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Committee approves amended line-of-credit language for UND medical campus; bill sent to appropriations
Summary
Lawmakers approved an amendment offering a state line of credit for part of University of North Dakota medical campus construction and voted to refer the bill to appropriations with a due-pass recommendation.
Bismarck — The House Education Committee approved an amendment on Senate Bill 2286 that, as amended, would authorize a line of credit for part of the University of North Dakota's medical campus project and sent the bill to the Appropriations Committee with a due-pass recommendation.
Representative Hauck described the amendment as reflecting UND's previously identified funding plan: a $55 million state line-of-credit request within a total projected cost of $95 million, with UND expected to raise $40 million of the project cost. Hauck said the amendment removed a separate Legislative Management study because UND had already completed a needs assessment.
Committee debate touched on the project's urgency and the state's fiscal outlook. Representative Hager argued the investment is necessary to train and retain health professionals statewide: “This is not just a building. It's building on the infrastructure for medical care for all citizens of the state,” he said. Representative Heilman cautioned about fiscal uncertainty, referencing an Office of Management and Budget projection of lower oil and gas revenue for the next biennium.
The committee adopted the amendment on a roll-call vote of 8-6. Later, the committee voted 10-4 to give the amended bill a "do pass" recommendation and refer it to the Appropriations Committee.
Why it matters: The state has one medical school and committee members described the proposed investment as tied to rural recruitment and training of health professionals. The amendment's text identifies a $55,000,000 state line of credit and notes the overall project cost of $95,000,000, with UND responsible for raising $40,000,000.
Committee members asked for confirmation of the technical drafting around the line-of-credit language; Hauck said legislative counsel had structured the provision to show the $55 million line of credit while acknowledging the total project cost.
Ending: With the committee's 10-4 due-pass vote, the amended Senate Bill 2286 will move to appropriations for funding review and further action.
