AN ACT to amend and reenact section 4.1-73-14 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the fees for recording and rerecording livestock brands.
Senate Bill No. 2139 amends the North Dakota Century Code section 4.1-73-14, which pertains to the fees associated with the recording and rerecording of livestock brands. The bill proposes to increase the fee from twenty-five dollars to fifty dollars for each application submitted for this purpose. This change aims to update the fee structure to better reflect current economic conditions and the administrative costs associated with processing these applications.
The bill directly impacts the livestock industry in North Dakota by increasing the cost of recording and rerecording livestock brands. This amendment to the existing law may affect ranchers and livestock owners who need to register their brands, potentially leading to increased operational costs for these stakeholders. The increase in fees is intended to support the administrative functions of the state related to brand recording.
The sentiment surrounding SB2139 appears to be generally supportive, as indicated by the voting results in both the Senate and House, where it passed with significant majorities (Senate: 43-4, House: 86-7). This suggests that legislators recognize the need for updated fees and are in favor of the bill's intent to modernize the fee structure.
While there does not appear to be significant contention noted in the discussions or voting history, some opposition may stem from ranchers concerned about the increased costs associated with brand registration. However, no specific points of contention were recorded in the available committee discussions or voting records, indicating a consensus on the necessity of the fee adjustment.