Bill 2390, a Rural Catalyst Challenge Grant, and related House Bill 1524 to increase staff capacity at regional councils. Testimony emphasized matching requirements, examples of shovel-ready projects, and the councils' role in accessing federal and private funds.",{"_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},6326766,"Committee hears testimony backing renewal of rural grocery sustainability grant",617,318000,935000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec&start=318&end=935","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec/thumbnail_318000.jpg","/articles/6326766/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-testimony-backing-renewal-of-rural-grocery-sustainability-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326766-30caddd75cee662e1b66cfca8a5c2b1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113973&Signature=jT3xqxIqu6gKr5zjENw~cXCugqouCzUG16xOiP8cVhZUKU5L80M5zg22Exh0sKTsK2Trf1-XeNoZjlpCVcMnKdKTGU0MqnqSxUsBB3mr~y72NIGrF1bo~lXbeCypgyDmVuKgTiNxhA6LnOR1jcppiy~GXKARsfNbaQhD94htIbOvZUqY~fyqu-gcf7IZCv64lAk7SepAm5RiU~~nT~pp6cWN4ievsYwREANlBKLMHsJO51GSKplnfs5nnK2ycF4kkN4su2sxpai2teI6RbNGEOf-ym3dkZyireA1kvoK9kl26829P0diVhTxCsNg1RrXKpTiEMQfJxpQ9qaVW7KISA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate committee members heard broad support for reauthorizing a rural grocery sustainability grant program and renewing a $1,000,000 appropriation during testimony on Senate Bill 2228.

The bill would reauthorize the Rural Grocery Sustainability Grant program, a pilot first funded in 2023, and focus aid on rural grocery stores — including funds to support existing stores, sequencing of store transitions and succession planning. Ellen Huber, rural development director for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, told the committee that the 2023 pilot funded feasibility studies and business planning for nine towns and organizations and that the proposal would expand eligibility beyond collaboration projects to include existing stores.

The program \"would reauthorize the rural food sustainability grant initially approved as a pilot in 2023 with $1,000,000 in funding,\" Huber said. She described the Rural Access Distribution cooperative as a model that has improved pricing, availability and variety of fresh foods for hub and spoke stores. Huber also said many applicants were ineligible in the pilot because funds could not be used for building repairs and equipment — needs often critical when a store changes hands.

Why it matters: Testimony framed local grocery access as a basic service that affects community survival, public health and local economies. Witnesses said losing stores forces some residents to travel 100–200 miles to larger cities, increases household food and transportation costs and “extracts dollars from local economies.” Huber said North Dakota has lost 47 grocery stores since 2014 and has about 90 remaining stores statewide.

Commerce and financing details: Maria Efritz of the North Dakota Department of Commerce confirmed the department administered the 2023 pilot and said five grants supported facilities while four funded studies. Efritz said a match requirement was under discussion with stakeholders to stretch grant dollars further; Huber suggested a 25% local match with a hypothetical cap (for example, $250,000) could help the $1,000,000 serve five to ten projects.

The Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC), operated by the state’s rural electric and broadband cooperatives, was cited as an active financing partner. Huber said the RDFC has approved more than $900,000 in low-interest (2%) loans since 2012 for stores in towns including Bowman, Towner and Crosby and that available RDFC funds are now under $200,000. She also said staff helped secure about $700,000 in private-grant funding for community or nonprofit grocery stores since 2016.

Local examples and demand: Don Mant, executive director of the Red River Regional Council, described the City of Crystal (population 112) as a recent example: a community booster club raised over $100,000 locally, the regional council and county JDA helped with planning, and a subsequent state grant allowed the community to buy the store, but Mant said Crystal still lacked funds for equipment and accessibility improvements after receiving only $136,000 of a requested $300,000 in the pilot round.

Support from agriculture and rural organizations: Peril Grossman, legislative director for the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, told committee members the association strongly supported SB 2228 and stressed the importance of grocery access for vulnerable rural residents including elderly and disabled households. Grossman and other witnesses urged a do-pass recommendation.

What lawmakers asked: Senators asked how many stores $1,000,000 could help (testimony estimated five to ten projects if matching and caps were used), whether awarded projects kept stores operating (the Crystal example and cooperative distribution expansions were cited), and whether federal programs such as USDA healthy-food financing remain reliable sources. Witnesses said federal availability was uncertain and that state funding fills gaps.

Next steps: Committee discussion closed after testimony; no formal vote on SB 2228 was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: Proponents urged the committee to reauthorize the pilot with full funding so communities can access grants, technical assistance and financing to retain or reopen grocery stores and to support cooperative distribution models that expand availability of fresh foods in small towns.","Witnesses told the Appropriations - Government Operations Division that reauthorizing Senate Bill 2228 with a $1 million appropriation would help sustain and reopen small-town grocery stores, assist succession planning and support collaborative distribution efforts across North Dakota.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6326747,"Committee amends and advances bill offering post‑production incentives for in‑state dairy processing",3470,4176000,7646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec&start=4176&end=7646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2323628-ce70be0ed61f1f5173cdc237cf64b1ec/thumbnail_4176000.jpg","/articles/6326747/North-Dakota/Committee-amends-and-advances-bill-offering-postproduction-incentives-for-instate-dairy-processing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6326747-fd9f9a870e8efb9b16a2b83b00b9b9af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771113974&Signature=W169RWnHhvNXwkL75POix-0v8wSvDsjGEkQnA4SXSU48-3Xgwxix68xwwCv~fPjkJLug5KuCx5qnh4FYnQlsUL55HOlW4A7wbHVgR4L-NS9JSG~4Bsj6CIe4UrQHz~tOKNCiIEvgogmNnspIxqwZ~GY8hSLwM~1LAV7ZIdSHVr4qS9ub3RxtQ-NakK-pGvRUt5cmA-x2Kp~-0On0-7jugVABykQenLWQaPkhkxOxlzIBan9COd2zIgQ4c-UmhcMk1nqYZKeUpq6D6sMYvOIU1qkXmNk6uJXKIRD93JaCbPWoRxMpj~dS1ZCLmlOfvNdX851fGJYfU~4FHZ8DwAXh~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee amended and voted to advance Senate Bill 2342, a proposal to offer a state incentive to attract or expand dairy processing capacity in North Dakota.

Bill summary and amendment: The original draft described a post‑production incentive tied to milk “production.” Matt Perdue, speaking for the North Dakota Farmers Union, asked the committee to frame the incentive for dairy processing rather than raw milk production. Committee amendments replaced the word “production” with “processing,” changed a volume reference (originally expressed in gallons) to a processing metric (3,000,000 pounds), and removed a direct $10,000,000 appropriation from the bill. The amendment instead followed the model used in another package (potato processing language): if the Agricultural Development (AD) fund approves a grant for a qualifying dairy-processing project, the sponsor would submit a request to the next legislative session to satisfy any additional appropriations. That change aligned the bill’s mechanics with other AD‑fund grant proposals and removed an immediate $10 million appropriation from the text.

Sponsor and rationale: Matt Perdue said the measure is a ‘‘planting the flag’’ signal that North Dakota wants dairy processing and would offer up to $10 million in incentives after a facility reaches full projected processing capacity. Proponents noted North Dakota producers now ship milk long distances for processing and that in‑state processing capacity would reduce transportation costs and strengthen margins for dairy farmers.

Committee action: Senator Dwyer moved a motion for a due-pass recommendation on SB 2342 as amended; Senator Herbley seconded. The roll-call reflected affirmative votes from committee members present and the chairman announced the motion passed. The transcript records the amendment vote and the subsequent due-pass motion and passage in committee.

Why it matters: Testimony framed processing capacity as a key bottleneck: without local processing, producers face added transport costs; loss of in‑state processing has prompted some dairies to exit the business. Witnesses and industry advocates told the committee that an in‑state processor could shore up existing producers and incentivize new investment in the sector.

Ending: The committee approved a due-pass recommendation as amended. The amended bill removes an immediate appropriation and establishes a path for AD‑fund consideration followed by a legislative appropriation request if the AD fund approves a qualifying project.","Senate Bill 2342, amended in committee, rephrases a proposed incentive as a processing (not production) incentive for new dairy processors, changes quantity units and removes a direct $10 million appropriation in favor of a mechanism to seek ad‑fund support. The committee approved the bill as amended (motion: due pass).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Proposal to buy down school mills for agricultural land draws support from farm groups

Proposal for $5M study to reassess transit funding for North Dakota’s four fixed-route cities

Regional councils push Rural Catalyst grant to help small-town projects and capacity

Committee hears testimony backing renewal of rural grocery sustainability grant

Committee amends and advances bill offering post‑production incentives for in‑state dairy processing