Appropriations panel raises Science Center grant to $10M, approves $20,000 for Teen Pack; ESAs left out of DPI budget

Bismarck — The House Appropriations — Education & Environment Division on Feb. 18 amended the Department of Public Instruction budget in House Bill 1013, approving a motion to increase a Science Center pass-through grant from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 and authorizing a new $20,000 passthrough to Teen Pack, a homeschool student program.

Why it matters: The committee’s changes redistribute limited state funds within the DPI long sheet while leaving open larger policy choices — including whether the budget will be funded at a “2 and 2” level now or changed to “3 and 3” depending on action on separate legislation (House Bill 1369) and whether any appropriations for education savings accounts (ESAs) are added later.

Representative Richter, leading the DPI discussion, said several line items were adjusted in the short sheet and described program changes including a $3.5 million allocation for the ND RISE mentoring program and a reduction of the Robokine pilot to $250,000. Richter also said Cognia’s previously proposed school claw-back language had been removed: “Cognia is completely paid for through state funds,” he said.

Representative Martinson moved to increase the Science Center grant from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. Reverend Karla Rose Hansen seconded the motion. The committee recorded one “no” vote from Chairman Naithi and six “yes” votes; the motion passed. Martinson opened the motion saying, “I move that we change the 5,000,000 to 10,000,000. 5 million each for Grand Forks and Fargo.” After the roll call, the clerk announced the motion passed.

Martinson later moved to add a $20,000 pass-through for Teen Pack under pass-through grants; Reverend Lausser seconded. The clerk recorded the roll call; the motion passed.

Committee members also discussed larger policy bills that affect the DPI budget. Representative Richter described House Bill 1369 as a policy bill that could alter funding levels: the bill “would increase this budget … by $38,000,000” if enacted at the larger funding level known in committee as “3 and 3.” Sheila (legislative staff) advised members that if the committee leaves the DPI budget at “3 and 3,” the current appropriations would be underfunded and the policy bill should be resolved before final appropriations. Richter and staff said it is common to move the short sheet now at a baseline (2 and 2) and address any increases in the full Appropriations committee if 1369 is advanced.

On ESAs, Richter noted the executive budget included an ESA line at about $44.2 million but that “we’re taking that out” of the DPI budget because “other legislation” addressing ESAs is expected. Sheila added that an appropriations section could be added to whichever ESA bill lawmakers ultimately advance.

Other DPI short-sheet adjustments discussed included: ND RISE mentoring at $3.5 million; a Robokine pilot reduced from $500,000 to $250,000 over two years; language granting DPI spending authority for local food in schools and childcare provider cooperatives; and removal of language that had allowed Cognia to collect fees from schools.

What’s next: Committee members said they expect to move the short sheet to full Appropriations in the coming days and to reconcile changes that may result from House Bill 1369 or separate ESA legislation there.

Votes at a glance

- Increase Science Center grant from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000. Motion by Representative Martinson; second Reverend Karla Rose Hansen. Roll call recorded: Yes — 6; No — 1. Outcome: approved.

- Add $20,000 pass-through for Teen Pack. Motion by Representative Martinson; second Reverend Lausser. Roll call recorded: Yes — 6; No — 1. Outcome: approved.

Sources and quotations in this article come from the Appropriations — Education & Environment Division transcript for Feb. 18, 2025. The article does not include any actions or attributions not present in that transcript.