Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Bioscience topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate rejects bioscience research grant bill after floor amendment and heated debate
Summary
After a floor amendment requiring greater reporting passed, the North Dakota Senate rejected Senate Bill 23-28, a proposal to create a Life Science Research Council and bioscience grants, with final tally 21–24–2 on Feb. 18.
The North Dakota Senate debated and ultimately rejected Senate Bill 23-28 on Feb. 18, a measure that would have created a Life Science Research Council and reauthorized the bioscience innovation grant program with a $9 million appropriation. A floor amendment requiring additional reporting and transparency passed first by a roll-call vote of 42 ayes, 3 nays and 2 absent, but the bill failed final passage 21 ayes, 24 nays and 2 absent.
Senator Axman, the bill sponsor, described the measure as establishing a Life Science Research Council and moving oversight to the Industrial Commission, saying the program has helped grow the bioscience sector. Senator Cleary offered a floor amendment (passed 42–3–2) that added reporting requirements for grant recipients so future legislators would have more data about outcomes and the use of funds.
Opponents pressed concerns about state dollars going to out-of-state companies. ‘‘We were seeing companies like out of Delray Beach, Florida getting $240,000’’ and other out-of-state recipients, Senator Grama said during floor debate, arguing for caution about using taxpayer funds to subsidize private businesses. Senator Bridal and others also urged skepticism about state incentives for private industry.
Proponents argued the program seeded business relocations and job growth. ‘‘This is seed money, hopefully, that will entice and incentivize and then hopefully result in a huge return on investment,’’ Senator Wojcick said, citing local job growth, conversion of companies to North Dakota locations, and sector employment statistics supplied to the committee.
Despite the amendment and supporters’ arguments, the Senate rejected SB 23-28 by roll call: 21 ayes, 24 nays, 2 absent not voting. The bill’s defeat means the proposed transfer of oversight and the listed appropriation did not advance.
Formal actions: The floor amendment (Cleary) passed 42–3–2 on a verification vote; the final passage vote on SB 23-28 failed 21–24–2.
