Committee approves $75,000 appropriation for agriculture commissioner—s irrigation expansion study

The Appropriations Committee approved House Bill 1531, allocating $75,000 to the agriculture commissioner to fund a one‑year study of irrigation expansion in North Dakota. The committee recorded a unanimous vote in favor of a due‑pass recommendation.

Senator Dwyer, presenting the bill, told the committee the study will update economic impact research last done 20 to 40 years ago and will examine opportunities for irrigation expansion across northwest, central and eastern North Dakota. "This is a proposal to allocate $75,000 to the agriculture commissioner to do an irrigation study," Dwyer said. He said irrigation expansion previously helped uniform potato production and pointed to opportunities to develop remaining authorized acres under an existing fixed‑loan program.

The agriculture commissioner requested that the one‑year study be exempt from the procurement process so the work could begin promptly; committee discussion noted the commissioner had existing contractor relationships and estimated the total study cost at roughly $125,000 to $150,000 with additional matching funds provided by private firms. The study will also compare tile drainage technologies alongside irrigation options.

Senator Eberly noted the study may examine consequences from federal projects that did not deliver promised irrigation water, referencing the Garrison diversion and its unfulfilled distribution to some areas. Committee members discussed using the updated study to support future irrigation investment decisions.

The committee recorded a roll call vote in favor of a due‑pass recommendation for House Bill 1531; the clerk announced "Motion passed sixteen‑zero." Committee leadership said they would identify a policy carrier for the bill and finalize paperwork for the appropriation and any procurement exemption requests.

No additional programmatic details or reporting deadlines were included in the committee transcript.