North Dakota Senate approves transportation and industrial budgets, passes insulin cap and wastewater bill; several measures fail

The North Dakota Senate took up a wide slate of budget and policy measures during its floor session, approving major appropriations for the Department of Transportation and the Industrial Commission, establishing a statewide on‑site wastewater statute, continuing a $25 monthly insulin cap for state health plan enrollees and passing several other bills while rejecting multiple proposals ranging from election‑process changes to an intelligent‑design education standard.

The chamber passed the DOT budget (Senate Bill 20‑12) and a package of related transportation provisions, including transfers into a flexible transportation fund and one‑time Strategic Investment Fund support for projects such as a six‑mile stretch of U.S. Highway 85. The Senate also approved the Industrial Commission budget (Senate Bill 20‑14), which combines appropriations and policy changes for agencies that oversee the Bank of North Dakota, the Mill and Elevator, mineral resources and housing finance programs.

Why this matters: The DOT and Industrial Commission appropriations direct large sums for highways, bridge and local match authority, and programs that shape infrastructure and economic development across the state. The insulin cap affects affordability for state employees enrolled in the NDPERS plan; the wastewater bill alters oversight and permitting for on‑site systems that primarily affect rural property owners.

Most important actions and highlights

- DOT budget (Senate Bill 20‑12): The bill passed on final passage with a 47‑0 roll call. Sponsors and committee leaders described additions including a carryover authority for multi‑year projects, an increase to deposits into the flexible transportation fund (including placing the remaining half of motor‑vehicle excise tax into DOT accounts), one‑time Strategic Investment Fund transfers (including $100 million for a portion of U.S. Highway 85), and new FTEs for bridge and maintenance activity. Senator Wanzek (bill carrier) and Senator Wojcick (appropriations commentary) discussed the budget in detail on the floor.

- Industrial Commission budget (Senate Bill 20‑14): Passed 46‑0 with one senator recorded as not voting due to a conflict. The measure funds five agency budgets (Bank of North Dakota, Mill and Elevator, Department of Mineral Resources, Housing Finance Agency and Industrial Commission operations); includes transfers of agency profits to the general fund and PACE economic development programs; and authorizes studies and continuing appropriations for specific programs. Sponsors stressed that much of the work is self‑funded by agency profits.

- On‑site wastewater (Senate Bill 22‑67): The Senate adopted an amendment to remove language limiting DEQ authority and passed final passage 41‑6. The enacted bill creates new sections in chapter 43‑18 of the North Dakota Century Code relating to on‑site wastewater treatment systems, revises violation provisions and repeals the on‑site wastewater recycling technical committee statute.

- Insulin and diabetic supplies cap (Senate Bill 23‑70): The Senate approved continuation of a $25 monthly cap on insulin and covered diabetic supplies for members of the NDPERS health insurance plan, passing 47‑0. Committee discussion and fiscal estimates noted an approximate $800,000 premium impact (about 0.1%), divided between general and special funds depending on covered employees.

- Dental licensing changes (Senate Bill 22‑17): Passed unanimously, the bill updates chapters 43‑20 and 43‑28 (dental practice and board rules), adds a volunteer license to allow retired practitioners to assist in charity events, creates a dentist‑hygienist pathway, and includes cleanup language agreed during interim stakeholder work.

- Rural Catalyst Grant program (Senate Bill 23‑90): The Senate adopted amendments that reduced the initial appropriation from $30 million to $5 million, limited committee administrative expenses and removed an awkward “minority group” definition; the bill then passed 39‑8. The program creates a rural catalyst grant fund for communities under 8,500 population (with at least 50% of funds for places under 1,000) and allows grants for art, culture, community and economic development, education, health/wellness and reopening rural grocery stores.

- Secretary of State informational mailings (Senate Bill 22‑30): The Senate approved funding and direction for the Secretary of State to distribute objective educational materials to active voters before elections; final passage was 47‑0. Sponsors said materials will explain ballot measures concisely and will be available online as well as mailed to active voters.

Votes at a glance (final tallies)

- SB 20‑12 (DOT budget): Passed, 47 ayes, 0 nays. (See summary above.) - SB 20‑14 (Industrial Commission budget): Passed, 46 ayes, 0 nays, 1 not voting (conflict). (See summary above.) - SB 22‑67 (On‑site wastewater): Passed, 41 ayes, 6 nays. - SB 22‑17 (Dental licensing): Passed, 47 ayes, 0 nays. - SB 23‑90 (Rural Catalyst Grant Program): Passed, 39 ayes, 8 nays. - SB 22‑30 (Secretary of State materials): Passed, 47 ayes, 0 nays. - SB 23‑70 (Insulin cap for NDPERS): Passed, 47 ayes, 0 nays.

Measures defeated or given no further action

- SB 23‑64 (UCC/entitlement holders — proposed study amendment): Final passage lost, 20 ayes, 27 nays. (Earlier in debate the Judiciary Committee had voted to convert the original bill into a legislative management study; senators debated whether a state‑level change to UCC Article 8 would be appropriate.) - SB 22‑63 (Mastery framework training grants): Lost, 5 ayes, 42 nays. - SB 23‑72 (Legacy earnings/market‑value transfer): Lost, 0 ayes, 47 nays. - SB 21‑42 (Motor vehicle excise tax allocations): Lost, 0 ayes, 47 nays. - SB 23‑55 (Intelligent design in K‑12 standards): Lost, 22 ayes, 25 nays. - SB 22‑40 (Prohibiting seizure of personal property without notice): Lost, 8 ayes, 39 nays. - SB 22‑52 (District endorsing caucus/convention rules): Lost, 6 ayes, 41 nays. - SB 23‑94 (Homeowners association bylaws): Lost, 0 ayes, 46 nays. - SB 20‑30 (Housing Finance Agency/DPI appropriation bill considered separately): Lost, 4 ayes, 43 nays. - SB 23‑78 (Caps on taxing‑district budgets tied to CPI): Lost, 16 ayes, 31 nays.

What senators emphasized on floor

Senators who carried or spoke on measures commonly framed the votes in practical terms: funding needs for existing and planned projects (DOT, Industrial Commission), program design and eligibility (rural catalyst grants, wastewater oversight), and affordability for state employees (insulin cap). Opponents frequently cited statewide uniformity (UCC concerns), legal risk (intelligent‑design instruction), local control and fiscal flexibility (tax cap proposals), or redundancy with existing statutes and programs (other failed bills).

Ending

The Senate recessed for the afternoon after concluding the listed votes and scheduled committee and appropriations meetings. Several passed bills will proceed to the House or to further conference, and defeated proposals may be refiled or remain under study in interim committees.