Appropriations committee advances three bills, scales back new program funding; debates IT and corrections budgets

The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended due-pass on three bills and amended two of them after debate and stakeholder discussions, then spent the remainder of the meeting working through the Information Technology and Corrections budgets.

Committee members adopted a floor amendment that reduced funding for a newly proposed program from $4.5 million to $500,000 and narrowed the program’s scope; they also approved an amendment directing cost-reporting and a rate recalculation for specialized basic-care adult residential facilities that serve people with dementia or brain injury. The committee advanced an orphan bill related to the North Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch as well.

Why it matters: The votes move the bills to the next step in the legislative process and set fiscal expectations for the biennium. The changes to appropriations and program design will alter implementation plans for agencies and providers, and the budget conversations foreshadow additional negotiations when the full committee and the other chamber review the measures.

SB 2036 amendment: scaled start-up, removed certification system

Senator Mather moved and a colleague seconded an amendment to reduce the appropriation in Senate Bill 2036 from $4,500,000 to $500,000 and to scale back the corresponding program. "Essentially, they are to bring the appropriation down to 500,000 from 4,500,000.0, and they do a corresponding reduction of the program," the senator said after describing stakeholder talks that included the governor's office, the Department of Human Services, the office of indigent defense and a Cass County state's attorney.

The amendment also removed a proposed certification system that had allowed the department to designate evaluators. The sponsor said the change reflected the small caseload the program would serve—roughly 15 cases per year—and that a smaller, phased program should meet the interim committee recommendations.

The committee voted the amendment and then voted a due-pass recommendation on the bill as amended. The roll-call recorded in committee showed all present voting in favor; the motion carried.

SB 2271 amendment: require cost reports and a July 1, 2027 rate recalculation

Senator Cleary moved an amendment to Senate Bill…