During the week of January 22-26, House Bills 1231, 1276, 1278 and 1299 and Senate Bill 2185 were heard before committee. LAND supports the concepts or provisions of each of these bills by our resolutions. HB 1231 allows non resident property owners to vote by absentee ballot on property tax issues. HB 1276 deals with conservation easements. Even though we do not support conservation easements, the safeguards of 1276 (limiting easements to 10 years, renewable by mutual consent, annual and not lump sum payments with buyback provisions) should help protect landowner’s interests should an easement be granted. HB 1278 drew a lot of interest from Western ND ranchers. Farm Bureau and LAND supported this bill, which would consider all private property south and west of the Missouri River posted as no hunting allowed without permission. HB 1299 would require any government agency return to private ownership an equal amount of property before they could purchase more (no net loss of private property). SB 2185 would require certain non profit organizations owning land to pay 100% of property tax and limit ownership to 12,000 acres.

These bills are all pro-private property rights and deserve our support. As President George W. Bush said in his inaugural address, "everyone needs to be active and not spectators." We need to express our views to our legislators. We are fortunate to live in a state that has a legislature which is open and accessible.

I encourage LAND members to testify on bills of interest to them. Hearing schedules are available on the Internet at: www.state.nd.us/lr/

Testimony is more effective when it is accompanied in written form ready to file in a three ring binder. It is proper to address the chair of the committee as Chairman or woman along with their last name before either testifying or answering questions.

I have always felt I have been given the utmost respect when I have testified. I would encourage our LAND members to stand up and be counted. Take a look at the legislative issues we’re watching as listed in this issue. If you have questions, or a special interest in a particular bill, let us know.