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Appropriations panel sets tight schedule for education and environment budget hearings
Summary
Chairman Zorbag told members to prepare for a rapid series of budget hearings covering judiciary, CareerTech, higher education and several agency budgets, and announced a separate hearing on a confidentiality amendment tied to Bank of North Dakota loans.
Chairman Zorbag, who leads the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division, told committee members at a meeting that they must prepare for a rapid sequence of budget hearings and decisions and urged careful review of budget details. "We need to just look at these budgets seriously and trying to figure out how funds are being moved, what difference, what a bill has in effect," Zorbag said.
The committee chair framed the work as preparatory for full-committee consideration and crossover deadlines, saying members should do homework between hearings so the panel can make informed recommendations. "My goal as chairman is by 18th or 19th, everything's out of here," Zorbag said, describing the target to clear the division's items.
Zorbag reviewed an initial schedule of hearings and topics the division will tackle: a 2 p.m. judiciary hearing followed by a 2:45 p.m. CareerTech (CTE/CareerTech) item; a Job Service hearing at 9 a.m., Forest Service discussion at about 9:45 a.m., and a Mill and Elevator hearing at 10:30 a.m. He said the panel will consider moving items by consensus when comfortable and that some agency budgets (for example, Forest Service) must travel with related higher-education budgets.
He also announced a separate hearing on a confidentiality amendment related to Bank of North Dakota indirect loans and certain insurance exemptions. Zorbag said he had discussed the matter with the policy committee chair and leadership and that the amendment will be heard in the division rather than delayed or returned to policy; he said he did not yet know who would testify.
The chair flagged higher education as a heavy workload, noting a planned "higher ed day" when many institution presidents will appear. He asked staff to provide institution-by-institution materials that were expected to be circulated to members. Zorbag asked members to be especially ready on judiciary and CareerTech items, which he described as the division's largest outstanding work.
No formal motions or votes were recorded in the portion of the transcript provided. The meeting focused on scheduling, procedural direction and expectations for upcoming hearings and full-committee work rather than on policy decisions or final actions.
