North Dakota Senate approves $10M for Great Plains Food Bank facility expansion

The 69th Legislative Assembly of North Dakota convened for a Senate Floor Session on April 11, 2025, addressing several key bills and amendments that impact various sectors within the state. The session began promptly at 12:23 PM and concluded at 2:25 PM, with discussions focusing on fiscal impacts, local governance, and public health initiatives.

The session opened with Senator Lewick discussing House Bill 15 41, which faced a significant fiscal note indicating a $334,000 impact. Despite efforts to consolidate discussions around this bill, it ultimately failed to pass, with a final tally of 4 votes in favor and 42 against.

Following this, Senator Dwyer introduced House Bill 15 24, which aims to support regional planning councils through a proposed $2,400,000 appropriation. This funding is intended to hire 16 new employees at the local level to assist in grant implementation. The bill was amended to authorize the Department of Commerce to provide grants to these councils, facilitating local and regional program execution. The amendment was adopted, and the bill subsequently passed with 36 votes in favor and 10 against.

Senator Burkhart then presented House Bill 11 43, which seeks to allocate $10,000,000 for the Great Plains Food Bank to establish a new food distribution facility. This facility is crucial for addressing growing food insecurity in North Dakota, as the current building has significant infrastructure issues. The bill emphasizes a public-private partnership and includes a matching requirement to ensure fiscal responsibility. The Senate approved the bill with a vote of 37 in favor and 9 against.

Next, Senator Axman discussed House Bill 11 26, which proposes updates to the State Board of Cosmetology's regulations. The bill includes provisions for new licensing categories and apprenticeship programs, aiming to modernize the board's operations. After a thorough review, the bill passed with overwhelming support, receiving 45 votes in favor and only 1 against.

Senator Wabamaw introduced House Bill 15 42, which designates student applications for admission to higher education institutions as exempt records, enhancing the security of these records during the application process. The bill passed unanimously with 46 votes in favor.

The session concluded with discussions on House Bill 16 13, although details on this bill were not fully addressed within the time frame of the meeting.

Overall, the session highlighted the legislature's focus on local governance, public health, and educational reforms, with several bills successfully passing through the Senate, reflecting a commitment to addressing pressing issues within the state.