Senate panel approves Parks and Recreation budget with targeted cuts and project caps

The Appropriations — Education and Environment Division unanimously recommended a do-pass on House Bill 1019 as amended, approving changes to the Parks and Recreation portion of the state budget and several one-time project allocations.

The committee approved amendments that clarify matching rules, reduce some one-time grants and set caps on others, while formally adding retirement benefits for several existing full-time employees and creating two new FTEs to begin July 2026.

Committee members said the Senate version largely followed the House on state parks funding but trimmed or redirected several one-time items. Senator Thomas, who carried the item through the division, told members the nine employees added in the House are not new hires for salary and health purposes; the Senate amendment primarily adds retirement benefits for those positions. The bill also adds two new FTEs (Pembina Gorge and Roughrider Campground) that would start in July 2026 and therefore be budgeted for half of the biennium.

On one-time funding, the amended bill: caps assistance for Lake Minigotchi State Park sewer infrastructure at a maximum of $800,000 with grants to be no more than 20% of project cost (not to exceed $800,000); reduces a $1.5 million revitalization allocation for the International Peace Gardens to $1.4 million and provides $317,500 for the Cactus Conservatory; and replaces a previous $1 million engineering study request for International Peace Gardens with a $100,000 sewer-system engineering study to return results for future consideration.

The committee also added a transfer of $122,000 from the Game and Fish Department to Parks and Recreation for boat‑ramp repairs and adjusted local park grant totals that had been routed through Parks and Recreation. Senator Thomas said he received a letter indicating the International Peace Gardens had received a $1 million one-time contribution from Manitoba toward its matching requirement.

The engrossed bill adds a provision (section 8) that would prohibit a state agency or official from creating or renaming a state park without prior approval from the legislative assembly. Section 13 clarifies that a $70 million line of credit from the Bank of North Dakota for the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library may be used only for reimbursement of construction costs, fixtures, furnishings, exhibit structures, supplies and materials.

Senators voted to adopt the amendment to House Bill 1019 and then to give the bill a do-pass recommendation to full Appropriations; the roll-call showed unanimous support from members present. Senator Thomas will carry the bill forward.

The division noted that some local park-grant and other items will be further discussed in conference committee and that the Senate recommendations reduce special‑fund spending compared with the House version.