House approves Attorney General budget with litigation funding and vape-product registry language

The North Dakota House passed House Bill 1003, the Attorney General’s biennial appropriation package, by recorded vote.

Representative Nathie, presenting the Attorney General budget, described several staffing additions including a state crime lab evidence technician, a Medicaid-fraud unit attorney, and a permanent public information officer. The committee added litigation funding and a contingency transfer mechanism for excess charitable gaming receipts to support additional litigation needs. Representative Nathie said the litigation fund was increased from $5 million in a prior session to $8 million this biennium to meet the office’s expected workload.

The bill includes one-time funding requests for state crime lab equipment and a proposed replacement for the state criminal-justice information system known on the floor as "Savin," which the presenter said is producing errors and slowing processes. The floor presentation included a proposal to create a directory for electronic smoking devices and a manufacturer fee of $500 per product to improve monitoring of contraband vape products; Representative Nathie said the change was requested by the industry and the Attorney General.

Representatives asked clarifying questions on the scope and percentage of special funds and the policy elements added to the budget bill. Representative Koppelman asked whether the vape-device registry language represented new policy or implementation of previously passed policy; the presenter characterized it as a new policy requested by stakeholders.

On final vote the House recorded 69 ayes and 21 nays; the bill was declared passed and the emergency clause carried on the floor.