*A new tab has been added to the right side of the menu on the blog site: NDACo Interim Committee Tracking List. This list includes the committees, links to the committees and the studies that impact counties. As you can see by the list there are many committees with studies and reports that will be important to follow and participate in during the interim.

Most recently, NDACo provided testimony to the Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee which is studying the impacts of HB 1176 which was the major property tax relief bill that included budget limitations for local taxing districts. The committee will spend time looking at the relief provided, the impacts of the 3% cap on local government and the implementation of the various elements of this legislation. You can hear the committee discussion here: Tax Reform & Relief Advisory Committee Meeting 9-23.

It’s also important to highlight the creation of a new interim committee that will be fast-tracked to provide input to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the state’s application for a federal rural health transformation grant. The state could be eligible for $100 million per year for five years but first has to apply for the money. The interim committee will work on legislation and possibly identify programs to invest those dollars in. It is very likely a special session will be held at the beginning of 2026 to appropriate the federal funds. The Rural Health Transformation Committee is made up of 34 members and hold their first meeting on October 14th & 15th.