2003 Legislative Summary
Previous Legislative Summaries: 2001
The Governor's Smart Growth initiatives combine education, career development and new technology with economic development to create higher paying jobs and a more dynamic economy. Together with our legislature, we have leveraged our resources in new ways and enacted legislation supporting the Governor's Smart Growth initiatives to grow our population and create a higher standard of living for all North Dakotans.
Ensuring Excellence in Education
- Increased funding for K-12 education by $33.9 million over two years, and raised the minimum base salary for teachers by $1,500. (SB2421)
- Created Centers of Excellence at North Dakota Universities to promote research, development and commercialization of North Dakota products and ideas. (HB1003)
- Provided $4.75 million to continue Epscor grants to promote research and stimulate economic opportunities in North Dakota. (HB1003)
- Continued support for Higher Education Roundtable recommendations.
Creating Quality Jobs And Career Opportunities
- Created a $1 million Seed Capital Fund to generate entrepreneurial opportunities for North Dakota businesses. (HB1019)
- Created a Business Internship program for North Dakota college students to link students to jobs and career opportunities in the business world. (HB1019)
- Created a $15 million New Venture Capital Fund by leveraging $5 million in state funds with $10 million in federal funds for North Dakota entrepreneurs. (SB2335)
- Allocated $100,000 to enhance job opportunity and internship web site, Ndhasjobs.com.
Marketing North Dakota Aggressively
- Simplified the state corporate income tax, reducing the rate from 10.5 percent to 7 percent to improve North Dakota's business climate. (HB1471)
- Lodging tax $2.9 million revenue.
- North Dakota Roots program.
Promoting Value-Added Agriculture
- Created a cumulative $3 million ethanol production subsidy program to encourage the construction of new facilities, creating more markets for corn producers. (SB2222)
Developing Energy
- Provided a 24-month tax exemption for shallow gas wells to stimulate new production and expand North Dakota's energy sector. (HB1145)
- Created a new Oil and Gas Research Council to encourage the efficient use of energy; to promote environmentally sound exploration and production methods and technologies; and to develop the state's oil and gas resources to benefit the citizens of North Dakota. (SB2311)
Developing Statewide Technology Infrastructure
- Funded $20 million for ConnectND, North Dakota's integrated software system to streamline resources in higher education and state government. ConnectND will enable higher education, in tandem with K-12 schools, to better prepare students for the job market by tracking education training and workforce development. (Smart Growth Initiative - HB1022)
- Continued funding for StageNET, the state's high-speed voice, video and data network linking high schools, universities, courthouses and state government agencies. The network also provides the infrastructure necessary for the creation of tech-based businesses throughout North Dakota. (Smart Growth Initiative - HB1505)
The Hoeven Administration is working to build our future in North Dakota focusing on six pillars: (1) education, (2) economic development, (3) agriculture, (4) energy, (5) technology and (6) quality of life. Working together with our legislature, we crafted a prudent budget that saves tax payers dollars and cuts the rate of spending growth in half to just over two percent above the rate of inflation. We have leveraged our resources in new ways and enacted legislation supporting the Administration's Smart Growth initiatives to grow our population and create a higher standard of living for all North Dakotans.
Excellence in Education
- Increased funding for K-12 education by $33.9 million over two years, and raised the minimum base salary for teachers by $1,500. (Smart Growth Initiative) (SB2421)
- Created Centers of Excellence at North Dakota Universities to promote research development and link students to jobs commercialization of North Dakota products and ideas. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1003)
- Provided $4 million to continue Epscor grants to promote research and stimulate economic opportunities in North Dakota. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1003)
- Enhanced the skill level of North Dakota youth by increasing academic requirements for a high school diploma. (HB1033)
- Enhanced the ability of communities to attract quality teachers and ensure educational quality by enabling school districts to offer teacher-signing bonuses. (HB1258)
Economic Development
- Created a $1 million Seed Capital Fund to generate entrepreneurial opportunities for North Dakota businesses. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1019)
- Created a Business Internship program for North Dakota college students to give them real opportunities in the business world. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1019)
- Created a $15 million New Venture Capital Fund by leveraging $5 million in state funds with $10 million in federal funds for North Dakota entrepreneurs. (Smart Growth Initiative) (SB2335)
- Simplified the state corporate income tax, reducing the rate from 10.5 percent to 7 percent to improve North Dakota's business climate. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1471)
- Provided $5 million in a venture capital through the North Dakota Development Fund. (SB2335)
- Provided matching dollars from the North Dakota Development Fund to promote economic health in primary sector and essential service businesses in small, rural communities. (HB1423)
- Enhanced the opportunities to grow our communities and attract new businesses and residents by expanding Renaissance Zone areas from 20 to 35 square blocks. (HB1457)
- Established a new North Dakota Business Congress to explore the business climate in the state, and ways to create business partnerships with North Dakota's American Indian tribes. (HB1504)
- Strengthened the North Dakota Economic Development Foundation - a partnership between the private sector, universities and government - to help create a dynamic, growing economy for our state. (SB2393)
- Streamlines the sales tax. (SB2095/2096)
- Established requirement that agencies assess the impact of the rules they make on small businesses to ensure our small businesses remain vital and strong. (HB1212)
- Created new authority for the Department of Commerce to streamline the development of basic services and facilities necessary for new development projects, such as water and power plants, and transportation services. (HB 1426)
Agriculture
- Promoted value-added agriculture creating a cumulative $3 million ethanol production subsidy program to sustain existing ethanol plants and to encourage the construction of new facilities, creating more markets for corn producers. (Smart Growth Initiative) (SB2222)
- Earmarked $250,000 to enable the Public Service Commission to lay the groundwork for a formal rail-rate complaint with the federal Surface Transportation Board. The complaint will seek to remedy the monopolistic pricing practices of railroads serving North Dakota - and recover millions of dollars in revenues lost to exploitative rates. (SB2008)
- Created a grain sale indemnity fund to help protect farmers who are not paid for contracted grain by a failed elevator. (HB1197)
- Provided $750 to North Dakota State University to create the Center for Genetic Research to become an international leader in biotechnology. (HB1003)
- Provided $800K to help leverage an additional $2 million for a beef systems science center of excellence at North Dakota State University. (SB 2334 & HB 1021)
- Provided up to a $250K tax credit for firms that invert in equipment to blend biodiesel; also offers a biodiesel fuel excise tax reduction if a plant is built in the state. (HB1309)
Energy
- Provided a 24-month tax exemption for shallow gas wells to stimulate new production and expand North Dakota's energy sector. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1145)
- Created a new Oil and Gas Research Council to encourage the efficient use of energy; to promote environmentally sound exploration and production methods and technologies; and to develop the state's oil and gas resources to benefit the citizens of North Dakota. (Smart Growth Initiative) (SB2311)
- Eliminated double taxation on wind energy generation to promote new wind energy production projects. (SB2286)
- Adopted exemption from oil extraction tax. (HB1210)
- Created an incentive for North Dakota government and schools to purchase coal mined in North Dakota for heating to encourage the use of domestic energy. (HB1297)
- Created property tax exemption for new or expanded capacity electric transmission lines to meet North Dakota's effort to expand energy production and exports. (HB1348)
- Created a study bill to explore the use of wind energy to generate electricity for the production of hydrogen fuel, a new source of alternative energy. (HB1378)
Technology
- Funded $20 million for ConnectND, North Dakota's integrated software system to streamline resources in higher education and state government. ConnectND will enable higher education, in tandem with K-12 schools, to better prepare students for the job market by tracking education training and workforce development. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1022)
- Continued funding for StageNET, the state's high-speed voice, video and data network linking high schools, universities, courthouses and state government agencies. The network also provides the infrastructure necessary for the creation of tech-based businesses throughout North Dakota. (Smart Growth Initiative) (HB1022)
Quality of Life
- Expanded and extended the State Employee Bonus program to promote excellence in public service. (HB1093)
- Provided $3.3 million in funds to increase hunter access and improve wildlife habitat. (SB2019)
- Enhanced the safety of North Dakota citizens and property by securing Public Health and Security System Plans. (HB1143)
- Helped to reclaim lives and save taxpayer dollars by making Drug Court a permanent sentencing alternative for North Dakota judges. (HB1191)
- Enhanced the safety of youth and helped to deter crime by adopting the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, which assists states in cooperating to return youth in trouble to their native states. (HB1254)
- Imposed strict new penalties on methamphetamine and gave law enforcement strong new tools to combat substance abuse. (HB1353)
- Enhanced the general security and discouraged identity theft of North Dakota citizens by removing social security number from drivers licenses. (HB1443)
- Expanded treatment opportunities for people with mental illness or chemical dependency by allowing interstate contracts for treatment in neighboring states. (SB2070)
- Created a prescription drug assistance program to help low income seniors access necessary medications through pharmaceutical companies. (HB1399)
- Created bonding authority through 2005 to build a temporary outlet at Devils Lake. (SB2193)
- Increased funding for home- and community-based care for seniors and people with disabilities by TK. (SB2012)
