BISMARCK – Some significant spending bills have gone through the North Dakota State Senate, and an income tax bill through the House, with the crossover date approaching.
Senate Bill 2012, the largest spending bill for one agency, increased the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget by one billion dollars for the human services side, from approximately $4.5 billion to $5.5 billion. Most of the increase is due to medical assistance coverage. A full story on the bill can be found here. The bill passed by a vote of 35 to 11 and will be sent to the House for consideration.
SB2020 approved $74.5 million for the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project for the 2021-23 biennium, and approximately $47.8 million for the Northwest Area Water Supply. A full story on the bill can be found here. The bill passed by a vote of 46 to 1 and will be sent to the House for consideration.
House Bill 1158 creates an income flat tax rate of one and one half percent for individuals, estates, and trusts. A full story of the bill can be found here. The bill passed by a vote of 79 to 14 and will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
The crossover date is Friday, February 24 when the Senate must be finished with all Senate bills and the House must be finished with all House bills. The Senate has gone through all of its bills, and the House plans to finish Thursday.
