Home
Where We Stand
What We've Won
Current Issues
Newsletter
legupdates

 
Dakota Resource Council

 

DRC LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

March 2, 2007

Please note:  DRC LOBBY DAY was postponed to Thursday, March 15 due to blizzard conditions.  We encourage members to come up to the Capitol and attend hearings and/or lobby legislators on a bill.  We will meet in the Capitol cafeteria at 7:30 a.m. central time for breakfast and a briefing of the day’s events.  It will be fun and educational!  Please call or email Mary in the Bismarck office if you plan to come, need a place to stay overnight or have questions: mary@drcinfo.com  or 701-224-8587.

HB 1511 ACTION ALERT!!!!!!
The hearing on this important oil and gas bill is Friday morning (see below), and we need folks to show up to support it.  Your testimony is not necessary but your body in the room is!  Please try to come in for this bill.

ACTION IN THE PAST WEEK:

  • SB 2335:  The House Agriculture Committee recommended a “Do not pass” Thursday on this bill, which would have provided an appropriation to fund a state position to educate farmers on transitioning to organic with the goal of expanding organic production in the state.  DRC member Duane Boehm of Richardton, an organic farmer, testified in support of this bill.  The bill had passed the Senate and will now go to the floor of the House.
  • HCR 3020:  The Senate Natural Resources Committee Friday recommended a “do pass” on this resolution supporting a national goal of 25% renewable energy by the year 2025.  The bill now goes to the Senate floor.
  • HCR 3033:  DRC staff testified in support of this resolution, which urges Congress not to allow importation of Canadian cattle over 3 months of age.  The Senate agriculture Committee recommended a “do pass” on the bill, which will now go to the Senate floor.
  • HB 1229:  Amended and passed out of the Senate Natural Resources Committee Friday morning with a 7-0 Do Pass recommendation. The amendments do not help the bill. It seems that once again Rep. Drovdal has caved to the whims of industry. Hold him accountable by calling or emailing him and let him know you do not approve of his actions. Contact Cindy for more information on those amendments.

ACTION IN THE COMING WEEK:
Ag Bills:

  • HB 1221:  (Reps. Keiser, Delmore and Vigesaa and Sens. Heitkamp, Klein and Wanzek), This bill would allow companies to recoup expenses incurred meeting federal mandates by raising rates.  DRC had supported the bill in the House with amendments that would repeal a law preventing the PSC from considering externalities in the siting, permitting and rate setting of new electrical generation facilities. Senate Industry, Business and Labor Committee, Roosevelt Park Room, Tuesday, March 6, 9 a.m.
  • HCR 3028:  (Reps. Monson, Aarsvold and Nelson and Sens. Heitkamp, Holmberg and Wanzek), Some members may be interested in this resolution urging Congress to recognize the benefits of hemp and to facilitate hemp growing and processing.  Senate Agriculture Committee, Roosevelt Park Room, Thursday, March 8, 11:30 a.m.
  • HCR 3010: (Reps. Froelich, Brandenburg, Kempenich and Kerzman and Sens. Bowman and Taylor), A resolution urging Congress to implement Country of Origin Labeling, which was mandated in 2002 but never funded.  DRC supports this resolution. Senate Agriculture Committee, Roosevelt Park Room, Thursday, March 8, 3:20 p.m.
  • HCR 3007: (Reps. Froelich, Kempenich, Kerzman and S. Meyer), A resolution urging Congress to not allow an increase in the beef check off unless there is a nationwide vote of beef producers.  DRC supports this resolution.  Senate Agriculture Committee, Roosevelt Park Room, Friday, March 9, 9 a.m.
  • HB 1501: (Reps. Brandenburg, Headland and Pollert and Sens. Erbele, Olafson and Wanzek) Originally, his bill would have made any person filing pleadings related to concerns over the construction or operation of a feedlot of a livestock feedlot financially responsible for all expenses incurred.  The Health Department opposed the bill and it was amended and now sets a time limit on complaints regarding CAFO permits and restricts such complaints to only those who attended the public permit hearing.  Senate Agriculture Committee, Roosevelt Park Room, Friday, March 9, 9:45 a.m.

Oil and Gas Bills

  • HB 1511: (Reps. S. Meyer, Drovdal, Keiser and Onstad and Sen. Heitkamp)  This bill requires that idle wells that have not produced oil or gas in paying quantities for one year to either be put back into production, properly temporarily abandoned or plugged and reclaimed. If one of those options is not completed, the well will be put on a single well bond equal to the actual cost of reclamation.  DRC supports this bill and we need YOU to be there.  Senate Natural Resources Committee, Fort Lincoln Room, Friday, March 9, 9 a.m.

Renewable Energy Bills

    • HB 1456: (Reps. Nelson, Gulleson and Kertschmar and Sens. Horne and Klein), Would direct the PSC to study wind farm siting issues.  DRC supported this bill in the House and will do so in the Senate.  Senate Natural Resources Committee, Fort Lincoln Room, Friday, March 9, 9:30 a.m.
    • HB 1506: (Reps. Monson, Dahl and S. Kelsh and Sen. Erbele), This bill would enact a statewide renewable and recycled energy objective of 10% by 2015.  DRC supports this bill.  Senate Natural Resources Committee, Fort Lincoln Room, Friday, March 9, 10:15 a.m.

     

     

     
 

Web Site Designed by Prairie Web Design