AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-17 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a research technology park grant program; to provide an appropriation; and to provide for a report.
SB 2256 creates a new grant program in North Dakota for research technology parks, providing state funding to support these facilities. It directly affects eligible entities like universities, research institutions, or private developers seeking to establish or expand technology-focused park projects within the state. The bill authorizes a specific appropriation (funding allocation) for these grants and requires grantees to submit a report on program outcomes. This legislation establishes a formal mechanism for state financial support of research infrastructure development.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 20, 2025
Signed May 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
→
Enrollment
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill was revised to change a one-time research grant program from a permanent fund with a transfer mechanism to a temporary grant program with direct funding. The original version created a permanent 'research technology park fund' with a $15 million transfer, while the enrolled version creates a temporary grant program with $10 million in direct funding. The changes affect how the money is structured and distributed to the research technology park at North Dakota State University.
Scope change
The bill's scope changed from creating a permanent special fund to establishing a temporary grant program with specific funding limits and matching requirements.
FISCAL
Funding amount changed from $15 million transfer to a $10 million appropriation, with $5 million guaranteed and up to $5 million conditional on matching funds from nonstate sources.
Funding mechanism changed from a permanent special fund with continuing appropriations to one-time funding from the strategic investment and improvements fund.
REQUIREMENT
Added explicit matching fund requirements for up to half of the grant funding, requiring the research park to provide one dollar of nonstate funds for each dollar of grant funding.
DEFINITION
Changed the legal structure from creating a 'research technology park fund' to establishing a 'research technology park grant program' administered by the industrial commission.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2025 · House Apr 17, 2025
How they voted
33–14
Passed
Total votes 47
Feb 19, 2025
D
Democratic5
100% Yea
R
Republican42
66% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
31
Key actions
19
Committee
15
Jun 11, 2025
Introduced
Filed with Secretary Of State 05/06
legislature
May 17, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor 05/05
upper
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference committee report adopted
lower
May 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 31 nays 15
upper
May 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report adopted
upper
May 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back from conference committee, placed on calendar (Senate accept)
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference committee appointed Stemen Fisher Schauer
lower
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee appointed Sorvaag Thomas Wobbema
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 61 nays 30
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 22 0 1
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Appropriations
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 2 1
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:00
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Government and Veterans Affairs Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Second reading, passed, yeas 33 nays 14
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 13 2 1
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Appropriations
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported back, do pass 5 0 0
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Hearing 09:00
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
Rereferred to Workforce Development
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Request return from committee
upper
Jan 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, first reading, referred Education Committee
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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