State Senate Defeats Bill to Expand Income Tax Cuts to More North Dakotans

Sen. Dean Rummel, R-Dickinson.  (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(By: Michael Achterling. North Dakota Monitor) – The state Senate defeated a bill that would have expanded income tax cuts to more North Dakotans.

Senate Bill 2093, unanimously adopted by the Senate in January, initially sought to provide an income tax exemption on law enforcement retirement benefits for surviving spouses.

The House amended the bill to increase the number of taxpayers who pay zero income tax, expanding income tax cuts lawmakers approved two years ago. The proposal sought to add about 9,500 more taxpayers to the zero tax bracket, estimated to cost about $20 million for 2025-27.

State Sen. Dean Rummel, R-Dickinson, a member of the conference committee, urged senators to vote no. He said the Senate’s position on the conference committee was that no one is asking for a reduction in state income taxes.