Appropriations Committee advances historical society, guard and health measures; rejects stiffer firearm penalty

The Senate Appropriations Committee met and voted on multiple budget and policy items, approving funding adjustments for the State Historical Society and the Adjutant General, a behavioral health facility grant and a change to the personal needs allowance for long-term care residents, while rejecting a proposal to add mandatory prison time for crimes involving firearms.

The committee advanced House Bill 10-18, the State Historical Society omnibus budget as amended, and also gave a due pass to House Bill 16-03, a NAGPRA-related matching grant and committee-formation bill intended to assist repatriation work. Senator Meyer, who led discussion on both historical society items, said HB16-03 would create a committee to identify human remains and cultural objects and direct a $500,000 matching grant to the State Historical Society to be divided among North Dakota's five tribes ($100,000 each). The motion for a due pass on HB16-03 was moved by Senator Meyer and seconded in committee; the motion passed 15-0-1.

On House Bill 10-18 (Historical Society budget), senators debated one-time and ongoing appropriations and policy language attached to SIF (special infrastructure funds), donation pledges and a Bank of North Dakota line of credit for a military gallery expansion. Committee…