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Appropriations panel trims egg diversification appropriation to $15 million, approves due-pass
Summary
The Senate Appropriations Committee on (date not specified) amended Senate Bill 2,327 to lower a proposed $25 million appropriation for the Agriculture Department's egg diversification grant program to $15 million and approved a due-pass recommendation as amended.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to amend Senate Bill 2,327, lowering a proposed $25 million appropriation for the Agriculture Department's Egg Diversification and Development Fund to $15 million, and then approved a due-pass recommendation as amended.
Chairman Beckettall opened the committee item and recognized Senator Thomas, who explained the bill would appropriate funds for the department to administer grants and interest-rate buy-downs under the egg diversification program. Senator Thomas said the fund already contained a $10 million pool dedicated to infrastructure projects and proposed the amendment to limit the current appropriation to $15 million to match the program's original grant purpose. He moved the amendment; Senator Wozniak seconded.
Senator Davidson asked whether unspent dollars at the end of the biennium would revert to the general fund or remain in the AD fund. Levi from the Office of Management and Budget said unobligated balances would remain in the fund source. Committee members discussed adding language to prevent the fund balance at the start of a biennium from exceeding a stated cap and to clarify that only unobligated, uncommitted dollars would be eligible to revert. Senator Thomas said many grants are reimbursable, and projects sometimes have committed but unspent balances that should not be swept.
The amendment passed and the committee then voted to give the bill a due-pass recommendation as amended. The committee recorded the motion carried and planned to list an intended floor carrier and to coordinate with House policy in the next stage.
The committee also heard from Doug Goring, Ag Commissioner, who explained related programs (APUC and AD) and funding sources; he said APUC is funded from state mill and elevator profits and Bank of North Dakota support for economic development efforts. The committee asked the department to include carryover and unobligated/committed language in any final draft.
The committee discussion focused on program purpose (grants vs. infrastructure), the timing of two remaining grant rounds, and ensuring that committed reimbursement obligations would not be unintentionally cut off by a reversion. No final statutory language beyond the amendment was enacted in committee; policy committees and the House may add changes during subsequent consideration.
