HB 1592 — Relating to the appointments, operations, and powers of the lignite research council, the powers of the industrial commission, and public record exemptions.

25.1292.02003 Prepared by the Legislative Council Title.03000 staff for Representative Novak March 24, 2025 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota PROPOSEDIn AMENDMENTSRegular TOSession Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025 HOUSE BILL NO.

1592 Introduced(Representatives by Representatives Novak, D.

Olson, TveitTveit) Senators(Senators Boehm, KesselKessel) AAN BILLACT for 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.

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 research, development, and marketing program that promotes Pageeconomic, No.efficient, and clean uses of lignite and products derived from lignite in order to maintain and enhance development of North Dakota lignite and its products;

1 25.1292.02003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly economic, efficient, and clean uses of lignite and products derived from lignite in order to maintain and enhance development of North Dakota lignite and its products;

The lignite research council is composed of twenty-four members appointed by the governor from a list provided by the lignite energy council and two members of the legislative assembly appointedH. by the chairman of the legislative management.

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1592 - PAGE 2 appointed by the chairman of the legislative management.

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The lignite research council shall elect a vice chairman and five members from among its members to serve with the chairman and vice chairman as an executive committee, to act on behalf of the lignite research council between lignite research council meetings.

The legislative council shall pay the per diem compensation and reimbursement for travel and expenses as provided by law for any member of the commissionlignitelignite research council who is a member of the legislative assembly.

In evaluating applications for funding from the lignite research fund for North Dakota's lignite research, development, and marketing program, the industrial commission and Pagelignite No.research council shall give priority to those projects, processes, or activities that will preserve existing jobs and production, which will create the greatest number of new jobs and most H.

3B. 25.1292.02003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly lignite research council shall give priority to those projects, processes, or activities that will preserve existing jobs and production, which will create the greatest number of new jobs and most additional lignite production and economic growth potential in coal-producing counties or those counties with recoverable coal reserves, which will attract matching private industry investment equal to at least fifty percent or more of the total cost, and which will result in development and demonstration of a marketable lignite product or products with a high level of probability of near term commercialization.

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1592 - PAGE 3 additional lignite production and economic growth potential in coal-producing counties or those counties with recoverable coal reserves, which will attract matching private industry investment equal to at least fifty percent or more of the total cost, and which will result in development and demonstration of a marketable lignite product or products with a high level of probability of near term commercialization.

To make grants or loans, and to provide other forms of financial assistance as necessary or appropriate, to qualified persons for research, development, and Pagemarketing No.projects, processes, or activities directly related to lignite and products derived from lignite.

4 25.1292.02003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly marketing projects, processes, or activities directly related to lignite and products derived from lignite.

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1592 - PAGE 4 5.6.

To refund and refinance its evidences of indebtedness from time to time as often as it is advantageous and in the public interest to do so, and to pledge any and all income Pageand No.revenues derived by the commission under this chapter or from a project, process, or activity funded under this chapter to secure payment or redemption of the evidences of indebtedness.

58. 25.1292.02003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly and revenues derived by the commission under this chapter or from a project, process, or activity funded under this chapter to secure payment or redemption of the evidences of indebtedness.

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To adopt and enforce policies,policies rules, and orders to effectuate the purpose of this chapter.

Materials and data submitted to, or made or received by, the commission, to the extent that the commission determines the materials or data consist of trade secrets or commercial, financial, or proprietary information of individuals or entities applying to or contracting with the commission or receiving commission services under this chapter, are not public records subject to section 44-04-18 and section 6 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota,Dakota and are subject to section 44-04-18.4.

If Pagethe No.commission determines the information is either not relevant or not a trade secret, the commission shall notify the requester and the requester may ask for the return of the information and request within ten days of the notice.

6 25.1292.02003 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly the commission determines the information is either not relevant or not a trade secret, the commission shall notify the requester and the requester may ask for the return of the information and request within ten days of the notice.

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1592 - PAGE 5 ____________________________ ____________________________ Speaker of the House President of the Senate ____________________________ ____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Secretary of the Senate This certifies that the within bill originated in the House of Representatives of the Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota and is known on the records of that body as House Bill No.

1592.

House Vote:

Yeas 88 Nays 3 Absent 3 Senate Vote:

Yeas 45 Nays 1 Absent 1 ____________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Received by the Governor at ________M.

on _____________________________________, 2025.