The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved an amendment to House Bill 1058 that lets the Department of Environmental Quality set the deadline for above‑ground storage tank registration payments by department rule rather than fixing the date in statute.

Why it matters: The change replaces an explicit July 1 statutory deadline with language allowing the department to adopt the registration payment date “under rules adopted by the department.” The amendment was requested and supported by the Department of Environmental Quality to provide administrative flexibility in setting a registration deadline and to avoid a static date in statute.

What the amendment does: As explained by Senator Beard and committee staff, the amendment adds a new subsection to North Dakota Century Code section 23.1‑12‑17 (a new section 3) that specifies the registration payment deadline will be set in department rules and that if a payment is not received within 60 days the department will take specified actions. Senator Beard said the amendment was drafted from proposed language submitted by DEQ and that testimony from Carl Rockman of DEQ brought the amendment forward.

Committee action: Senator Beard moved a due‑pass recommendation on the amendment; Senator Boehm seconded. The clerk recorded 5 ayes, 0 nays, and 2 absent not voting and the motion on the amendment passed. The committee then moved and approved a due‑pass recommendation on the amended version of House Bill 1058 by the same recorded tally.

Next steps and context: Committee members asked clarifying questions about the insertion point (section 3, subsection 7 of NDCC 23.1‑12‑17) and confirmed DEQ supported the amendment. No fiscal impact or appropriation was discussed on the record during the hearing.