Relating to a legacy fund school construction assistance loan fund; to amend and reenact section 21‑10‑11, relating to the legacy and budget stabilization fund advisory board; and to provide a continuing appropriation.
HB 1129 appropriates $1.25 million for a study on student attendance and absenteeism in North Dakota public schools (K-12) during the 2025-2027 biennium. The bill requires the superintendent of public instruction, with input from a research team, to analyze existing data, identify strategies used in high-attendance districts, and develop recommendations to address chronic absenteeism. It mandates a legislative report with findings and proposed legislation by September 1, 2026. The bill failed to pass on February 25, 2025, with 2 votes in favor and 88 against.
HB 1275 proposes a one-time $5 million appropriation from North Dakota's strategic investment fund to create a natural gas infrastructure grant program administered by the Industrial Commission. The program would provide grants exclusively to cities with populations under 10,000 for installing natural gas pipelines and related infrastructure. Funds are limited to the 2025-2027 biennium and cannot be used for other purposes, with the Industrial Commission responsible for setting eligibility rules and maximum grant amounts. The bill does not affect individuals or larger municipalities outside the specified population threshold.
Relating to the creation of the division of apprenticeship within the department of labor and human rights; to provide an appropriation; and to provide a report.
HB 1037 allocates $750,000 to each of five state departments (agriculture commissioner, attorney general, transportation department, health and human services, and career and technical education) for grants to support autonomous technology use. It provides funding for agriculture businesses to inspect property with drones, law enforcement for missing persons searches and crime scenes, and transportation entities to monitor highways using uncrewed aircraft systems. Recipients must match state funds at a 1:4 ratio and report grant usage to the legislature. The funds are one-time, covering the 2025-2027 biennium, with each department required to submit reports detailing grant recipients and expenditures.
HB 1465 amends North Dakota's gaming tax code (Section 53-06.1-12) to reduce tax rates for licensed gaming organizations, such as casinos and racetracks. It lowers the top tax rate from 12% to 6% for businesses with quarterly revenue exceeding $250,000, while maintaining a 1% rate for revenue under $150,000 and a $500 flat fee plus 6% for revenue between $150,000 and $250,000. The bill directly affects gaming businesses by changing how their tax burden is calculated based on quarterly revenue. This represents a concrete policy change to reduce taxes for higher-revenue gaming operators. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass in February 2025.
HB 1606 amends North Dakota's state employee sick leave policy to set a minimum of ten hours (one working day) and a maximum of one and one-half working days per month for sick leave, based on an employee's tenure. It also requires that employees with at least ten years of continuous state service receive a lump sum payment equal to one-tenth of their final salary for unused sick leave. The bill mandates that state agencies develop and submit their own sick leave policies to the Office of Management and Budget for approval, ensuring consistency across departments.
HB 1620 would require North Dakota's state treasurer, with input from the tax commissioner and state auditor, to create and maintain a public website showing how state funds are spent. The portal would display specific details for every state fund distribution, including the recipient's name, the amount received, and the purpose of the funds. All state departments, agencies, and recipients of state funds would be required to provide timely data to support this transparency. This bill directly affects taxpayers by making state spending more visible and all state entities receiving public funds by mandating reporting. The bill does not specify penalties for non-compliance or address how the portal would be funded.
HB 1337 would provide $10 million in state funds to counties for mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for people in jail. The bill requires counties receiving grants to report annually on how funds were used and outcomes, and the health department to submit a summary report to lawmakers by 2026. This funding would cover the 2025-2027 biennium and aim to expand access to mental health care for incarcerated individuals.
HB 1256 would allocate $75,000 from North Dakota's general fund as one-time funding for the Parks and Recreation Department to provide grants for walking trail expansion projects. The bill specifically targets rural communities experiencing significant population growth during the 2025-2027 biennium. It directs the department to award grants for trail projects that improve recreational access in these growing areas. This is a procedural funding bill with no other substantive policy changes.
