Senate hearing examines $50 million HOME grant to lower housing infrastructure costs

Senator Brad Beckettall introduced Senate Bill 2,225 at a hearing of the Government Operations Division Committee, saying the bill would create a one‑time $50 million HOME (Housing for Opportunity, Mobility and Empowerment) grant program administered by the North Dakota Department of Commerce to help political subdivisions lower the cost of infrastructure needed for new affordable and market‑rate housing projects.

The bill would let Commerce set grant guidelines, require a dollar‑for‑dollar local match and require Commerce to report to legislative management and the governor on program activity. Commerce Commissioner Chris Shilkin told the committee “Commerce will administer the $50,000,000 HOME program designed to address housing needs by reducing infrastructure development costs for affordable and market rate housing.” The bill includes an emergency clause to allow funds to be deployed quickly and lists June 30, 2027, as the program authorization effective date.

Supporters told the…