[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6317509,"mediaKeyId","2372601-3b65e96b5eca834d7180f7c8fd5161a7","parentId",2372601,"title","Appropriations Committee approves Industrial Commission budget, moves $140 million in Bank transfers and housing funds","audioSeconds",2595,"startMs",3079000,"endMs",5674000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372601-3b65e96b5eca834d7180f7c8fd5161a7&start=3079&end=5674","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372601-3b65e96b5eca834d7180f7c8fd5161a7/thumbnail_3079000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317509/North-Dakota/Appropriations-Committee-approves-Industrial-Commission-budget-moves-140-million-in-Bank-transfers-and-housing-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317509-67b7e3c06361ce17b20e8b97fac80741/orig.mp4?Expires=1776368915&Signature=Z~I3ID3ZeHcr3LL9G3dXS9xBGVdTXBWKS98KKie4f8Y66inRePZUmoHL2oDNfRKNU643kfKm3jU6-6GTIgWQLA71XSO-oP8qWqWrkdfeMiPJTYLU3PCuNBuf9wHdyWR~r0T-bgMIzffRe2Bhol7U8H9IcXDborgOxahj7lKKYSYOfDRJUeMLuyIHhFSjJG5I4gbr6mXLLr5OGMd03YPms2sYmWmAQa639WGB3twWytAnMw~gqtK11Ek5WHz81gkq8fMr9CUVMMZe4DqSDEDq~wMzz47KocZWRZiUP2PFYbo-8pLDO9xqfwVQe~y-a07J4gDmFZemaQA-ZNTm4R4pEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Appropriations Committee voted to give a due-pass recommendation on Senate Bill 2014 as amended, approving budgets and policy provisions affecting the Industrial Commission, the Bank of North Dakota, the Housing Finance Agency and several state programs.

Senator Shibley presented the bill and the committee adopted multiple section-level changes. The committee's package approves staffing additions across several entities, new grant and program funding, and two policy changes requested by the Bank of North Dakota around loan confidentiality and expanded flexibility for certain loan buy-downs. A committee roll call recorded a final due-pass vote of 15-0 with one senator excused from voting (Senator Dwyer declared a conflict and was excused from voting on this budget item).

Major budget and program items included in the adopted amendment excerpts:

- Bank of North Dakota transfers: The budget includes a $140,000,000 transfer from Bank of North Dakota profits to the general fund (section 8). The bank also funds multiple programs including PACE, AG-PACE, Biofuels PACE and beginning farmer loans described during the hearing.

- Housing: The committee increased the housing-incentive fund to $10,000,000 for homeless-related grants and added $25,000,000 for housing-support programs (together the transcript notes these as $35,000,000 of support administered through the Housing Incentive Fund). The Bank's proposed state funding for Small Business Development Centers at the University of North Dakota is included at $1,900,000 to support federal matching funds.

- Secondary oil recovery and energy: The amendment sets aside $25,000,000 for secondary oil-recovery grants, funded by adjustments including a partial reallocation from an energy research salt-cavern appropriation.

- One-time grants, studies and litigation funds: The bill includes one-time, mostly federal-matching grants tied to a grid-resilience grant (matching general-fund share ~15%), a $400,000 rare-earth elements study, $150,000 for an archaeology excavation project, and a $3,000,000 oil-and-gas litigation fund.

- Staffing and agency adjustments: The committee approved multiple FTE additions across the Housing Finance Agency (3 FTE, special funds), Department of Mineral Resources (3 FTE, general and federal funds), and mill-and-elevator operations (two rail-car inspector FTEs). Several operating and IT adjustments were also included.

Two policy changes requested by the bank were adopted: confidentiality for participation-loan details while the loans remain active (with net write-offs and other statutorily listed items remaining public when the Industrial Commission writes them off), and authority to increase certain loan buy-downs by up to $1,000,000 without a local match when the bank deems a project qualifies as a primary-sector business.

Committee members noted a sunset and review provision applies to some policy shifts and emphasized that the bank's participation loans would still produce public records in specific circumstances (for example, net write-offs taken to the Industrial Commission become public when the commission acts). Senator Dwyer acknowledged and declared a conflict and was excused from voting on the item. The committee moved the amended bill forward with a 15-0-1 vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations Friday, Feb 21, 2025 7:55 AM - 9:31 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved Senate Bill 2014 as amended, clearing funding and policy changes for the Industrial Commission, Bank of North Dakota and related programs including $25 million for secondary oil-recovery grants, expanded housing incentive funding and policy changes for Bank confidentiality and loan-flex authority.","taxTitle","Appropriations, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28312,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317514,"Committee gives do-not-pass on financial-institutions budget as oversight moves to board",343,2696000,3039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372601-3b65e96b5eca834d7180f7c8fd5161a7&start=2696&end=3039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372601-3b65e96b5eca834d7180f7c8fd5161a7/thumbnail_2696000.jpg","/articles/6317514/North-Dakota/Committee-gives-do-not-pass-on-financial-institutions-budget-as-oversight-moves-to-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317514-cf1617204bffea1f2a62212dddb4c73b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776368915&Signature=R6hzgKMe5J3FcURLipq4hHjOfiataP9eHUa4BYVY6UXrRUdbVB74ojATWE~0quAB9fpTyj9wR6U9TQKPcd42-zRRjNzReLlrbryZGbcGtEo-K4p6qG0HUuPUp3qjLyRt7AG0aM35mN8hChlyG4ZQaVxpS0ps0Gd-btjewZHKjd84PR8jTIg-KN03cp88mS6UfWdoB78IUnGfRPIG6J0l0qB1pvGdYbdx6N3j0pw7Cudk~Y0oiLOz0FWq1VXnMuHD5JEIaoz5rMSJ6PkMZWjQo~M0HVJW752vN3Z-XSNFiaOSN~CSVbhWXRD6lKllfmxZ~vM8Xhefs65aInFMy-rRBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations Committee voted to recommend a 'do not pass' on Senate Bill 2008, clearing the way for the financial institutions' budget to move off the state appropriation schedule and to be controlled directly by an industry board.

Senator Burkhart moved the do-not-pass motion. The committee approved the motion 14-2 on a roll-call vote. Committee discussion explained that the budgetary authority and spending for the agency will be funded from the agency's own fees rather than through the legislature's standard appropriation process; the change includes a statutory sunset provision in 2029 so the legislature can re-evaluate the arrangement.

Legislative counsel Alex explained the effect: the agency will be special-funded, spending its fee revenue without annual legislative appropriation unless the legislature later decides to reclaim authority. The House provided an expiration date of 2029, which committee members said gives the legislature an opportunity to revisit the structure.

Members raised governance and oversight concerns. Senator Cleary said allowing the banking board to set the regulator's budget and the regulator's salary poses an oversight issue; others said the agencies historically generate fee revenue and are self-funded and that federal oversight provides additional checks. The committee noted the move is similar to previous changes for other boards that operate on fees.

After debate the committee recorded a 14-2 vote to recommend do not pass and directed staff to carry the bill forward accordingly.","The Appropriations Committee recommended a do-not-pass for Senate Bill 2008 after members were told the agency's budget authority will move off state appropriation rolls to a board-controlled, fee-funded structure with a 2029 sunset.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6317518,"Appropriations panel advances judicial-branch budget with cuts, judges—salary increases",1834,860000,2694000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372601-3b65e96b5eca834d7180f7c8fd5161a7&start=860&end=2694","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372601-3b65e96b5eca834d7180f7c8fd5161a7/thumbnail_860000.jpg","/articles/6317518/North-Dakota/Appropriations-panel-advances-judicial-branch-budget-with-cuts-judgessalary-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317518-0bff0edfecc0babc82e626a75af23ddb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776368915&Signature=bn7h1Tb0GTMbkWiz-nDKYSYC~xSobFwHDNqpIE4epdMJqusaZdpwTc19J1fNsV-GxpXp5DJw4C5OcvdDga8jLD2jWnHHDTiIALybFk0HbZ9PctnVVD4SwL8CAVtpsf~Kbu9R9ABzSQThQ835dnE~szSqULIM7Y43~kLD8adAPHM-SSj0i3ovxDxgwOZ2cxr-TP99ReNcBxSin6-pA2vr6F0oKEELdJ9NSpwS~qyCXxzh0OGrCwZvcb-ZW~6wTCpjw3u3lnDEppCQY1zP4kvsBOJeW-OitZMwOXa-yBTTG-3YAyXVLIF~ONT9~YtOGapKadMvMjx3U8eAz9xIW-4zDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to give a due-pass recommendation on Senate Bill 2002 as amended, advancing a $151.7 million judicial-branch budget that trims the governor's proposal and includes targeted one-time IT funding and pay increases for judges.

The committee's amendment, moved by Senator Thomas and seconded by Senator Mather, passed the committee 14-2; the committee then approved the bill as amended by roll call, 15-1. The amended budget is roughly $151,704,000 compared with the governor's $166 million recommendation and reduces the governor's proposal of 22 new full-time equivalent positions to 12.

Committee members said the amendment incorporates most of the committee's work on prior subcommittee changes. The package includes one-time investments and ongoing funding for the Supreme Court and district courts and adds positions tied to a separate guardianship bill (Senate Bill 2029).

Key one-time appropriations listed by Senator Thomas include: $874,000 for information technology equipment (server equipment), $758,000 for case-management software cloud migration, $1.25 million for clerk filing software, $960,000 for a court-record access system, $866,000 for cloud-based storage fees, $800,000 for courtroom audio and video upgrades, and $100,000 for Cass County courtroom equipment. The amendment reduced some requests from the branch's ask, and committee members said where possible they trimmed amounts.

The amendment also adjusts judge compensation. Under the adopted plan, the chief justice would receive a 9% pay increase, other Supreme Court justices 8.5%, and district judges 7%. Committee members noted those increases differ from the 3% 'three-and-three' salary pattern applied to most state employees. Senator Thomas said the committee reviewed regional comparables and testimony from practicing attorneys and prosecutors and decided to grant the larger increases to improve competitiveness for judicial applicants.

Committee members pressed staff on several details. Senator Davidson asked whether the one-time 'equipment lease' should be labeled as equipment purchases, noting the descriptive language in the request referred to 'blades' and 'disk drives.' The clerk of the committee and staff confirmed the amendment language was intended to fund information-technology equipment and related expenses.

Members also debated a roughly 5% credit-card processing rate for court payments. Senator Burkhart asked who controls that fee; committee testimony explained the processor is tied to the court software and changing vendors would require replacing software. Alex, legislative counsel, said most court-fee revenue is deposited into the state general fund, with some fees going to dedicated funds such as the Court Improvement Fund and indigent defense support.

The committee discussed how the budget interacts with Senate Bill 2029, which would create a guardianship office. Senator Thomas said the committee moved staffing elements into the judicial budget to ensure operations would be funded if the policy bill (2029) passes; if 2029 fails, the staff positions would be removed and two existing guardianship staff would remain in the Supreme Court budget.

After discussion the committee approved amendment 1001 (motion by Senator Thomas; second by Senator Mather) and later the due-pass motion for the bill as amended (motion by Senator Thomas; second by Senator Burkhart). The committee recorded a final 'do pass as amended' committee vote of 15-1.","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to give a 'do pass' recommendation to Senate Bill 2002 as amended, approving a judicial-branch budget that trims the governor's request, funds one-time IT upgrades and raises judicial salaries while reducing new full-time positions from the governor's proposal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations Committee approves Industrial Commission budget, moves $140 million in Bank transfers and housing funds

Committee gives do-not-pass on financial-institutions budget as oversight moves to board

Appropriations panel advances judicial-branch budget with cuts, judges—salary increases