Parrell’s Perspectives 2025 #13 — Agriculture and Water Management Interim Committee Holds First Meeting

The committee held its first meeting September 11 at the Capitol. The agenda and meeting were divided between presentations related to the wetland regulations and the tax treatment of inundated agricultural lands study and the agricultural insurance discount program study. In the morning, Legislative Council Staff first provided a background memorandum on the wetlands regulations and taxation of inundated agricultural lands.

The presentations covered a variety of issues and raised questions for further consideration as the study moves forward. It is an area or issue that contemplates inundated land for which the landowners have not been financially compensated and lands under wetland easements for which landowners would have received financial compensation. Representatives of several counties, including Ramsey and Stutsman, provided examples. In addition, the Dickey County Tax Director discussed that county's approach to taxation of inundated lands, including that some landowners don't apply for tax reductions because of the extensive paperwork or they simply want to contribute to the county's tax base which otherwise would shift those taxes to other property owners.

The committee's discussions also included concerns related to management issues with federal wetland easements. These comments primarily focused on concerns maintaining road infrastructure, as well as having to compensate the federal government for additional easements on road improvements.

The afternoon meeting session focused on farm safety programs. Legislative Council staff also provided a background memorandum regarding the committee's study of the feasibility and desirability of creating a program that would allow a farmer or rancher to complete a safety course to receive a discount on insurance relating to the individual's farming or ranching operation. There was a presentation by the Insurance Department on whether mandated insurance discounts were necessary or appropriate. In addition, there were multiple presentations by the Workforce Safety and Insurance Department, North Dakota University Extension Service, North Dakota Safety Council, Farmers Union Insurance Company, and Nodak Insurance Company. All these presentations focused on the availability of farm safety training programs, typically free of charge, and whether the insurance entities considered or provided farm safety training or discounts for safety courses.

A video recording of the meeting is available on the Legislative Council's website. This committee will schedule its next meeting in late October or early November and that information will be available on the website at a later date.