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Senate committee backs $20 million research-park proposal to seed robotics industry
Summary
A legislative committee voted 5-0 to recommend Senate Bill 2256 to appropriations, a one-time $20 million request to establish a research park modeled after an ERC program and aimed at growing robotics-related industry and retaining technical talent in the state.
A Senate committee voted unanimously to recommend Senate Bill 2256, a one-time $20,000,000 appropriation to support a research technology park focused on robotics and related industries, sending the bill to the appropriations committee for further review.
Committee members said the proposal is modeled after an existing Energy Research Center (ERC) housed out of the University of North Dakota and intended to attract private partnerships and build a local industry around robotics and automation. Supporters said the park could help keep students and early-career technical talent in state.
Senator Powers, a committee member who spoke in favor, said, "If they can develop this even to match ERC, it would be great. I am, you know, it is a one-time $20,000,000 ask." He added that collaboration with established institutions and firms — including named partners discussed in testimony — was a key factor in his support.
Committee discussion noted the fiscal note attached to the bill and the risk of the state appearing to "pick winners and losers," but members who supported the measure cited potential private investment and eventual self-sufficiency as mitigating factors. One member described the proposal as building on existing foundations rather than starting from zero.
A motion to "do pass" Senate Bill 2256 and refer it to the appropriations committee was made on the record and seconded. The clerk recorded the committee vote as five yes, zero no (Wabamaw: yes; Axman: yes; Larson: yes; Beauche: yes; Powers: yes), and the motion carried.
Supporters asked appropriations to scrutinize the fiscal assumptions and long-term state role; opponents raised the usual concerns about one-time appropriations becoming ongoing obligations. The committee did not amend the bill and directed it to appropriations for budget-level review and any technical changes to funding language.
The bill will next be considered by the appropriations committee, which will examine the fiscal note and any requested amendments or conditions before it moves further through the legislative process.
