63rd Legislative Assembly - 2013

Veteran/Spouse License Plates

Origination: Commissioner, ACOVA, NDVCC

• Gold Star plates-removes initial ($15) and annual ($10) fee for plates
• POW Plates-no additional or annual fee for plates
  • Allows two plates
  • Allows spouse to retain one plate after veterans' death
• 100% disabled (DAV plate)-no additional or annual ($5) fee for plates 
• Four patriotic license plates added.

Free Tuition for Surviving Dependents

• Allows eligible dependents to use free tuition benefit if 100% disabled veteran dies before dependent enrolls in school
• Fiscal note: $0
• NDCC 15-10-18.3

Professional Licensure of Military Spouses

• Provides provisional licenses to spouses of military stationed in ND or stationed in ND before a temporary assignment to duties outside of ND
• Boards to adopt rules and provide temporary licensure on case-by-case basis
• State board of architecture and landscape architecture is exempt from this mandate
• Fiscal note: $0

Income Tax Deduction for Military Retirement Pay

• Exempt Federally taxed income from military retirement pay from ND income tax

Resident Tuition for Spouses and Dependents

• Adds Spouse and Dependents of Veterans to allow resident tuition rates if veteran is eligible to transfer Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits
• Separates Spouse and Dependents of Veterans into two sections
• Adds "Reserve component" members, spouses and dependents as eligible
• Fiscal Note: $15,000

Property Tax Relief. Freeze Value of Home

• Allows Veterans eligible for disabled Veteran tax credit to freeze value of primary residence
• Fiscal note: $478,000

Veterans Upward Bound

• $325,000 appropriated for Veterans Upward Bound program
• Provides classroom instruction which prepares veterans for college
• Provide assistance to eligible veterans enrolled at or in process of enrolling at institute of higher education in ND or adjacent state institution participating in course exchange agreement with ND institution
• ND Department of veterans affairs may accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations for providing additional assistance to eligible veterans

Military Children Compact

• Extends law allowing state of ND to join in pact with other states to allow children of military members transferred into or out of ND to maintain their grade (year in school) level

Homestead Tax Credit

• Increases property tax exemption limit for disabled veterans from $120,000 full and True ($5,400 taxable value) to $150,000 ($6,750 taxable value)
• Effective date of 12-31-2012. And 12-31-2013 for mobile homes.
• Fiscal note: $477,000. State general funds reimbursement

Melvin Norgard Memorial Fund

• Allow veterans home administrator to expend funds up to $10,000. Over $10,000 must be approved by governing board.
• Requires governing board gain ACOVA approval for expenditures
• Expenditures made solely for projects and programs to benefit and serve the residents of the veterans home.