Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Historical Society Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate approves state historical society budget, including major SIF and donation conditions
Summary
House Bill 10 18, the appropriation for the State Historical Society and Heritage Center projects, passed the Senate with an emergency clause after floor amendments that revised SIF and donation matching requirements and added an elder agency responsibility for the military gallery.
The North Dakota Senate passed House Bill 10 18 on April 10, 2025, adopting Senate amendments that revise funding and project conditions for the State Historical Society and the North Dakota Heritage Center. Final tally on the bill was 42 ayes, 4 nays, 1 present and not voting; the emergency clause carried.
Senator Meyer, floor sponsor for the appropriations package, outlined one‑time and ongoing allocations. Notable items in the amended package included a $77,944,524 figure described on the floor for a military gallery expansion project, a revision of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund (SIF) contributions (the Senate reduced SIF support from the House level in some line items), and direction that certain SIF disbursements for the military gallery would be released only after pledges equal to 50% of the project’s private donation target were received.
Meyer said the appropriations included $100,000 in general funds for repatriation compliance under NAGPRA-related work, one-time SIF funds for exhibit updates (Pembina State Museum), archive storage upgrades, deferred maintenance, community grants, and funding reductions to the House's original amounts for some projects. The Senate also included language designating the Adjutant General and the North Dakota National Guard responsible for public displays, signage and museum content specifically related to the military gallery.
Floor discussion included a question from Senator Powers about planning funds for the Madora area; Meyer described intended uses including heating, air, accessibility improvements and an addition to the chateau interpretive center. Senator Sorbog declared a conflict of interest for a grant to a grantee that is a customer of his business and was excused from voting on that item under Senate rule 3‑22.
The appropriations package also continued or added ongoing FTEs and operating costs: the Senate appropriations summary noted ongoing general-fund amounts for salaries, cost-to-continue items, and two new FTEs related to NAGPRA compliance and exhibition preparation. The committee reported a due-pass recommendation with roll call indicated in committee as 14–0 with one abstention and one member absent on the broader appropriations report.
Because the bill carried an emergency clause as adopted on the floor, the appropriations and statutory changes included in HB 10 18 would take effect immediately upon enrollment and signature according to the clause language.
