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HB 1597 North Dakota House · 69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26)

AN ACT to provide an exemption; and to provide for the distribution of state financial assistance to eligible ambulance service operations.

HB 1597 provides state financial assistance to eligible public ambulance services in North Dakota during 2025-2027. It calculates funding based on an ambulance service’s average annual runs (multiplied by $2,023 per run, with a $125,000 minimum) minus reimbursements ($795 per run) and property taxes (5 mills on response area valuation), capping total aid at $225,000 per service. Eligible services include city/county-operated ambulances or rural district services, excluding those within 15 miles of another operation with fewer than 50 annual runs. The bill ensures funding is distributed based on these formulas, with prorated payments if state appropriations are insufficient. It directly affects public ambulance providers by adjusting their state financial support.
Issues: ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides direct state financial assistance to public ambulance services via funding allocation, increasing government spending on essential public services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides state funding to public ambulance services, enhancing emergency healthcare access and operational sustainability.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Signed Apr 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FIRST ENGROSSMENT → Enrollment · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill establishes a new state funding program for eligible ambulance service operations in North Dakota for the 2025-2027 biennium. It creates a calculation method to determine grant amounts based on average runs, costs, and property taxes, with specific minimum and maximum funding limits. The legislation also sets eligibility requirements and includes provisions for handling changes in response areas due to service closures.
Scope change
The bill introduces a new state financial assistance program for ambulance services that did not previously exist under this specific funding mechanism.
FISCAL

Establishes a new grant calculation method where the minimum reasonable budget is determined by multiplying average runs by $2,023, with a floor of $125,000 per operation.

Sets a maximum grant amount of $225,000 per operation after accounting for deductions based on reimbursement rates ($795 per run) and property taxes (5 mills).

ELIGIBILITY

Makes operations ineligible for funding if they perform more than 800 runs per year.

TIMELINE

Applies to the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, with a minimum grant requirement of 50% of the previous year's amount through June 30, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to consult with the emergency medical services advisory council when distributing funds.

TECHNICAL

Excludes response areas acquired after April 1, 2024, due to adjacent ambulance service closures from grant calculations.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025 · House Apr 7, 2025

How they voted

44–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 47
Mar 24, 2025
D Democratic5
5 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican42
39 Yea 3
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
11
Committee
4
Apr 21, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 04/17
legislature
Apr 18, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 04/15
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 83 nays 6
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Concurred
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 44 nays 0
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0
upper
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 10:00
upper
Mar 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 85 nays 8
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 2 0
lower
Feb 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 02:30
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Human Services Committee
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Pat Heinert
Pat Heinert
RRepublican
ND
32