House panel approves State Historical Society budget with amendments

The E & E Committee unanimously adopted amendments to House Bill 1018 and gave the State Historical Society budget a do-pass recommendation.

The vote came after Representative Hansen reviewed the bill’s line items and amendments, noting changes to health insurance language, the FTE pool, reductions to cultural heritage grants and one-time funding for a new exhibit at the Pembina State Museum. "The proposed amendments ... reflect exactly what we talked through yesterday," Representative Hansen said.

The bill package includes footnoted one-time grants for historic building preservation, storage upgrades at the Heritage Center, and one-time appropriations supporting the state's 250th anniversary exhibit next summer. Representative Hansen also called out language allowing the Historical Society to carry over Special Infrastructure Fund (SIF) appropriations in addition to existing carryover authority for general fund dollars.

After a brief committee discussion — members said the budget had been reviewed thoroughly in prior meetings — Representative Hansen moved amendment 25.0162 0.01003; Representative Swantek seconded. The roll call recorded the following votes: Chairman Naithi (yes), Vice Chairman Swantek (yes), Representatives Hansen (yes), Lausser (yes), Martinson (yes), Richter (yes), and Sanford (yes). The amendment passed. Representative Hansen then moved a do-pass recommendation as amended; that motion also passed on a unanimous roll call.

The committee thanked Representative Hansen for shepherding the bill; she will carry House Bill 1018 forward to the full House.

House Bill 1018 now advances with the adopted amendments and the committee’s do-pass recommendation.