Bill seeks to raise bar for citizen-initiated grand juries
BISMARCK – A bill in the North Dakota House seeks to change the process for citizen-initiated grand juries, a statute few were aware was on the books until Dunn County residents petitioned to...
View ArticleMoney requested from Legislature to study Killdeer Mountain
BISMARCK – A proposal in the state Senate seeks to provide $250,000 to do an archaeological study within the Battle of Killdeer Mountain study area, in part due to the encroachment of oil development....
View ArticleWatford City to house new judge
BISMARCK — Watford City will be home to a new judgeship aimed at addressing the increase in court filings in growing Oil Patch communities, the North Dakota Supreme Court decided Tuesday. State...
View ArticleHouse Wants A Say On Industrial Commission Orders
BISMARCK – House lawmakers pushed back Friday against recent actions by the North Dakota Industrial Commission by passing a bill that would require broad orders to be reviewed by legislators. House...
View ArticleMandatory Audits Of Oil, Health Agencies Defeated By N.D. House
BISMARCK – House lawmakers rejected a bill Wednesday that would have required a performance audit of state agencies that regulate oil and gas development, but a legislative committee will consider...
View ArticleSenators Reject Bill To Separate Promotion, Regulation Of Oil Industry
BISMARCK – Senators voted 32-15 Friday against a bill that would have separated the North Dakota Industrial Commission’s duties to promote and regulate oil development. The vote fell along party lines,...
View ArticleSenate Kills Bill To Add Scrutiny On Oil And Gas Penalties
BISMARCK – A bill that would have required North Dakota Industrial Commission members to approve settlements of oil and gas penalties failed Monday in the Senate. Senators voted 30-17 against Senate...
View ArticleHouse Passes Surge Funding Bill
BISMARCK – House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved Friday the $1.1 billion “surge” funding bill that aims to address critical needs in the Oil Patch. The House voted 90 to 2 to approve amended Senate...
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Study: ND Oil Cities Poised For More Growth, Have Big Needs
BISMARCK – Key cities in North Dakota’s Oil Patch are poised for additional growth as oil prices recover and will require more funding to meet the needs of a growing population, according to a new...
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Tribe Threatens To Leave Oil Tax Agreement With ND
BISMARCK — The leader of the oil-rich Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation threatened to leave the oil tax agreement with North Dakota on Tuesday, Jan. 10, during a legislative hearing that brought up...
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Landowners Oppose Bill That Reduces Oil Spill Reporting
BISMARCK – Groups that represent North Dakota landowners plan to oppose a bill that would reduce the number of spills the oil industry reports. House Bill 1151 would raise the threshold on spill...
View ArticleOil Spill Reporting Bill Gets Mixed Reviews
BISMARCK — A bill that would raise the threshold for reporting oil spills got mixed reviews Thursday, Jan. 12, with proponents saying it would improve government efficiency while opponents advocated...
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Spill Reporting Bill Passes In House, But Landowners Still Opposed
BISMARCK – A bill that would reduce the number of oil spills reported in North Dakota got a green light Wednesday, Jan. 25, from state House lawmakers, but a landowner group plans to keep raising...
View ArticleBudget Cuts Could Reduce ND’s Oversight Of Oil, Gas
BISMARCK – Balancing North Dakota’s budget could lead to less oversight of oil and gas development and fewer inspections of gathering pipelines at the same time that oil activity is expected to be on...
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ND House Approves Change To Oil Tax
BISMARCK – North Dakota House lawmakers voted 76-15 Wednesday, Feb. 8, to charge a flat 10 percent tax on oil production regardless of the price of oil, a change that the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara...
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ND Senate OKs Bill To Define Lakebed Mineral Ownership
BISMARCK — A bill to clarify mineral ownership under Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River moved forward Wednesday, Feb. 8, with a 37-9 vote in the North Dakota Senate. Senate Bill 2134 clarifies that...
View ArticleUPDATED: ND Senate Approves Bill That Reduces Oil Spill Reporting
BISMARCK — Senate lawmakers voted 31-14 Monday, March 27, to raise the threshold for reporting oil spills, a proposal the oil industry supported but many landowners opposed. Under House Bill 1151, the...
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Tribe Seeks Greater Share Of Oil Tax Revenue In Final Weeks Of Session
BISMARCK — The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation is seeking a greater share of oil tax revenue to offset impacts of energy development on the reservation. Chairman Mark Fox said he continues to have...
View ArticleHouse Approves Missouri River Mineral Leasing Bill Estimated To Cost $187...
BISMARCK – House lawmakers voted 79-11 Thursday, April 6, to approve a plan that will change how minerals under Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River are leased, estimated to cost the state $187...
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Oil Industry Backs ND Tribe’s Request For More Tax Revenue
BISMARCK – Representatives of seven oil companies that operate on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation support sending a greater share of oil tax revenue to the Three Affiliated Tribes, a move that...
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