✅ Law #1: HB 1066 — Minimum Wage for Senior Community Service Employment Program

• Statute / Bill: HB 1066 (2025) — a new section added to ND Century Code chapter 50-06.1. (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• Effective: (Within limits of appropriation) once the administrative rule is set by the Department. Not clearly dated in sources. (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• Sets a minimum hourly wage of $12/hour (or whatever higher amount the department sets via rule) for people working under the Senior Community Service Employment Program in ND. (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• The rule-making and funding depend on legislative appropriation. (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• Some cost for state (or federal/other funding) to pay older adults in the program more.

• Depends on how many people are in the program and how much is appropriated.

• Helps: Older adults participating in the Senior Community Service Employment Program—they’ll earn more per hour now.

• Affects: State department overseeing the program; budget office; funding sources.

• Sponsored in the legislature (HB 1066). Specific sponsor(s) not in summary I found.

• Likely supported by aging & workforce advocacy; opposition (if any) likely from budget hawks or those concerned about cost.

• Improves pay for seniors in service roles; more fairness.

• Helps reduce poverty / supplement incomes for older adults who volunteer or work in community service.

❌ Cons:

• Needs funding; if not appropriated fully, implementation may lag.

• Might increase cost of program or reduce number of slots if budget constrained.

• Statute / Bill: HB 1285 (2025) — compensation adjustment bill for permanent state employees. (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• Effective: July 2025 for first year, to be paid in August 2025; second year starts July 2026 with pay in August 2026. (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• Gives an average 3% raise in the first fiscal year (starting July 2025) for eligible permanent state employees. (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• Then a smaller average raise of 2% in the second fiscal year (starting July 2026). (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• Increased state payroll costs spread over two years.

• Likely significant total dollar cost depending on number of employees.

• Helps: Permanent state employees—raises increase incomes.

• Affects: State budget; possibly leads to trade-offs elsewhere.

• Sponsored by ND legislature as part of the state budget / appropriation process.

• Opposition could come from those concerned about state spending or taxpayer burden.

• Helps state workers keep pace with inflation / cost of living.

• Boosts morale, retention among state workforce.

❌ Cons:

• Adds to state expenses; depending on revenue, could stress budget.

• If inflation remains high, raises may not keep up fully.

• Changes how much money the state gives to school districts for transporting students, including regular students, special education students, and those in career/technical education. (LegiScan)

• Updates the “transportation weighted student unit equivalents” (that’s a formula used to figure out payment amounts) so districts are paid differently based on how far kids travel, safety, etc. (LegiScan)

• Repeals some older sections of the transportation payment code related to school district closure and distribution of funds when districts close. (LegiScan)

• Likely an increase (or reallocation) of state education budget payments to reflect updated formulas. Depends on how much extra funding districts need under new rules. (LegiScan)

• Some administrative cost for state and school districts to update reporting, payments, highway/travel cost calculations.

• Helps: School districts with students who travel long distances or have more expensive transport needs (special education, CTE).

• Affects: Districts with lower transport costs may lose relative advantage; possibly taxpayers if state increases funding or changes taxation or allocations.

• Initiated by ND Legislature (bill HB 1214). (LegiScan)

• Support probably from rural/distance school officials and transportation advocates. Opposition (if any) might come from districts that see reduced payments or from budget hawks worried about state costs.

• More fairness: districts get paid more accurately for what it costs to transport students.

• Students in remote/special education/CTE benefit since transport costs are better recognized.

❌ Cons:

• Some districts may see less money if the formula shifts away from their advantage.

• Implementation and budgeting challenges for districts.

• Lowers how much property tax residents must pay: the state gave $408.9 million in tax relief. (Primacy Strategy Group)

• Reform might include reducing tax rates, increasing exemptions, or shifting how property values are assessed for tax purposes. (The summary didn’t list all line-items, but it’s large and intended to ease property tax burden. ) (Primacy Strategy Group)

• Helps taxpayers pay less in property taxes starting mid-2025 (after June 30 for many provisions). (North Dakota Legislative Branch)

• State or local governments may see lower revenue and may need to make up funds via other sources or reduce some spending.

• Helps: Homeowners, renters (if landlords pass savings through), and seniors on fixed incomes.

• Affects: Local governments, school districts, infrastructure budgets that depend heavily on property tax income.

• Sponsored by ND legislative leadership and Gov. Armstrong as part of his tax relief agenda. (Primacy Strategy Group)

• Support from taxpayers and groups advocating for lower taxes. Opposition possibly from those concerned about underfunding public services or local governments.

• Immediate relief for property owners.

• Helps people on fixed incomes or with high property tax burdens.

❌ Cons:

• Could strain budgets for schools, roads, and local services that rely on property taxes.

• Might require trade-offs: cutting services, raising other taxes, or reducing public investment.

🗳️ The Ballot Beacon Takeaway
North Dakota passed a $408.9 million property tax relief package effective for many taxable events after June 30, 2025 — homeowners should see savings, but local governments may have to adjust their budgets. (Primacy Strategy Group)