Dec. 26 -- GRAND FORKS -- Continuing local momentum and addressing workforce shortages are among the priorities of lawmakers who represent North Dakota's legislative District 17.
Sen. Jonathan Sickler, Rep. Mark Sanford and Rep. Landon Bahl, Republicans all, will be among state lawmakers who report to the North Dakota Capitol on Jan. 7 for the start of the biennial session of the Legislature. They represent the bulk of south Grand Forks, as well as portions of a rural area that stretches several miles south of town, east of Interstate 29.
All three District 17 lawmakers mentioned workforce concerns when answering a questionnaire sent by the Grand Forks Herald.
Sickler also noted good news happening in Grand Forks -- business expansion, a thriving downtown and a new hospital, for example -- and said lawmakers must work to keep that momentum happening.
"The legislative challenge is to support that momentum by making sure Grand Forks is a great place to raise a family, have a career and do business," he said. "We do that by supporting our schools, law enforcement and infrastructure."
All three say they have plans to introduce or work on specific bills in the coming session, ranging from higher-education strategies to funding for the new Twining School at Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Below are their answers to the Herald's questionnaire:
Affiliation: Republican
Q. Now that the election is over, what do you see as the most pressing issue for Grand Forks during the coming legislative session?
A. Grand Forks has a lot of positive momentum -- strong leadership in the private and public sectors, a new state-of-the art hospital, a dynamic and growing UND, a thriving downtown and new and expanding businesses that are the envy of the region.
The legislative challenge is to support that momentum by making sure Grand Forks is a great place to raise a family, have a career, and do business. We do that by supporting our schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure.
Q. Do you expect to introduce or sponsor legislation in the coming session?
During the session I expect to continue to work on efforts to strategically enhance higher-education affordability as well as support additional ways our colleges and universities can serve the state. In the interim, there have been criminal justice discussions about incarceration capacity, repeat violent offenders, and broadly how we should respond to certain increased crime rates and drug use. There will be an in-depth debate about those areas during the session, to which I hope to contribute.
Q. If you could sum up one great concern that you hear from your constituents, what is it? Is there something that can or should be done about it? If so, what?
Workforce shortages continue to be an issue. Employers too often are unable to hire experienced and qualified staff to expand or even maintain their businesses. Constituents are concerned that workforce shortages lead to less available amenities and fewer industries willing to come to North Dakota. Some are worried that could lead to diminished quality of life and a less healthy economy in the longer term. Fortunately, North Dakota is already widely acknowledged as a great place to do business. The Legislature needs to support K-12 and continuing and technical education as well as higher education to ensure we have well-educated and informed citizens and a well-trained workforce.
Q. Measure 4 (regarding property tax) failed at the ballot box. Some believe that lawmakers must work to come up with their own remedy to combat rising property taxes in North Dakota. How do you feel about it?
The Legislature has been working to provide property tax relief for quite a few sessions, going back at least to when the state took over responsibility for health and human services. This session it is likely we will see both property tax relief and reform. Relief in terms of the state taking more responsibility for K-12 education funding. Reform in terms of simplifying how property taxes are calculated and guardrails as to how rates are set by local political subdivisions.
Affiliation: Republican
Q. Now that the election is over, what do you see as the most pressing issue for Grand Forks during the coming legislative session?
Our most pressing issues continue to be workforce shortages and addressing property tax reform. Our city continues to thrive in sectors like higher education, health care and UAS, but retaining talent and attracting a skilled workforce remain a challenge. During this legislative session, we must focus on measures that enhance workforce development -- such as supporting technical training programs, expanding childcare options, and investing in affordable housing solutions to accommodate growth. Collaboration with UND and local industries will be key to tailoring workforce initiatives to Grand Forks' unique needs.
Additionally, addressing rising property taxes is critical to ensuring that economic growth benefits residents without undue financial burdens. Real property tax reform should be a legislative priority, focusing on solutions like increased state funding for local governments to reduce their reliance on property taxes, expanding relief programs such as the homestead credit, and ensuring greater transparency and fairness in property assessments. These reforms will help families stay in their homes and make Grand Forks a more attractive place for people to live and work. This past year a lot of citizens showed how they feel about property taxes and we need to listen and drive solutions to bring down those property taxes while sustainably continuing to support what those taxes pay for in our community.
Q. Do you expect to introduce or sponsor legislation in the coming session?
During the interim, as part of the workforce committee, I have been deeply involved in studying how to streamline licensure processes across all professions. One of our primary goals is to make it easier for individuals to obtain the licenses they need to enter the workforce, especially in high-demand fields like healthcare, education and skilled trades. By reducing unnecessary delays and aligning licensure requirements with those of neighboring states, we can attract more professionals to North Dakota and address our critical workforce shortages more effectively.
In addition, I will be introducing several bills in the upcoming session. One of the most significant is a bill to establish annual legislative sessions. With term limits now in place, it's more important than ever to recruit exceptional candidates for legislative roles. Annual sessions will help attract strong candidates by providing a more manageable workload and schedule, while also allowing us to adapt more quickly to the state's needs. This change will improve our state budgeting process, ensure more regular opportunities for citizens to have their voices heard, and allow lawmakers to address pressing issues in a timely manner. Now is the time for North Dakota to take this important step.
I also plan to introduce a bill focused on ensuring that every North Dakotan has access to food security. This legislation will aim to bolster support for food assistance programs and encourage partnerships between state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and most of all, local businesses to help ensure that no family or child in our state goes to bed hungry.
Another priority will be a bill to support the North Dakota National Guard by providing special stipends to guard members. This initiative will help retain these talented young individuals in our state by recognizing their service and addressing the financial pressures they often face. By investing in these servicemembers, we are not only strengthening our state's defense but also building a more stable and skilled workforce.
These legislative efforts reflect a commitment to tackling challenges head-on and making meaningful improvements for the great citizens of North Dakota.
Q. If you could sum up one great concern that you hear from your constituents, what is it? Is there something that can or should be done about it? If so, what?
The concern I hear most from constituents is rising costs, particularly in housing, property taxes, and health care. These costs are putting strain on families and individuals. I believe the Legislature can address this by expanding property tax relief programs, investing in health care access initiatives, raising consumable taxes to help balance the potential decrease in tax revenue from property tax relief and working with local governments to mitigate the impact of inflation on essential services.
Q. Measure 4 (regarding property tax) failed at the ballot box. Some believe that lawmakers must work to come up with their own remedy to combat rising property taxes in North Dakota. How do you feel about it?
As I've emphasized in my previous responses, addressing property tax relief must be a top priority. Our citizens are counting on lawmakers to take meaningful action, and the 2025 legislative session needs to be the one where we deliver. However, it's crucial that we approach this challenge in a thoughtful and methodical way. Providing relief while ensuring the sustainability of local services requires a balanced approach, and I'm committed to working with my colleagues to develop solutions that truly move the needle for North Dakotans. This session represents an opportunity to make a lasting impact, and we must seize it.
Affiliation: Republican
Q. Now that the election is over, what do you see as the most pressing issue for Grand Forks during the coming legislative session?
The most common issue across the state is workforce. Continuing the initiatives started last session is important. An example would be the Career Builders program started in cooperation with the Bank of North Dakota. It features both attract and retain components across a wide variety of careers.
Q. Do you expect to introduce or sponsor legislation in the coming session?
I will be working on bills that support the Grand Forks Air Force Base school's abilities to provide a local match for their new school facility. I will also again be working on higher-education funding issues. State parks are also a high priority. I was very pleased with our results last session regarding this important feature of our state.
Q. If you could sum up one great concern that you hear from your constituents, what is it? Is there something that can or should be done about it? If so, what?
We hear concerns about the cost of living and workforce issues. Property tax will certainly receive significant attention and we already have some interesting proposals. Our new governor has stressed his commitment to reforming this tax structure. The financial impact of the tax issue will determine the amounts available for other priority areas of the budget. Human services are the largest component of the budget and many of the parts of that budget section require state matches for federal funding. Education is always an important budget priority.
The session has the potential to be very challenging. We have a large number of bills already in place so we likely will be faced with volume and variety challenges in dealing effectively with all the bills and budgets. We have seasoned leadership in both chambers. Our governor is experienced in the legislative process.