[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,97,109],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393358,"mediaKeyId","2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c","parentId",2107529,"title","Committee adopts electronic voting pilot for committee records; fiscal staff explains fiscal impact report process","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7582000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c&start=7582&end=7582","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c/thumbnail_7582000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393358/North-Dakota/Committee-adopts-electronic-voting-pilot-for-committee-records-fiscal-staff-explains-fiscal-impact-report-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393358-7dc7d990207dca8f963c9f0ed455cd3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180579&Signature=S72hqaGl9rionuo5zSY6n81mAYWVKV7~H0Z9WPkd0UncNnmQfI5vKyPJK6h8R3YZc~5Ig8T8-yPdsAphIeDg3PWwKrRr3dgIf-tAmVgENGliOqD~57AtZiqR7doLkz72gTyJw2dwPdyJNB-fI8uqKkALWJOE1FXFgTxZlwJv30a4k4t04t57oZ8sVwYTBA9OwtSMsM2YPEbX2CfW6Y~05lLwa8eC5tyT0S0uaUIKqundrGux1EyykiUgDcbTW2v9UpLTtPh7zjo0QlVQzM5jnt4aFF9p2quf4EdVJ4gCurW4-Z0cu7~Gst8bVcQaD6cFbIh2xLVdNlIKqVupunU7oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Appropriations, ND","date","2025-01-08T00:00:00Z","article","The committee heard two procedural briefings: one on an electronic committee voting system and one on how Legislative Council tracks and publishes fiscal impacts for bills.

Cody Malloy, IT director for Legislative Council, described a new in‑committee electronic voting tool that mirrors chamber voting in the online portal and will let clerks finalize votes and generate standing committee reports immediately. Malloy said the technology is already in use in several committees and summarized the benefits: \"it'll make that document available publicly on our website\" and help clerks \"streamline the process\" and reduce manual data entry. He noted use of the system — whether members cast electronic votes from tablets or the clerk records verbal roll calls — is ultimately a decision for each committee chair; for the full committee the chair said he will continue to call the verbal vote while staff will record it electronically to produce immediate public records.

Separately, Keith Mantz of Legislative Council described the fiscal impact and fiscal note process. He explained staff request fiscal notes from agencies when a bill likely affects revenues or expenditures; agencies have five calendar days to return a full fiscal note (one calendar day for an amendment). Mantz said the fiscal impact report \"is a summary of all the bills introduced deemed to have a fiscal impact on revenues or expenditures of $100,000 or more\" and that the report is updated weekly to reflect new notes and status changes. The report excludes items already accounted for in the budget status report (bills given a due pass by appropriations divisions) and will be available each Wednesday with updates from the prior Monday.

Why it matters: the voting tool is intended to increase transparency and speed the availability of committee documents to the public. The fiscal impact report gives legislators and the public a regular snapshot of bills with material fiscal effects so appropriators can see aggregate exposure while building the budget.

Next steps: the clerk and IT staff will help committees adopt the electronic voting workflow; Legislative Council will continue producing the weekly fiscal impact report and the budget status reports that accompany appropriations work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations II-Jan 8, 2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","Legislative Council and IT staff demonstrated an electronic committee voting workflow to speed standing committee reports and documented the weekly fiscal impact report process for tracking bills with fiscal consequences.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28310,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":42,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393363,"Appropriations committee warned inmate counts and corrections costs are rising",3643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c&start=3643&end=3643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c/thumbnail_3643000.jpg","/articles/6393363/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-warned-inmate-counts-and-corrections-costs-are-rising","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393363-08de0771aef64a9b74c36652bc19c51b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180579&Signature=TJwX-rDEIizMlgMTiJFd-tY8TlTPL-KZrQWe2U6w8oE8N-a1rHCTrWNAYUFzTN3YpmfAqoyXoFnKjumAgbOK5Z-ew5INW6zKS2UTmHZxYtFH3QWzm0smOykqh8hnQhZogFdrjqqvkVTIhYdfKyDK9OHCNFeM~bufnWbN48A4ujktqbHuZS~3IIW6eU9Gzgi8nKyLWgm9nHnesJkDg8H2LnW~Ghc42dHf~aq5S85KS10QTIn0I6SPPUuqQFnQxZnK0FbHOjsHD~tQXdmuEmbkLIUMgXv8feIFhXMWdwvGNIlQiBK5-qWF52nfEs64daI4CG1VkhgCQ7lZL5t5qEcyYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative fiscal staff told the House Appropriations Committee that inmate populations and corrections costs are on an upward trend and that the Burgum executive recommendation includes new staff and a prison construction proposal.

Alan Knudson presented growth metrics that show inmate counts increasing across biennia — staff materials showed 7% growth from the 2019–21 period, 9% to 2023–25, and an 11% projected increase to 2025–27. Knudson told members the Burgum recommendation includes 42 new FTE for corrections, with 27 positions directed to the Heart River women's facility.

Why it matters: several members said the rising inmate population is not sustainable without policy changes. Representative Kempenek asked whether reforms are proposed to slow inmate growth; Representative Hansen observed the governor and other lawmakers plan proposals to provide \"off ramps\" and short‑term relief for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR).

Staff also described a large capital recommendation included in the executive budget for corrections: approximately $127 million for a new facility at the Missouri River Correctional Center (listed in the capital construction section of the executive book). Members were urged to consider whether capital and operating increases would bend the inmate curve or whether changes to sentencing, reentry and programming should accompany funding increases.

Next steps: the committee was advised to review DOCR's details when the department appears and to consider legislative proposals intended to reduce incarceration growth and better align bed use with the most serious offenders' needs.","Legislative fiscal staff presented inmate population trends and corrections staffing needs, citing projected inmate growth and recommended FTE for a women's facility in the Burgum budget.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_46":91,"_48":92,"_50":93,"_52":94,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":95,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":96,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393368,"Committee briefed on K‑12 funding mechanics, Common Schools Trust Fund and Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund",996,4234000,5230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c&start=4234&end=5230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c/thumbnail_4234000.jpg","/articles/6393368/North-Dakota/Committee-briefed-on-K12-funding-mechanics-Common-Schools-Trust-Fund-and-Foundation-Aid-Stabilization-Fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393368-e4fdd119d40c30f817b19f491b21f704/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180579&Signature=Nojx0dX7Rm-Equ-tftq77RQpw5mAKlhF-o~6pyAnB6Scc6RaO8M50Wes9AEFhPGAg3AG2ehF~4OobixOm7BmyVR6EbCYcoz84zlnJXGgwcmVusqHWmHEL-MhgnxIp1TV~0Lirelsb~r7Lf1cWwcGauzr-fbq9Yaut5QnxBTPCCCb3T1TxZm2~W9wVmF-ohKA2TO1S6GaLpStdDPF~ThXJzNDor06NLI81YDqpsUv6EWesyQ0MGkXY6Qtus1loGzIgJctu1zUxrG03yrCnAPtDGoim3YR9OiQMZZShs6RzD~~xwLiu7w~5juVau3vOOx61yVnv~BB4GQIoTE9eqt-Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative fiscal analysts told the House Appropriations Committee that state K‑12 funding will rely heavily on trust‑fund earnings and that the Burgum recommendation would increase integrated student payments while committing much of new money to personnel compensation.

Sheila Sandness, senior fiscal analyst, summarized key elements of the executive recommendation and the trust fund context: the executive budget proposes a $60 million increase in state school aid, implemented as a 2% per‑year increase in the integrated per‑student payment rate (to $11,293 in year one and $11,519 in year two under the Burgum recommendation). Sandness said: \"The executive budget also recommends that the school boards be required to use 70% of all new money received as a result of the increased rate, for increased compensation to non administrative personnel.\" She also described a $5 million one‑time program grant from the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund and a $50 million SIF proposal for an educational savings account pilot program.

Why it matters: staff highlighted that the Common Schools Trust Fund has grown substantially and now supports a larger share of school finance. The report shows the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund estimated ending balance and the executive's planned disbursements would reduce the available balance going into the following biennium. Sandness noted that the executive recommendation reduces general fund reliance by drawing more from the state tuition fund and Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund.

Members asked how the trust fund is financed. Sandness explained the Common Schools Trust Fund receives oil-related allocations, investment earnings and land rents. Representative Munson asked about federal funding to districts; staff said federal funding varies by district and is not tracked on the state formula but could be summarized from Department of Public Instruction reports.

Next steps: staff said committee divisions will examine school funding line items and program grants in detail; the committee received direction to review the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund balance and planned SIF transfers before deciding on one‑time versus ongoing uses.","Legislative Council staff summarized the Burgum executive’s K‑12 recommendations, the role of the Common Schools Trust Fund and Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund in school funding, and proposed limitations on school board use of new dollars for compensation.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393372,"Appropriators briefed on Medicaid costs, FMAP changes and human services spending",2198,2766000,4964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c&start=2766&end=4964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c/thumbnail_2766000.jpg","/articles/6393372/North-Dakota/Appropriators-briefed-on-Medicaid-costs-FMAP-changes-and-human-services-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393372-b78f251182924d1c94ed0b0b92c635b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180579&Signature=XKXflPaqGOfvOl~JnrDEKPnEh4RbOi-wXO3bySI1NQkHKWnJmkmjwjm02WLslp2xd1bTbB4hhYA8KrtunKjZVFRj9ch2wwPKW4fATLJNeEH2nBoGWG-7SIwJJ4wWc1oxKoFwzyydG2JuEf2lC~l33Ga8Yzdvx1S~Le3JKTzzIpobW5X6wpIUqKIJLj-TRDvVPx2x2gbr2hBHRRXwFwcQYqybVzvCtSLwXgyvb6xK6SJJcSmvy5JuQD4Yw2-pkpDdoJYdfVjgaSG1E3VJ31Fj3CoEfAJV-aQc0RtjP-3eXR6EpfExE2DwDrSayGeKWedj97RMToUeZdCCJdHUte8XVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislative fiscal staff told the House Appropriations Committee that Medicaid and human services are major drivers of general fund growth and that federal matching rate changes remain an important unknown for final budgets.

Alan Knudson, legislative council fiscal staff, explained how the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) affects state spending and described how the COVID-era enhanced FMAP phased out: \"During those COVID years, the federal government played closer to 60% of Medicaid costs, but then that went away in 2023. And now we're back to our base level FMAP.\" He emphasized the FMAP is calculated by comparing a state's per‑capita personal income to other states and noted a one‑percentage point FMAP change can mean tens of millions of dollars.

Why it matters: Knudson and other staff said Medicaid spending includes large line items — developmental disabilities, nursing homes, hospitals, professional services and prescription drugs — and that small FMAP shifts materially change the state's share of those costs. Sheila Sandness, senior fiscal analyst, summarized the Burgum executive recommendation would raise general fund appropriations for Health and Human Services by about 15.5 percent, citing caseload changes, FMAP adjustments and program utilization as drivers.

Presenters called attention to program-specific items in the Burgum recommendation, including a recommended $10 million from SIF for state hospital planning and an authorization to pursue a public‑private partnership for a new North Dakota State Hospital. Fiscal staff also noted $58.3 million in provider inflationary adjustments over the biennium, of which $29.3 million would be general fund.

Committee members asked operational questions. Representative Murphy pressed on FMAP mechanics and economic drivers; Knudson answered that FMAP will be updated in April and that preliminary estimates will inform later budget work. Knudson also noted Medicaid expansion receives a higher federal match (90% under the federal expansion policy), a separate calculation from the baseline FMAP.

The staff recommended that members await final FMAP estimates expected later in the session before finalizing human services appropriations and flagged an estimated human services turnback of roughly $80 million in the governor's budget as an item the committee should review.

Next steps: staff said updated FMAP estimates and Armstrong administration proposals will be provided as they become available so the committee can model alternative funding scenarios for human services.","Legislative fiscal staff told the House Appropriations Committee Medicaid spending is a major driver of general fund increases, reviewed FMAP calculations and noted federal share shifts from the COVID period affect upcoming budgets.",{"_33":110,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":111,"_41":112,"_43":113,"_45":114,"_46":115,"_48":116,"_50":117,"_52":118,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":119,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":120,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393376,"House Appropriations hears budget outlook as committee prepares to compare two governors' plans",2598,1213000,3811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c&start=1213&end=3811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2107529-df3b90b5f7d22a38ed57ff17c148f80c/thumbnail_1213000.jpg","/articles/6393376/North-Dakota/House-Appropriations-hears-budget-outlook-as-committee-prepares-to-compare-two-governors-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393376-8ce47c4e094fac5e63516cbbf8d08af1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180579&Signature=gZ6pC-bK8e63t1hJ9L4bMSZv3QVet9O2HJtWgw3wkwaz5gGXuE0DJqYW~6OF5B50k~0Nd0M7sIfuDtFAi3-N0rxNhVxXCZIbbY-Oah~LTcbvFfsK7UZPOrHIVossHA5yllW2cqnC0RQh7dhT93QlWO2sNC56tI-lwDyaHUoGN2Y2I2W85IGZKfQUdgWfr19CxBb1xyAPYCKwbftdstnM5UdZKJO0p~sBo6jeuzbQ6bYtKzH7prz3mj4BoJpVHjJv88F3-PbohDW4a0uThuiNWrmYUIX9--uU65UsKnpF1l0G9CQX-l1zPEYi5ENxPJfley~4304CKFFvA1oQqj7n4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Appropriations Committee received a budget overview Wednesday that emphasized this session will compare two executive budgets and start its work from the previous legislature's approved base.

The preview matters because members will have both the Burgum administration's detailed executive recommendation and a second budget from Governor Armstrong to weigh when crafting appropriations. Alan Knudson, with Legislative Council fiscal staff, told the committee: \"we will be going through a number of our reports and just kind of the information that you'll be getting throughout the session from us and the assistance that we can provide you to help you make the best decisions you can on the budgets that you're working with and again, the overall state budget.\" Knudson said staff will provide three comparative sheets for each agency — a blue sheet showing the base budget, a green sheet for Governor Burgum's recommendations, and a purple sheet that will summarize the Armstrong administration's proposals when they are released.

Why it matters: committee members will be asked to decide how to use a larger-than-expected beginning balance and higher oil-related receipts without committing recurring funds to ongoing operations. Knudson pointed to a robust beginning balance in recent bienniums and said turnback from agencies — unspent appropriations carried forward — is estimated at roughly $225 million going into the next biennium. He also warned that some recommended revenue transfers and one-time sources would affect that beginning balance depending on decisions the committee makes.

Fiscal context and key numbers presented included general fund trends, major revenue streams (sales and motor vehicle excise taxes, income taxes and oil taxes), and an explanation of transfers from Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund (SIF) and legacy‑earnings transfers. Knudson noted Governor Burgum recommended increasing the general fund state share of oil tax allocations from $460 million to $600 million; whether to adopt that level will be a legislative decision after comparison with Armstrong's figures.

Staff also reviewed how appropriations will be presented and amended this session. Knudson and Adam Matiuk of Legislative Council urged members to use the base budget as a constant starting point and explained the amendment workflow: fiscal staff will prepare amendments and statements of purpose, and divisions will each work from a worksheet that can incorporate items from either governor's recommendations.

Implementation notes: the Legislative Council and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will publish weekly budget status reports and a fiscal impact report each Wednesday to show how proposed bills affect revenues and spending. Joe Morissette of OMB told members the Armstrong administration's summary will be released next week and asked members and agencies to allow some flexibility as the new executive's detail is finalized.

Looking ahead: the committee chair said the committee will start hearings next week and urged division chairs to closely scrutinize new FTE requests, one-time vs. ongoing expenditures and carryover projects, especially for capital and water resources where large carryover balances exist.

Members were directed to the Legislative Council and OMB online resources for green/blue/purple budget sheets, decision package detail, and weekly status updates and were told Legislative Council staff will prepare amendment language and supporting statements for committee consideration.","Legislative fiscal staff briefed the House Appropriations Committee on a 10‑year budget picture, projected additional revenues and the process for comparing Governor Burgum's submitted budget with incoming Governor Armstrong's proposal next week.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts electronic voting pilot for committee records; fiscal staff explains fiscal impact report process

Appropriations committee warned inmate counts and corrections costs are rising

Committee briefed on K‑12 funding mechanics, Common Schools Trust Fund and Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund

Appropriators briefed on Medicaid costs, FMAP changes and human services spending

House Appropriations hears budget outlook as committee prepares to compare two governors' plans