[{"_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",6074732,"mediaKeyId","2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d","parentId",2983298,"title","Committee examines bill to align state employee health plan with ACA to curb premium growth","audioSeconds",3475,"startMs",670000,"endMs",4145000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d&start=670&end=4145","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d/thumbnail_670000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6074732/North-Dakota/Committee-examines-bill-to-align-state-employee-health-plan-with-ACA-to-curb-premium-growth","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6074732-3997ca3539e339490b7fe40bf96f6374/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066936&Signature=jUS6szzHC7gB9IzVYSoq3TodoW0ouz5avTKGCADsOnQ67kOdxN~g4UexB5AmSbamg3dGU2wR6FG~TDxDllaoDI5dOE3s8OJ0HxY3inv--QtXlVI~S8QEhiHRCsiaMwlkGLma8oDwGVSIf2PCk4INWBZEby7wihQLF9fhe0x6kFdaLY-i0D-RV9zG665gv6Ui6kJToTwaAi-1hrkon-Pq88xQv6Fx4KHEoSdkjE5WrQo1CUXj2YFFECadAgKImiS4chORGnFdfa9owg~-ozdVO0nva82uSjr93VF27s3PtRrHrcnvYnCuLvv06yAgt5i453PHLhvf6OAvDarcWFZYhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Jonathan Warrie, representing District 22, presented Senate Bill 2160 to the Appropriations Committee, saying the measure would \"revise the definition of health insurance benefits coverage to be a non grandfathered plan.\" The bill would align the state employee plan with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and let PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) change plan mechanics such as maximum out-of-pocket levels.

Supporters told the committee they expect the change to create options to slow premium growth. Warrie and the bill author, Senator Kyle Davidson, cited industry bid data indicating a potential offset between higher benefits and lower premiums: Davidson said the state’s next bids could push implementation to 2027 and that while the fiscal note lists an increase in benefits of roughly $27 million over a full biennium, the official fiscal note for the '27–'29 biennium showed about $6.6 million because the bill’s timing would affect only a partial biennium. Warrie said the committee spent substantial time on the bill and gave it a 10–3 due-pass recommendation.

Committee members pressed for fiscal clarity. Derek Holbein, chief operating and financial officer for PERS, explained the funding mechanics discussed: based on estimates, the full biennium cost of the expanded benefits was about $28 million, but because implementation was moved partway into the next biennium the six-month cost would be roughly $7 million. Holbein said that mix would be covered partly from the health insurance premium reserve (he cited a $55 million reserve balance) and partly through a one-time appropriation: \"to get to that $7,000,000... it's made up of a combination of paying for some of it from the reserves, the $4,300,000 and then the remaining part coming through an appropriation,\" he said.

Holbein and other witnesses emphasized that the plan change itself does not automatically change the PERS board’s decisions on premiums or out-of-pocket design; it gives the board more flexibility to adjust plan mechanics if the legislature funds premiums at a particular level. Holbein summarized the trade-offs: if bids produce higher premium requests than the legislature funds, the PERS board would have to adjust plan design (for example, deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket amounts) or use reserves.

Insurance Commissioner John Godfrey and his office provided scenario-based testimony meant to illustrate how counting co-payments toward the out-of-pocket maximum and adding preventive benefits would affect families who currently face recurring therapy co-payments or multiple household claims. Godfrey said the office supports the change as something that could align state benefits with what many employees expect from private-sector plans and said the scenarios show both winners and losers depending on utilization.

Lawmakers asked about worker impacts. Multiple representatives asked whether the change would effectively shift costs to employees by increasing deductibles or out-of-pocket maxima. Davidson and Holbein reiterated that the change is a tool: the PERS board would decide specific plan design changes, and the legislature would determine how much of any premium increase it would fund. Representative Martinson said the change “looks to me like it’s a backdoor approach to have the state employees pay part of the premium”; Holbein and Davidson responded that total system cost does not change and that any savings to the state would require some cost-sharing choice between premiums and utilization exposure.

Committee members also asked for a corrected fiscal note. Committee staff agreed to prepare a revised fiscal note that reflects the appropriation language and reserve use discussed during the hearing.

The bill’s next procedural steps were not taken in the Appropriations meeting; committee members closed discussion after the fiscal-note clarifications and scheduling comments.

Ending: The committee heard detailed fiscal and policy testimony and asked agencies for a revised fiscal note before further action. The record shows the bill received a 10–3 due-pass recommendation from the committee that considered it earlier; the Appropriations Committee discussion focused on the timing of implementation, the interplay of reserves and an appropriation to cover partial-year costs, and the PERS board’s future plan-design choices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Apr 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Jonathan Warrie, representing District 22, presented Senate Bill 2160 to the Appropriations Committee, saying the measure would \"revise the definition of health insurance benefits coverage to be a non grandfathered plan.\"","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28310,"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},6074712,"Committee approves amended bill to provide line‑of‑credit for veterans welcome center project",417,6403000,6820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d&start=6403&end=6820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d/thumbnail_6403000.jpg","/articles/6074712/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-amended-bill-to-provide-lineofcredit-for-veterans-welcome-center-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6074712-1332a53c14bdc56f6f939f1bd720caec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066936&Signature=NxfWqiXyis4OXQPYw1fh9PdgiY585MsteJlBTAdOUkNxKJFJOJvTgOs9tAzFJlZF6j7ISkfb8G8VNyX2ngCuQXyh2XgLV4W4~q3HcO5nMJAxoNjHlKh-0VnsLPBFOArS3Q0iXzHgo6DYNZy7TLwoanTN-W-Gh7hsqOeZwq~Ht~yZECS-Bfno63YJmN~K~uyd7ApuF9CwJ9bXYNSMr76MoHjM-RI0gHBxCFXPQNaJDFD-GaM0BE1QRTs30T01~UAlxY1kyVLodBaKKN7BJzInS2oTQZHwifG2oeakZ0~uTFigDE-CnuJzTXzN9ACoV4zf3eAYZH~DwirWUir6TJZBcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Bosch explained an amendment to Senate Bill 2265 that replaced wording (\"chapel\" to \"welcome center\"), changed a phrase to \"appropriation,\" and added a reporting requirement directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to forward a report listing grant recipients to the Legislature.

Committee members discussed the project's financing. Representative Pyle said the total project was presented to the committee as $5 million, with the nonprofit raising about $1.5 million and requesting roughly a $3 million loan; committee members noted the state's line of credit would eventually be repaid via a deficiency appropriation if the loan were called. Representative Brandenburg and others clarified that the line of credit would be a state obligation to be repaid through the appropriation process in a later session if necessary.

Representative Bosch moved the amendment (version ending in 3001) and Representative O'Brien seconded; the amendment passed on a roll call (\"Motion carries 21–0 and 2\"). Bosch then moved a due‑pass recommendation on the amended bill and Representative Steeman seconded; the committee approved the amended bill on a roll call (\"Motion carries 21–0 and 2\"). Representative Pyle agreed to carry the bill.

Ending: The committee advanced the amended bill with unanimous recorded support in this session (21 in favor; 0 opposed; 2 absent). The amendment requires reporting on recipients and clarifies funding language; members noted eventual deficiency appropriation processes would review payback if the state covered the loan.","Senate Bill 2265, as amended, authorizes a line‑of‑credit administered through the Department of Veterans Affairs to support a veterans welcome center/welcome facility project; amendment adds reporting and minor wording changes. Committee approved the amendment and then the bill, both by recorded votes.",{"_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},6074717,"Committee approves $1 million grant program to support rural grocery access",705,5666000,6371000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d&start=5666&end=6371","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d/thumbnail_5666000.jpg","/articles/6074717/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-1-million-grant-program-to-support-rural-grocery-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6074717-e1d689078bca809c38566d45d7503fba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066936&Signature=IJLIlL4VZpF4Shy8xiy62e59bVcghpj9P6kkzKLR1IZborKkFTu4PrF0Q18F~szQStFR2Gwp2KPBfFcHneWV~G7hbt5ong4F3BZ5ONROK7Gi9alTIQJmqrWZf0lRr7ljbrkEv3YK71wUom1FAf~RnyReUosk2E3l-FFeO4yy5L0UapW1RrXQbQKcIZBEgf18F4VdA~esfOMXwYSdn9s7W83HvFCCLVzbA7W3VfMoNEzw8GQk43F8fgtZSIJsapOMFUjKWVVfmm-9PEJD4ZD9pX8gGf6UldjHzwPdbcFlzgzCh2gCXEAChb8qtEkxBzD-whN4uPJk3IZsNr4Eo6Hkow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 2228, a $1 million appropriation to the Department of Commerce to provide grants \"for the preservation of rural grocery stores and increasing the availability of food access in the state.\" Representative Hansen, the bill sponsor in committee, moved a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Munson seconded.

During debate supporters said the appropriation differs from a larger rural catalyst program because it is focused on immediate help for grocery access. Representative Munson described a model used in his district that delivers groceries to lockers in smaller towns from a central, viable grocery store; he said the pilot at Park River has worked and that the appropriation would help replicate similar locker/delivery or revitalization efforts in other rural communities.

Representative Murphy and others urged strict adherence to the bill’s intent: they said prior grants had at times funded projects outside grocery‑retention objectives (for example, food manufacturing) and asked for tighter guardrails and clearer administration. Committee members said the bill language had been tightened (lines 12 onward) to focus on groceries and delivery models.

The motion carried on a roll call: committee leadership announced \"Motion carries 18–3 with 2 absent.\" The committee designated Representative Hansen to carry the bill forward.

Ending: The committee approved the appropriation to move forward. The bill as drafted includes a sunset (June 30, 2027) and directs Commerce to design grant criteria to target food‑access and grocery‑preservation projects.","Appropriations voted to advance a $1 million appropriation (Senate Bill 2228) to Commerce to fund grants aimed at preserving rural grocery stores and locker/delivery programs that extend food access to smaller communities.",{"_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},6074722,"Committee reviews bill to raise zero‑bracket income thresholds, creating $20M biennial cost",172,4580000,4752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d&start=4580&end=4752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d/thumbnail_4580000.jpg","/articles/6074722/North-Dakota/Committee-reviews-bill-to-raise-zerobracket-income-thresholds-creating-20M-biennial-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6074722-22fe5eb331cdffb830ac66596b7d0c06/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066936&Signature=GHIJCY~~Ml427i~Ctpke6PYww5lDwU3He9aVstrNqIb-qQCWpdM15w7KwawHn5Hk-Bmn-tROmoUKBfoi2KYovIP~PwdDAlrm~7KZAp80y45rmFWgB3hUYpubfeLyvCY7DkRWpukMLAzSR1AV0t-pgh4OasBREiYQN~naz1iqm2bO09kCMSUGjzapIHWbOWDiDREN7m0b7r9rkGUnFHcWz5CQBTnb41ycd5WaMXmSO-HeQ3DTZP~oP4dismGlyokSEleKfRCmQddq6T4utLNXLE1ir4Y9O3yXEjSCnS4zRGgr7wvrnENpK1lPZIGnFHxfHJJ~MVWBznczZEHWxT~liA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Craig Hedlund described Senate Bill 2093 as a corrective and targeted tax relief measure. Hedlund said the bill extends an exemption the Legislature had previously created for retired law enforcement officers and their survivors and uses a related opportunity to raise the zero tax bracket amounts for several filing statuses.

Hedlund detailed numeric changes: he said the single‑filer zero bracket would rise from about $44,007.25 to $51,300 and similar proportional increases would apply to other filing categories. He said the change would cost roughly $20 million on a biennial basis and was designed to provide modest tax relief to lower‑income filers, including some who do not receive property‑tax relief.

Ending: Committee members had no additional questions in the hearing excerpt; no vote was recorded in the transcript.","Senate Bill 2093 would raise the income levels in the zero tax bracket (single and other filing statuses), expanding tax relief for low-income filers and retired peace officers' survivors; sponsors estimated about $20 million in biennial fiscal cost.",{"_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},6074727,"House committee reviews change to energy impact fund deposit from gross production tax",424,4176000,4600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d&start=4176&end=4600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2983298-2a931baa0ece7f4818bd7ccd65b7eb7d/thumbnail_4176000.jpg","/articles/6074727/North-Dakota/House-committee-reviews-change-to-energy-impact-fund-deposit-from-gross-production-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6074727-4747a6b56b1a2d2f6170eff2e471f3c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771066936&Signature=a6lTCRzneCU5sniLLSasNeS2Pt1oDQKe4mtqxzGvt9fbn3tErTHl4z-xRHqS7jEveiulIHBYZFtWRUdCBtkxm77kBzr3h0r9xghv-~ZOo0j0Z70BMLR8e~I1aXcbukxLV34vIT~ky2bto5uDMGTaSH8k77uJIQheFEMwb7vq6vktY~PDylR9DIov7drEJUWfjWeK0fa7NzP6oSfm6T03QZ1TzZL9tiln-7AaRVhTrgHOqpcNMuwarueO0L8sS09skIfMLhBBIZqRYG1NT8DamsSWsfrVR17Ly5VsMRh2fPjNC89SB2xfCiMQVMUHq1edK0r-ZhG75g8i9AZ-EIxb8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Craig Hedlund explained House changes to Senate Bill 2,323 in Appropriations. The amendment redirects 1 percent of the state share of the gross production tax so that $50 million per biennium (about $25 million per year) would deposit into the energy impact grant fund, which supports three designated hub cities, Hedlund said.

Hedlund said the House Finance and Tax Committee increased the deposit from the Senate proposal (which had included $40 million per biennium) to $50 million and extended the deposit for the next two biennia. He said the committee also made small adjustments to the distribution percentages among the three hub cities to reflect updated impact information and to account for the flow of funds through related \"buckets\" in statute; those changes required a corresponding adjustment to the SIF (state infrastructure fund) allocation.

A committee member asked whether the change creates new money before the other statutory buckets, and Hedlund replied the deposit comes from the total pot and can change how money flows, but the lower statutory buckets (for airports, prairie-dog mitigation and similar items) remain unchanged in how they are enumerated in statute. Hedlund pointed the committee to the bill's page 17 where the bucket allocations are enumerated and said the governor's budget assumptions already reflected some of the flows.

Ending: Representative Hedlund said materials (charts showing bucket flows) would be distributed to committee members for further review. No vote on the bill was recorded in this transcript.","House Finance and Tax changes would deposit $50 million biennially (about $25 million per year) from a share of the gross production tax into the energy impact grant fund; the amendment adjusts bucket allocations and timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee examines bill to align state employee health plan with ACA to curb premium growth

Committee approves amended bill to provide line‑of‑credit for veterans welcome center project

Committee approves $1 million grant program to support rural grocery access

Committee reviews bill to raise zero‑bracket income thresholds, creating $20M biennial cost

House committee reviews change to energy impact fund deposit from gross production tax