Appropriations committee: key votes and next steps on dozen items including state fair, VANTAS and agency budgets

The Appropriations Committee handled a packed agenda and recorded multiple committee votes on agency budgets, grants and policy‑linked appropriations. Below are the measurable outcomes and next steps the committee recorded in today’s session.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 2009 (State Fair Association): Committee approved amendment 1,001 and gave the amended bill a do‑pass recommendation to the floor (vote on amended bill recorded as 13 yes, 1 no, 2 absent). The amendment adds one‑time campground restroom funding (state share capped at 75% up to $900,000) and $1,000,000 for safety/security infrastructure while retaining prior premiums for 4‑H/FFA awards.

- House Bill 1038 (VANTAS / drone replacement): Heard extensively; committee postponed a vote and requested detailed line‑item cost breakdowns for the $15,000,000 drone replacement program and the $11,000,000 VANTAS Federal Radar Data Enclave pathfinder. Sponsors and vendors agreed to provide the requested estimates immediately after floor session for expedited follow‑up.

- Senate Bill 2205 (Gambling prevention/treatment fund): Committee approved increasing the quarterly transfer supporting gambling prevention and treatment from the historic $10,000 per quarter to $75,000 per quarter; recommendation goes to the floor (committee vote: recorded as passed by roll call; tally recorded in minutes as 16 yes where shown).

- Senate Bill 2218 (Firefighters Association grant): Committee approved a one‑time $500,000 appropriation to enable the North Dakota Firefighters Association to secure a building purchase (down payment) and pursue a capital campaign to fund a training addition; committee reported the bill do‑pass (tally recorded as 16 yes on committee roll call).

- Senate Bill 2026 (Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigence): Committee recommended a do‑pass and added roughly $615,000 in ongoing appropriations to ensure counsel is available at initial appearances should federal case law require that stage be covered (vote recorded in committee as passed, recorded as 16 yes in the minutes).

- Senate Bill 2016 (Job Service budget modernization and related FTEs): Committee approved manager amendments and gave the bill a do‑pass recommendation after approving technical amendments (committee recorded amendment passage 15 yes, 1 no; final do‑pass vote 13 yes, 1 no).

- Senate Bill 2004 (Ethics Commission): The committee approved an amendment that added one communications/education FTE and modest operating increases; the amendment passed 9 yes, 6 no, 1 present/abstain, and the amended bill received a do‑pass recommendation with the same margin (9‑6‑1 recorded in committee minutes).

- Senate Bill 2345 (state employee pay proposal): The committee voted a do‑not‑pass recommendation on a high‑cost pay package (motion recorded and carried 15 no, 1 yes on the motion to advance the pay proposal). The committee’s position was that broader revenue updates would be needed before pursuing a large, ongoing pay increase at this time.

What’s next: several measures will move to the floor with committee recommendations. HB1038 (VANTAS/drones) remains pending; the sponsor and industry partners agreed to provide detailed cost and staffing breakdowns after floor session so the committee can reconsider the request on a short timetable.

Ending: The committee moved several agency budgets forward and deferred the time‑sensitive UAS item for expedited follow‑up; lead negotiators will carry committee recommendations to the full chamber.