North Dakota HB1592: AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 54-17.5-01, 54-17.5-02, 54-17.5-03, 54-17.5-04, and 54-17.5-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the appointments, operations, and powers of the lignite research council, the powers of the industrial commission, and public record exemptions.

What the bill says

An act to amend and reenact sections 54-17.5-01, 54-17.5-02, 54-17.5-03, 54-17.5-04, and 54-17.5-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the appointments, operations, and powers of the lignite research council, the powers of the industrial commission, and public record exemptions.

From the enrolled text, April 14, 2025:

AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 54-17.5-01, 54-17.5-02, 54-17.5-03, 54-17.5-04, and 54-17.5-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the appointments, operations, and powers of the lignite research council, the powers of the industrial commission, and public record exemptions. SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 54-17.5-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and reenacted as follows: 54-17.5-01. Declaration of findings and public purpose. The legislative assembly finds and declares that North Dakota's lignite industry produces approximately thirty milliontwenty-five million tons of lignite annually, contributing to our state's and nation's energy independence by generating electricity for more than two million people in the northern great plains region and by producing synthetic natural gas from coal that heats three hundred thousand homes and businesses in eastern states, which is equivalent to over twenty thousand barrels of oil per day. The legislative assembly further finds and declares that North Dakota's lignite industry generates over twenty-eight thousandtwelve thousand direct and indirect jobs for North Dakota, nearly three billionsix billion dollars in annual business volume, and over one hundred three millionone hundred million dollars in annual tax revenue. The legislative assembly further finds and declares that it is an essential governmental function and public purpose to assist with the development and wise use of North Dakota's vast lignite resources by supporting a lignite …