North DakotaState funds the commission and allows borrowing for rail cases
For the 2025–27 budget period, the Public Service Commission receives $23.46 million for its expenses, while the law also allows borrowing for a rail rate case.
What it does
The Public Service Commission receives $23.46 million for its expenses from July 2025 through June 2027, using state, special, and federal funds.
The commission may borrow up to $900,000 for a rail rate case and repay it from money recovered after a successful case, minus legal fees. If expected funds fall short, it may ask lawmakers for more money.
Some diesel fuel taxes on sales to a railroad go to the rail safety fund, up to a yearly limit. The printed text does not make the limit’s amount clear.
Argument forBorrowing could help the commission cover costs of a rail rate case, with repayment tied to money recovered if the case succeeds.
Argument againstIf case proceeds fall short, the commission may need to seek more money from lawmakers to repay the loan.
More detail
The law provides $23,456,172 for the Public Service Commission’s expenses. The funding covers commission expenses during the two-year period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The funding period runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.
The commission may borrow up to $900,000 from the Bank of North Dakota for costs of a rail rate complaint case. The loan is for the Public Service Commission’s costs in a rail rate complaint case. The commission must repay the loan from money received after a successful case, minus legal fees. If expected money available on June 30, 2027, is not enough to repay the loan, the commission may ask lawmakers for additional funding. If expected money available on June 30, 2027, is insufficient for repayment, the commission may request additional funding from the Legislature.
The law directs some diesel fuel taxes paid by a railroad to the rail safety fund. The rule concerns special fuels excise taxes on diesel fuel sales to a railroad. The passage gives a yearly limit, but its dollar amount is unclear in the printed text. The transfer limit applies per year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Apr 24Filed with Secretary Of State 04/23Latest
- Apr 23Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 04/22Became Law
- Apr 21Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 21Signed by Speaker
- Apr 17Signed by President
- Apr 15Second reading, passed, yeas 80 nays 10Major
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1008. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15Concurred
- Apr 3Returned to House (12)
- Apr 2Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 45 nays 1Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1008. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 31Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Mar 28Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 15 0 1Minor
- Mar 11Committee Hearing 02:00
- Feb 17Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Feb 14Received from House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1008. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Second reading, passed, yeas 75 nays 10Passed House
- Feb 12Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 11Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 20 0 3Minor
- Feb 4Committee Hearing 08:30
- Jan 27Committee Hearing 03:30
- Jan 21Committee Hearing 02:00
- Jan 14Committee Hearing 10:00
- Jan 7Introduced, first reading, referred Appropriations CommitteeIntroduced
Taxes & BudgetTransportation