[{"_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",6287747,"mediaKeyId","2547084-c68bc977019d9590a63987e2ad64333c","parentId",2547084,"title","Senate committee hears broad property-tax relief plan; sponsors add centrally assessed taxpayers","audioSeconds",6514,"startMs",316000,"endMs",6830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547084-c68bc977019d9590a63987e2ad64333c&start=316&end=6830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547084-c68bc977019d9590a63987e2ad64333c/thumbnail_316000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287747/North-Dakota/Senate-committee-hears-broad-property-tax-relief-plan-sponsors-add-centrally-assessed-taxpayers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287747-a5919e5453b5b458ee33e1f330140a86/orig.mp4?Expires=1770945001&Signature=bjMvPro67fY5qCLjeZABhaQjCq-fNPYZJASk34LynFoCcHDz0IWOzJwze4SiaYrt2e~Hy-crlIAhwYA-aDObrqbJ82W0FkPmsItDoqxh0EdVR0k55dPllM6ylexueQIbUgfp3-Sn4dmuCWC647B9eFXVY9ZWeCHKVbVR3iV3J7J-WyZCuK2FZZJ-klThN6knuOBdOUd9-7OaFM92QE5baF-GMpQqaXU~U1Xbd83hlVZrc5wTIN-zgjVXxTeuXc1y75E2UwC7qQE8Htcypl8-RN8CPCPtXuHm-6-G7Ei3Aj5IeyWYumJvvsMuW8U~N-1dU4~8jraJ5X1bT4OwbAbg9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1575, a property-tax relief and assessment-rate change proposed by Representative Robin Wise of District 14 that would lower taxable assessment rates for multiple classes of property and change several credits.

Representative Robin Wise told the committee the bill would reduce residential assessment rates from 9% of 50% of true and full value to 6.25% (a roughly 30% reduction in taxable-rate terms for residential property) and would reduce the assessment rate for commercial, agricultural and centrally assessed property from 10% to 8.75% (a 12.5% reduction under the sponsor’s amendment). Wise said the amendment was offered to include centrally assessed taxpayers (railroads, utilities) after legal concerns were raised and that adding them trimmed about $8 million from the bill’s fiscal note.

The measure also carries homestead-tax-credit language described by the sponsor as “identical to November” and raises the renter’s credit to $600, language the sponsor said was already part of prior proposals. Wise said the bill is intended as long-term, broad-based relief rather than a one-time payment.

Why it matters

Supporters framed HB1575 as a statewide fairness measure that spreads relief across primary homeowners, renters, farmers, small businesses and large centrally assessed taxpayers. Multiple farm and commodity groups said agriculture accounts for a large share of property tax in many rural counties and urged the legislature not to limit relief only to primary residences.

What supporters told the committee

Speakers representing agricultural organizations, county government, utilities and business groups urged approval or expressed conditional support if the sponsor’s amendment to include centrally assessed taxpayers was adopted.

- Representative Ty Dressler (District 36) said the bill “provides broad based, equitable, and consistent tax relief” and urged the committee to send the bill to the floor so multiple proposals could be reconciled in conference.

- Peril Grossman, legislative director for the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, said farmers and ranchers in many counties shoulder most local property-tax burdens and asked lawmakers not to ignore agriculture when designing relief.

- Pete Hanover of the North Dakota Farm Bureau, Lance Gaby of the North Dakota Farmers Union, Julie Ellingson of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association and Leslie Isnoggle of the North Dakota Corn Growers Association all testified in favor of HB1575 as amended, saying the bill spreads relief across classes and is administrable.

- Eric Spencer, president and CEO of the Greater North Dakota Chamber, called the proposal a step toward low, broadly applied tax policy.

Legal and technical issues raised

Amy McBeath of BNSF Railway told the committee that federal law and a U.S. Court of Appeals decision prohibit discriminatory tax treatment of railroads and that the amendment addressing centrally assessed taxpayers resolved the railroad’s legal concern. As McBeath said in committee, “Federal law prohibits inequitable tax treatment for railroads and there's a court decision specific to North Dakota's past attempts to do this.”

County and municipal perspective

Cass County Administrator Robert Wilson and representatives of county and city associations testified in support of relief but warned that any cap on local budgets or valuations must allow political subdivisions to meet public-safety and infrastructure needs. Wilson provided the county’s audited general-fund balance (reported for 2023 in committee testimony as $26,900,000) to correct public assertions about large county reserves and urged caution when writing caps into law.

Tax and fiscal details offered on the record

Sponsor Representative Robin Wise estimated central figures while noting some numbers were not on hand: she said centrally assessed relief under the amendment would amount to about $30,000,000; residential relief would be roughly $470,000,000; and including centrally assessed taxpayers reduced the bill’s fiscal note by about $8,000,000 (sponsor’s estimate). Wise also explained the mechanism by which the state would reimburse counties for the difference between current taxable value calculations and the bill’s lower assessment rates.

Questions and concerns from senators

Senators pressed witnesses on three recurring issues: (1) how voter-approved bond mill levies and local indebtedness interact with state buy-downs of taxable value; (2) how much of the relief would flow to out-of-state owners versus in-state taxpayers; and (3) whether relief that is broadly spread becomes too small to be meaningful.

On bonds and mill levies, Wise said the bill reduces taxable assessments but does not alter mill levies that fund specific voter-approved bonds or levies. On resident versus nonresident ownership, the sponsor provided rough estimates discussed in committee—about 76% of total taxes attributable to primary residents and roughly 83–84% of agricultural valuation in-state—while noting the committee lacked complete, county-level verification at the hearing.

No final committee action recorded

The transcript records an extended hearing with comprehensive public and organizational testimony, but the committee did not take a final recorded vote on HB1575 during this hearing segment.

Ending

Supporters from agribusiness, county government, utilities, chambers of commerce, and rural cities told the committee HB1575 offers an administrable approach to tax relief that preserves “skin in the game” across property classes. Witnesses repeatedly urged lawmakers to weigh fairness, sustainability and infrastructure funding when reconciling HB1575 with other relief and cap proposals.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Finance and Taxation Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 8:55 AM - 11:24 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1575, a property-tax relief package from Representative Robin Wise that would lower assessment rates for residential, commercial, agricultural and centrally assessed property and would change homestead and renter credits.","taxTitle","Finance and Taxation, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28904,"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},6287743,"Committee advances bill to give all North Dakota fire departments sales-tax exemption; amendment adds vehicle-excise-tax exemption",1347,7361000,8708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2547084-c68bc977019d9590a63987e2ad64333c&start=7361&end=8708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2547084-c68bc977019d9590a63987e2ad64333c/thumbnail_7361000.jpg","/articles/6287743/North-Dakota/Committee-advances-bill-to-give-all-North-Dakota-fire-departments-sales-tax-exemption-amendment-adds-vehicle-excise-tax-exemption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287743-9e0efc81665a8e22fc6d771a4dfa5318/orig.mp4?Expires=1770945001&Signature=hpemrAhjJ-jD7RC89gMqyuc7DIPWDfRduyR2XcDwaz1Lei~Ec0kMSMfMdI84hX7wAv0DNKGNTfmSXcf3gIGheAWFm-EaCI7vs1V0jHz9PWDrqiRQ78i5McyxYLxboF65Rv4XZ519HO87cwA5qKYvpH6h7dQ6brc~jhG~Uqt4Lh-EUtYZpNZaHhRzbuixt5kiJGju6IOo2JEkfzXJH~Az-QrwmB3JfsmTa5qXELwTEcCNYmkOylb3x42A3OTt6OEBbzjxeyXfWtNZlKsrOSuees6R-SLWUGWQcormt3egW~tlWAPOKnvaAVgHRylPknB7MNwlsYZkUf4yVRhQ0f1SHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee voted to recommend a due‑pass for House Bill 1139, a measure sponsored by Representative Mikey Pyle that would allow all fire departments certified by the state fire marshal to make purchases exempt from sales tax regardless of how the department is organized.

Representative Pyle told the committee the bill “seeks to level the playing field by allowing all fire departments in the North Dakota to make purchases free of sales tax regardless of the organizational structure.” He said the change is intended to ensure departments that operate as non-profit volunteer organizations have the same purchasing power as departments that are city or township entities.

Fire department testimony and local impacts

John Veil, fire chief for the Castleton Fire Department, told the committee his department serves roughly 385 square miles and a primary population of about 4,500, with an extended extrication response zone of about 745 square miles. Veil said Castleton is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and that the department and its local contracting partners prefer that structure because it preserves local input on budgets and operations. He described recent capital expenditures and typical costs: a used rescue truck he described in testimony as priced under $400,000 when purchased, a cutter/spreader/jaws-of-life set near $65,000, and airbags and struts in the neighborhood of $25,000.

State Fire Marshal Doug Nelson said non‑governmental departments that are certified under Century Code receive essentially the same minimum-service requirements as municipal or rural districts, and he told the committee his office supports HB1139.

Tax-administration and amendment

Shannon Fleisher of the North Dakota Tax Department reviewed the bill’s scope and said it originally referenced the state sales-tax chapter (Chapter 57‑39.2). Committee members raised whether motor-vehicle excise tax should also be covered. Fleisher said the vehicle-excise exemption is governed under the motor-vehicle excise-tax statutes and that the bill would need an additional provision to add that exemption.

Senator Kenton Wallen moved to amend HB1139 to add a motor-vehicle excise‑tax exemption for vehicles used by qualifying fire departments and provided the statutory cross-reference the tax department recommended; Senator Romo seconded the amendment. The committee took a roll-call vote on the amendment; the clerk recorded affirmative votes and the amendment passed.

Following that amendment, Senator Wallen moved — and Senator Patton seconded — that the committee give HB1139 a due‑pass recommendation as amended. The committee approved the due‑pass recommendation on a roll-call vote.

Why it matters

Witnesses framed the bill as an administrative fix that would reduce costs for volunteer and nonprofit fire departments that currently lack tax-exempt purchasing privileges because they are not organized as a municipal or rural fire district. Supporters said the change would help departments reinvest scarce funds in equipment and training. The state fire marshal’s office and several volunteer chiefs told the committee that similar ambulances and emergency-service providers already qualify under existing tax exemptions and that equal treatment for fire services is logical and administrable.

Ending

After adopting the excise‑tax amendment, the committee recommended HB1139 do pass as amended. The bill now moves on to the next phase of the legislative process with the committee’s due‑pass recommendation.","The Senate Finance and Taxation Committee voted to recommend a due‑pass for House Bill 1139, which would let certified fire departments organized as nonprofits claim a sales‑tax exemption; the committee adopted an amendment adding a motor‑vehicle excise‑tax exemption for eligible fire vehicles.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee hears broad property-tax relief plan; sponsors add centrally assessed taxpayers

Committee advances bill to give all North Dakota fire departments sales-tax exemption; amendment adds vehicle-excise-tax exemption