CHAMBER EDC NEWS | CONNECTION
2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE The Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC is actively engaged in the ongoing 2019 legislative session, communicating with our area delegation and advocating on behalf of our members to encourage a strong regional business climate.
WORKFORCE
Guiding us through the current session is our 2019 Legislative Agenda. The agenda was developed in partnership with the Chamber EDC Government Affairs Committee, business members and area officials. As detailed in our legislative agenda, the organization has identified infrastructure, behavioral health and workforce as priorities. While the Chamber EDC team will monitor various pieces of legislation impacting business, these priorities will be our area of focus in the months ahead.
Workforce is not only a priority for Bismarck-Mandan, but our entire state. Particularly in the technical & skilled trades. Both HB1171 and SB2039 aim to encourage enrollment of students in technical programs that lead to employment in high-demand or emerging occupations following graduation.
Please see below for updates on Operation Prairie Dog and legislation tied to workforce.
INFRASTRUCTURE HB1066 – Operation Prairie Dog HB1066 would take the place of past hub cities legislation to provide infrastructure funding to both oil and non-oil producing counties and cities throughout North Dakota. Infrastructure improvement and maintenance is critical to the development of North Dakota and our area businesses. The Chamber EDC believes Operation Prairie Dog would provide much needed essential infrastructure funding throughout the state and testified in support of the bill at the January 15 hearing of the House Finance and Taxation Committee. UPDATE: After receiving a DO PASS from the Senate Finance & Taxation Committee in early March, HB1066 was PASSED through the Senate with a vote of 46-0. Governor Burgum signed the bill on Wednesday, March 20th. Chamber EDC Position: Support
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HB1171 & SB2039 – Encouraging Workforce Attraction & Retention
While there are differences between HB1171 and SB2039, they both aim to encourage talent retention and attraction in our state’s technical & skilled trades. Following a series of recent amendments, one key difference for HB1171 is that it would create a scholarship program for interested students as opposed to a loan repayment program proposed in SB2039. North Dakota’s ability to retain and attract the next generation of talent is essential to our state’s continued development. The Chamber EDC believes both SB2039 and HB1171 are bills that can encourage students to enter high-demand professions and to remain in North Dakota. SB2039 is currently with the House Appropriations Committee and HB1171 recently received a DO PASS from the Senate Appropriations Committee. Chamber EDC Position: Support For more information on the legislation listed above visit https://www.legis.nd.gov/ To learn more about the legislation the Chamber EDC is currently tracking, please contact rparsons@bmcedc.com.