[{"_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",6080036,"mediaKeyId","2952161-043fbf0911c2efcab60f784b23db3fb6","parentId",2952161,"title","State revolving fund can absorb projects after federal cuts, DEQ official says","audioSeconds",288,"startMs",323000,"endMs",611000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952161-043fbf0911c2efcab60f784b23db3fb6&start=323&end=611","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952161-043fbf0911c2efcab60f784b23db3fb6/thumbnail_323000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6080036/North-Dakota/State-revolving-fund-can-absorb-projects-after-federal-cuts-DEQ-official-says","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080036-c2c5fc360896d5c6c1cfb9efd3604756/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198345&Signature=DWLnksLiAUuB5CSedM44F9t7iP4kEJfc25-NruzDNVBF5VlWYy94FRShut9FxF1UKABuKCdP~z48DLN2IhUnVDNd5ChuCtTR9eJY5yoKHuDJaokHoHtviZOpYnrxEnmd1gHsbWEfD5LpFkH4opWD7KX7D~8mh1JLn4hJjw6fO90Nfbqil4ZpHMF4JSamiWTTez~sXVh7sf-zJTG8Zllv1GRPVjKT8SsxU5TnNiD5MefQoKEtQLr9bwvX5Ys~yIFRrXddLl8hHmN1iJhyBEL04ZiSeZCgsYNiiAbtUrlVJU7ZGEUKKW-n5fxQb5QfU4qgJrHINqXorWDY1n8LNrWR4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality told the Appropriations — Human Resources Division that the state's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) can make loans available to communities whose federal wastewater grant funding was reduced or eliminated.

The discussion came during a committee conversation about a pending bill that would create state grant funding for wastewater projects. Senator Magram asked whether the state could instead place $25 million into a loan fund so the money could be recycled and help more communities over time. David Rupeshwein, director of the Division of Municipal Facilities at the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, responded that the Clean Water SRF is a long-standing revolving loan program that can be leveraged in years of higher demand by selling municipal bonds.

Rupeshwein said the SRF can fund projects that are “ready to proceed” even if they are not at the top of the existing priority list. He told the committee that the Lincoln and Fessenden projects already appear on the department’s priority list and that Washburn’s drinking-water intake could be re-added to an intended-use plan when the list is amended, usually in May–June. “We have funded any project on that priority list, whether they’re number 1 or number 300, if they were ready to proceed,” Rupeshwein said.

Committee members asked how such loans would affect local residents. Rupeshwein and other speakers explained that projects paid back by user rates or special assessments would likely increase monthly utility bills for local customers. He also noted that while the SRF can accept state funds, attaching state money to the federal program can impose federal requirements that add administrative burdens to projects.

Rupeshwein gave an example: the Lincoln project is roughly a $14 million project with about $7 million in grant funding; converting those funds to loans would likely make repayment difficult without additional subsidies. Committee members discussed whether a state loan program at low interest might be preferable to one-time grants. Rupeshwein confirmed the SRF presently offers loans at about 2% interest and that loan terms, eligibility and ranking would be determined through the department’s established process rather than by naming projects in legislation.

The committee did not take a formal vote on a change to the bill during this discussion; members set aside the specific draft (referred to as “15.77” in the hearing) for further consideration and conference-committee negotiation.

Details on next steps: staff said the department can amend its priority lists midyear and that communities already tracked by the department may apply for loans. Committee members signaled they would consider whether to craft a state loan alternative or proceed with grant language when they reconvene in conference.

The committee’s discussion underscores the tradeoffs between one-time grants and revolving loans: grants reduce immediate local costs but are exhausted once spent; loans recycle capital but shift repayment burdens to local ratepayers and can carry additional federal administrative requirements if federal match or program rules apply.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division Thursday, Apr 10, 2025 3:09 PM - 4:09 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality told the Appropriations — Human Resources Division that the state's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) can make loans available to communities whose federal wastewater grant funding was reduced or eliminated.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Human Resources Division, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28901,"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},6080027,"Committee clears framework for provider-rate adjustments, flags $5 basic-care funding for review",514,3062000,3576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952161-043fbf0911c2efcab60f784b23db3fb6&start=3062&end=3576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952161-043fbf0911c2efcab60f784b23db3fb6/thumbnail_3062000.jpg","/articles/6080027/North-Dakota/Committee-clears-framework-for-provider-rate-adjustments-flags-5-basic-care-funding-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080027-e508fdaa7edb7cbfb4575c1e12c7556f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198345&Signature=dGTRGBXfdG2sc~rt5sKncoTMLWC0~V6tAvRdoOTgD6BixqkjFE1SSXQ14nGxOKgSea8hqfVkiN0C30mFEfhqm~COzI44y7mt4Lnet2-vNNa59g3yyAgUnO3xdwUKqwbORdHmeMQ3jM6SDfRkQJ3ggps5UuGYDjULyJiZKBRXkqvmGjwrBKh~WRgsl7jQr5M5NUAnPiQcfYJ6~hh3fqC0Ql6iI3xccO5AlsV7iDHEkwUE9a~T7K3kO8Gs3Hsjhe4VmIWTk7QeRuoFuXHlxd9HvyVhXFRl7-qevuS2M~UdmflilKA41BSSaCBuisrVIggHxko4yeParMhefjBmeQTKTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations — Human Resources Division discussed two interrelated budget matters: inflationary provider-rate adjustments and continuation of a $5-per-day basic-care payment for certain long-term care providers.

Committee staff reported that current budget language leaves $4,067,056 in general funds and $1,474,184 in federal funds (a total of $5,541,240) in the base budget to continue the $5-per-day basic-care payment. Senators debated whether the $5 should remain in the base budget or be treated as one-time funding for the upcoming biennium so the legislature can revisit the policy next session. Committee staff offered a path: subtract ongoing funds and add a one-time line item, and sponsor senators asked staff to draft study language to analyze rebasing of long-term care rates.

On provider inflation adjustments, members discussed a formula referenced in the bill as “2 and 2” and debated numbers including a 2% inflation limit. Committee comments indicated support for a 2% cap on inflationary adjustment in one portion of the bill and a 1.5% figure in another, and senators agreed to carry language forward to conference committee. Staff said they would draft the agreed language and produce study language for a rebasing review.

Committee staff told members they had incorporated most amendments and would give committee members a draft for review before finalizing the bill. With no formal roll-call vote recorded in the transcript, the committee accepted the drafting plan and moved the bill to drafting at the session’s end.

Next steps: staff (Keith and others) will prepare study language and a revised bill draft for committee review and the item will be taken into conference committee as needed.","Appropriations members discussed provider inflation adjustments and whether a $5-per-day basic-care payment should remain in the base budget. Staff presented funding numbers and members asked to move the $5 payment to one-time funds and add a study of rate rebasing for the next session.",{"_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},6080031,"Committee backs establishing revolving loan model and design funds for fourplex supportive housing; appropriation deferred",1578,1315000,2893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2952161-043fbf0911c2efcab60f784b23db3fb6&start=1315&end=2893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2952161-043fbf0911c2efcab60f784b23db3fb6/thumbnail_1315000.jpg","/articles/6080031/North-Dakota/Committee-backs-establishing-revolving-loan-model-and-design-funds-for-fourplex-supportive-housing-appropriation-deferred","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080031-37f6f570c8bb454b3e3437bc670aaee1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198345&Signature=TSa7zEomcwRsJPBxyiaqG7w~PIO0~eO7530uO9kqHLGAzIYUm5S4e5FXm3kOamZMAB1iSqAzas8B0uxyJiQZJT7ZtwnkJGgtK6~zfM0jAeP6poeqUaTbdjDyxORxspO2VAGdadvITxOfNlmRLEKX0ShbLvLZtr0N9T2jIO5TtSiA9SznNr~b-Ub6cQ5G9ypZN7p78GjTFgs6f508Zvgbpb5Od8~LDZy7CRJQLn8mC23try-3E5dYI2bQcVYmuKmQ8PX3NtmmDC3BCKsf38zLZk3lDcS-tP8mHf5L7JiG5xIe1DVDiY2naVE9wxqyIdT4yu8vH4x1wWfiz62ohii7SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Appropriations — Human Resources Division agreed to advance amendments that would create a two-part approach to incentivize construction of four-unit supportive-housing residences: a design consultation appropriation and a new revolving loan model. The committee reached consensus to move sections 7 and 8 forward and to leave the proposed $3.3 million State Investment Fund transfer in section 9 for later consideration.

Senator Mather guided the committee through the amendment package. “Section 7 gives $200,000 to the Department of Human Service, Health and Human Services, to do some preliminary design consultation work for designing such a fourplex,” he said, and described section 8 as creating “this chapter of, into the century code, which replicates what we have for hospitals” to establish a revolving loan fund available to developers at 2% interest. Section 9 proposed transferring $3,300,000 from the State Investment Fund (SIF) to capitalize the Bank of North Dakota loan program; Mather recommended adopting sections 7 and 8 but omitting section 9 from the committee amendment so that conference discussions could determine the need and source of any appropriation.

Committee members asked how rent subsidies would operate, who would own the buildings and what term lengths and repayment schedules would look like. Mather and other speakers noted several possibilities: rent subsidies could come from federal housing programs, the Department of Human Services, or the housing finance agency; private developers could own and operate the buildings; and loan repayment schedules in the proposal were capped at 20 years, a term some senators said might be too short for project viability.

Multiple witnesses and staff attended or provided information about two different project models; committee members urged further work with the Department of Human Services and housing experts during the conference. The committee also discussed Manchester House as an example of prior facility-financing approaches, while acknowledging that services provided inside a building and ownership structures are distinct policy questions.

Formal action: Senator Mather moved for a “due pass” on sections 7 and 8, and the committee registered consensus to advance those sections while leaving the proposed section 9 appropriation for conference negotiation. Committee staff said they will convene stakeholders before the conference committee to refine financing, ownership and subsidy details.

Next steps: The committee instructed staff and interested members to continue meetings with the Department of Human Services and other stakeholders and to bring refined language and any funding recommendations to the conference committee.","The committee agreed by consensus to advance amendments that would fund preliminary design work and create a revolving loan model for fourplex supportive housing (sections 7 and 8), while deferring a $3.3 million transfer from the State Investment Fund (section 9) to conference committee","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State revolving fund can absorb projects after federal cuts, DEQ official says

Committee clears framework for provider-rate adjustments, flags $5 basic-care funding for review

Committee backs establishing revolving loan model and design funds for fourplex supportive housing; appropriation deferred