The North Dakota Senate Appropriations Committee convened on February 18, 2025, to discuss budget amendments for education and environmental programs, focusing on higher education funding and the potential impact of expiring federal grants.

During the meeting, committee members reviewed proposed amendments to the budget, including a significant placeholder amount of $130 million from the previous biennium. The committee voted unanimously to approve the amended budget proposal, which will be presented for further discussion in the full committee meeting scheduled for the following day.

A key topic of discussion was the impending loss of federal funding for a program supporting disabled students, which is set to end in September 2026. The committee learned that the program has been receiving $600,000 annually from the U.S. Department of Education since its inception in 2010. Concerns were raised about the sustainability of the program without this federal support, with some members advocating for a placeholder funding amount to help maintain the program's operations.

Several committee members expressed caution about replacing federal dollars with state general fund dollars, emphasizing the importance of understanding the program's funding history and its impact on students. A proposal was made to allocate $200,000 for the second year of the biennium as a placeholder, with discussions suggesting that a higher amount, such as $500,000, could be more appropriate to ensure continuity for current students.

The committee's deliberations highlighted the need for further investigation into the program's funding requirements and its benefits to disabled students. The discussions will continue as the committee prepares for the upcoming full meeting, where they will further evaluate the budget implications and potential funding solutions.