Representative Matt Ruby introduced House Bill 1154, a measure to extend the state's moratorium on the number of basic care and nursing facility beds for four years, citing flexibility for long-term care providers to transfer or convert beds as needs change.

Supporters, including the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, told the committee the moratorium has reduced licensed nursing facility beds from a peak of 7,124 in 1995 to 4,978 today and that extending the moratorium would prevent overcapacity, protect rural providers' financial stability and prioritize workforce and community-based services.

Representative Matt Ruby, sponsor of HB1154, said the moratorium allows the state to manage capacity through bed transfers and conversions and that this extension is longer than prior two-year extensions because ‘‘we're not seeing an end in sight where we don't need this bill.’’

Nikki Wigner, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, testified the association represents 182 assisted living, basic care and skilled nursing facilities and unanimously supports a four-year extension. Wigner said the moratorium has helped redirect resources toward home- and community-based services and cited workforce shortages that make premature expansion risky.

Wigner told the committee that the moratorium includes exceptions to address specific local needs, such as adding basic care beds in underserved areas or converting nursing facility beds to basic care. She also referenced a 2020 Department of Justice settlement that encourages timely access to community-based services.

Committee members asked questions and took testimony in favor of the bill from provider and association witnesses. No testimony in opposition was recorded in the hearing; the committee closed the hearing on House Bill 1154 without a recorded committee vote during that session.