The Legislative interim committee received updates on three behavioral health facility projects funded during the recent session.

Laura Anderson, policy director for the Behavioral Health Division, told the committee final executed contracts are in place with the three providers that received appropriations this session: Altru (Grand Forks), CHI Williston and CHI Bismarck. "We do have final executed contracts with all three facilities," Anderson said.

Altru's project manager, Joel Larson, reported design drawings are complete and that preconstruction tasks are underway at the Grand Forks site identified as the 860 Building. Larson said the project will add 24 inpatient beds; construction will begin once adjacent parking reconfiguration is complete and contractors mobilize. "Actual construction will start within the month of October," he told the committee.

CHI Williston's market president, David Jones, described a performance-excellence approach and a project that includes a 10-bed inpatient unit (with seclusion and safe rooms), an outpatient clinic space to support a continuum of care and an ED renovation. He said construction bids and price validation are imminent and that CHI is targeting a December 2026 opening for the Williston inpatient/clinic project.

Why it matters: The projects expand inpatient and outpatient behavioral health capacity in eastern and western parts of the state and are part of the administration's and Legislature's response to statewide access gaps. The projects have staged timelines: Altru expects activity on site this fall, Williston expects construction and a December 2026 opening, and CHI Bismarck has an executed contract under House Bill 14 68.

Next steps: HHS said it will provide quarterly updates on project progress; Altru and CHI said they will share design and construction milestones and cost validations as contractors submit bids.

Quote: "We're actively working to get this project going," Joel Larson said of the Altru Grand Forks expansion.