[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325066,"mediaKeyId","2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed","parentId",2334950,"title","Committee considers funding to stand up North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine to support pilots' mental health","audioSeconds",370,"startMs",3600000,"endMs",3970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed&start=3600&end=3970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325066/North-Dakota/Committee-considers-funding-to-stand-up-North-Dakota-Center-for-Aerospace-Medicine-to-support-pilots-mental-health","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325066-1173d781e8830351cd4a046558aaadf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160949&Signature=PT8SpjEgmCHCIJzjlBT99AZvKY1EB6T0JBtX6LrAhqBS6tm6rqK9DcXE2DSNZOhinPUpkycKjSvseyV81laN9K8ZxeKXjzOFBol-i4-I9TUKxGiHzCOwInhPiQwlQSph7rOptwJmbyo7Al5aZbUp3SqBTcq7xiQekdJO93b-OVe~QDwrZaS2fkia1gEtp7fKFldw2hTjAnTOTjyMKD6yd5thXLSxZ0~9WesAbY5a-iCsfCHee~~5CNfbuG2A1MCq2E3grTE1w~tE5e091w0kIDFoOaEoQ0RTSF-nZu9Wi4SYJNCJIyGfwZrQYsSXXM-7R8GL0aSXa9EYKEu7PIfsiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Matt Ruby presented House Bill 1612, a proposal to provide state grant funding to expand a University of North Dakota program offering aerospace‑medicine and mental‑health services aimed at pilots and student aviators. The bill’s proponents said the program seeks to reduce career‑ending consequences for pilots who seek mental‑health care and to provide a protocol the FAA can examine for broader adoption.

Ruby and witnesses described the proposal as a continuation and expansion of services UND already provides to its students through student health. Representative Landon Bail (identified in committee testimony) said the state does not yet have a named North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine; the appropriation would stand up that center and expand telehealth services statewide. Bail and the sponsor emphasized that the FAA is \"at the table\"—the agency, they said, is observing and engaging with UND’s program and could use the state model to inform national practice.

Committee members asked how medical certification and return‑to‑fly determinations would be handled, noting that a pilot’s medical certificate (not the pilot license) governs airworthiness. Representative Kempnick asked how a medical examiner or Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) would clear a pilot to return to flight duty, and commenters said the appropriation would not remove existing medical standards but would provide a statewide path for evaluation, treatment and data collection to shorten extended grounding periods.

The bill arrived in committee with a requested $2,000,000 appropriation; the sponsor offered to reduce the request and the committee voted (recorded in committee materials cited in the hearing) to lower the funding to $500,000 to maintain and expand services already begun by UND. Committee discussion noted that United States Air Force and other aviation communities, plus UND’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, are stakeholders. Supporters said the approach is novel nationally and that federal funding (including potentially FAA or other federal grants) could follow if the state creates an operational model.

Members emphasized that $500,000 is seed funding and that specialized clinicians and Aviation Medical Examiner resources require additional funding over time. Representative Ruby and Representative Bail said UND has already invested resources to start the program and that the appropriation is intended to help scale telehealth and statewide outreach.

Committee discussion concluded with the sponsor and UND representatives encouraging the committee to support the concept; the bill will proceed in the legislative process with the committee’s recommended amendment to the appropriation level.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Tuesday, Feb 18, 2025 3:06 PM - 4:23 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Legislators discussed House Bill 1612 to provide seed funding to establish a North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine at the University of North Dakota to expand mental‑health and aviation‑medicine services for pilots; the committee reduced the original $2 million proposal to $500,000 and recorded committee support.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28310,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325071,"Committee votes not to advance bill requiring quarterly vaccine‑to‑death‑certificate summaries",874,2552000,3426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed&start=2552&end=3426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed/thumbnail_2552000.jpg","/articles/6325071/North-Dakota/Committee-votes-not-to-advance-bill-requiring-quarterly-vaccinetodeathcertificate-summaries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325071-aedc38911dc588f553f0c4aaf23f7df3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160949&Signature=T7Hmj-WWJoS9Dhq8c-t7e-aWM~XMjicSyfe-cQ~1NvUYnTYtbAmXcaZhq~vIx84wn2H8xaDZpYcDYff1fzg9v2qUGvaxhdLsBQMA4eok-~hm5dw4A7eng-rjd2LBe4FWINeqgAjc0gaz~CzF1K3JU8nj-VSCPTTkJomXJACNRcM3jeZpoaaGF5CQjdSChjkqYlNez6kUqcNZtGw-UTLtfdYEoQlMpNUqOPbfGmUuI~XKSaWVPHQiqd~OxI1TBPhq72rdzy8px2~IlZbSyw2i-6hh7MCAbdrIoMN-6BJiPCbMuFOFU7seBLIfH5JOQ~anBaOKD~p7Ogdaryw1wLbgcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Matt Ruby introduced House Bill 1519, which would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to compile and publish a quarterly time‑series summary that links vaccine records and death‑certificate data for vaccine types administered to more than 20,000 individuals in a quarter.

Ruby described the proposal as a request for ‘‘pretty raw data’’ that supporters said could be used either to examine safety concerns or to reassure the public about vaccine safety. \"My understanding is they would take everything that's on the death certificate, and then what is published would be... vaccine information as well,\" Ruby said during questioning about what fields the department would extract.

Several committee members raised privacy and procedural concerns. Representative Nathie, who has professional experience with death certificates, said death certificates contain personally identifiable information and family members guard that information closely; she said she had “a problem” with giving unrestricted access to the full certificates. Representative Murphy asked whether the fiscal note accounted for increased medical‑examiner or forensic costs if examiners were expected to produce new causation determinations; Ruby said the bill would present raw data and would not require additional forensic examinations to prove causality.

Representative Hansen cited testimony from public‑health vaccination experts who warned the bill could display personally identifiable information in ways that would run afoul of privacy protections; committee members referenced HIPAA in that context. Representative Richter and others questioned the utility of the data absent causality: collecting vaccination and death records without case‑level forensic follow‑up, some said, would not prove a link one way or the other.

Representative Murphy moved a do‑not‑pass; Representative Anderson seconded. The Human Services Committee adopted the do‑not‑pass recommendation by roll call recorded in the transcript as 20 yes, 0 no, 3 absent. The committee’s record and the roll call indicate the bill will not proceed from that committee.

Committee members who spoke urged caution around individual privacy, the limits of raw data to show causation, and potential administrative burden on DHHS or local medical examiners if the scope of inquiry were to expand.","The Human Services Committee moved a do‑not‑pass recommendation on House Bill 1519, which would have directed the Department of Health and Human Services to compile quarterly time‑series summaries linking vaccination records and death‑certificate data. Lawmakers cited privacy, HIPAA concerns and limited causal value of aggregated data.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325076,"Appropriations committee advances $5 million toward new Great Plains Food Bank distribution facility",867,1677000,2544000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed&start=1677&end=2544","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed/thumbnail_1677000.jpg","/articles/6325076/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-advances-5-million-toward-new-Great-Plains-Food-Bank-distribution-facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325076-6aed39f2e8b907f95cf44af89777ae97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160949&Signature=f0bsnATx59REm8NXdsK7drptUf67xX5o4GYKdz-nRwCh2frOZAWTkF36mRsc5yASpCQuzP-4GAmLG9trKpf1ReQxaYHwTwyQtDxQKo1cI84x7DHl7MMCDwWES9taCLEA7EEOm4suJZ~iaZai452QecEcOkaHrsJ17LFYRvpAqb9c95REqEAQDBQHf9g4rrMDvhyq-zAXQixIK8WI5~MRMEhHLFKYABqn4lSfqsqoj2T~R0ILVWBU2ytFW9ii3rMFyJRsxA7yz3Yyk128LNyNklHPqol0MY6UOH3DKTHHor-Ih2JLqg~KimzTP15mvPYr4CAGwoFw0K8-UPfV~Bxj9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Mike Belz presented House Bill 1143, which originally proposed a $10 million appropriation to the Agriculture Commissioner for grants to support a statewide charitable food distribution and logistics facility. The committee amendment reduced the request to $5 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund for 2025–27; the Appropriations Committee recommended the amended bill.

Belz described the Great Plains Food Bank as the identified collaborator and summarized its operations: the food bank’s annual budget is about $10.8 million and, he said, in 2024 the organization distributed nearly 16,000,000 pounds of food. The sponsor and testimony noted the food bank serves all 53 counties; Great Plains staff asked for state support to replace an existing site officials described as being built on a former dump and constrained from expansion.

Melissa Sobelik, chief executive officer of the Great Plains Food Bank, testified about the operation’s reach. \"Last year we served 156,000 North Dakotans. 36% of them are children and another 12% are seniors,\" Sobelik told the committee. She said the food bank currently operates a Bismarck storage site in addition to its main facility and that the current building’s location and geotechnical conditions limit expansion. Sobelik described a recently acquired 9‑acre parcel that would meet distribution needs and qualify for New Markets Tax Credits.

Belz outlined the food bank’s revenue plan and fundraising progress: private contributions and earlier federal and local grant awards total several million dollars and staff testified that the facility’s full build‑out was estimated at roughly $30.5 million (including inflation). The bill amendment reduced state funding to $5 million under the committee’s view that the project could secure additional private and federal resources.

Representative Swantek moved a due‑pass recommendation on HB1143 and Representative Mitscog seconded. The committee voted to recommend the bill as amended; the roll call recorded in the transcript showed committee approval with 18 yes, 2 no and 3 members absent. Committee members who spoke during the hearing emphasized the statewide distribution role and the logistical advantage of the proposed site near interstate connections.

The committee record shows the bill will proceed to the next stage with a recommendation in its amended form.","Lawmakers amended an initial $10 million ask for a statewide charitable food distribution and logistics facility down to $5 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund, and the Appropriations Committee voted to recommend the amended appropriation to the full House.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325081,"Panel amends and advances county fair resiliency grant bill requiring dollar‑for‑dollar match",1185,480000,1665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed&start=480&end=1665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed/thumbnail_480000.jpg","/articles/6325081/North-Dakota/Panel-amends-and-advances-county-fair-resiliency-grant-bill-requiring-dollarfordollar-match","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325081-65b4d34bb8776a3fbb8fff7ed2e69a71/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160949&Signature=eiPYlF~rulontB-pbbBY0zzimuLsI62iptCsy6nY1Cvf45ChiFqD35jTonyL8SLTyy6I0xuWuujbUEK-8kYEmJ5f4r82bvgmSVSkYoqe0QGkwv7cqDbdNfm-UVixmDmHyA427YMXR7ryzctxJrQzsmvektKyDbIrc1ONxRyPSL6UL3bB6U4PMgPy1syeQZrbJOw2zoN-3RGpcbaYvnxcpA8OId4bq-UjLDN6iZsayD4wkZjnMer15vz2slnbUd662H2GLNfbiwYUfZEcyNJJiuNnt2sUiac6YgJrkx1~VSZ3JKW19REfT8aETVLmNL5txhSERyJlsXdPpo6ugzsNsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Mike Belz, the bill sponsor, told the Appropriations Committee that House Bill 1591 would appropriate $3,000,000 from the general fund for the 2025–27 biennium to the Agriculture Commissioner to establish a County Fair Resiliency Grant Program for planning, design and construction of fairground infrastructure.

Belz said the grants were intended for smaller county agricultural fair associations and would be capped at $100,000 per award. \"Our county fairs are more than just an event. It's a tradition that has been passed on for generations bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate ag, craftsmanship, entertainment, and community spirit,\" Belz said. He also told the committee that testifying staff from the Ag Department described awards as a 50% cost share and that the commissioner would administer reimbursable awards based on need.

Committee members questioned how the program would exclude larger fairs and who would decide eligibility. Representative Mike Belz said the language and the prime sponsor's intent were aimed at directing funds to smaller fairs and that the Agriculture Commissioner would have discretion in administering the grants. Representative Murphy asked what $100,000 would realistically cover; Belz said the money is meant for planning, design and infrastructure upgrades such as wiring and building repairs and acknowledged the amount would not cover large new construction but could make a difference for smaller fairs.

Representative Nelson moved to amend HB1591 to require a dollar‑for‑dollar match up to $100,000 per grant; Representative Munson seconded the amendment. The committee adopted the amendment by roll call (amendment recorded in committee roll as approved; recorded counts in committee roll were in the transcript). After additional discussion, Representative Nelson moved a due‑pass recommendation as amended; the motion carried on the committee roll call read in the hearing. The committee recorded that the bill, as amended to require a match, would be sent forward with a favorable recommendation.

The transcript records multiple committee questions about whether the largest fairs (for example, the Red River Valley Fair) would qualify; members noted the bill text does not explicitly exclude larger fairs, only that the prime sponsor intended the funds to target smaller county agricultural fair associations. The Ag Commissioner’s written comments (cited in committee discussion) described a 1:1 match in testimony; committee members acknowledged that implementation details—eligibility standards and whether a formal statutory match requirement or administrative match—would be determined through the bill and administering rules.

The committee discussion also included a point about the estimated number of county fairs statewide; Belz and staff cited roughly 32 county fair associations as a planning estimate for potential applicants. Committee members emphasized that the $100,000 cap and the match requirement were intended to spread available dollars among smaller fairs rather than concentrate awards in large population centers.

The bill will move forward from appropriations as amended; Representative Belz was recorded as the committee carrier in the hearing record.","The House committee amended House Bill 1591 to require a dollar‑for‑dollar match (up to $100,000) for county fair infrastructure grants and gave the bill a favorable recommendation. The program would make one‑time general fund appropriations intended to help smaller county agricultural fairs upgrade planning, design and infrastructure.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325061,"Sponsor introduces $50 million loan program for long‑term care infrastructure",45,4523000,4568000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed&start=4523&end=4568","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2334950-a234d647238cec151b5c364d91c477ed/thumbnail_4523000.jpg","/articles/6325061/North-Dakota/Sponsor-introduces-50-million-loan-program-for-longterm-care-infrastructure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325061-3b38758f2615503aa01bb60375f7995b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160949&Signature=fZKD7ks2jl~6cnfvz7jqLfXf1LDvFy7ytOswDBPLNU9k~~QLv0AeJmDe2bJKKrWQ0mahF2zzzBQEZKBcXgjNyMRvBPXtjeiyAlO4LonwB34J~e9uTLtwAuE~TEmU8vncuXevjcRlA6k-EHWRo5KwITk02t5VOEUHf17h9iLs6WVX8pP8i-6gJMf8zhmgjOkk7FRaUzzYRoBFSiE7cEaPZfx4JphkA1BqlF~t~RAUu-~OYn95TnUkGkjAUqHJMOsPWuLz3q6dcb9b7SqXqZ8IFZKf0ZEI~Ui4GshgfHx7gUaD7zvy2eH~diFzBS4n-jkDt~EYN1M3ufvTI~kfXgc0XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Matt Ruby (District 40) introduced House Bill 1619 to establish an infrastructure loan fund to support long‑term care facility projects. Sponsors explained the bill’s parameters in brief: the committee reduced an original $100 million concept down to $50 million in the bill sponsor’s presentation; loans would carry a 2% interest rate and carry a maximum of $10 million per project. Representatives said about five projects were ready to proceed if financing were available and that most facilities seeking support are in smaller communities.

Ruby noted the bill is intended as a financing vehicle (a loan program) rather than a direct grant, and he said the bill’s sponsors — who are members of the committee — expected to carry the bill forward for further discussion. No committee vote or formal action on HB1619 was recorded during the hearing segment in the transcript; the introduction concluded with the committee moving to recess for floor action.","Representative Matt Ruby briefly introduced House Bill 1619, a proposal to create an infrastructure loan fund for long‑term care facilities with a $50 million cap and a maximum $10 million per project at a 2% interest rate; the committee did not take final action in the hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee considers funding to stand up North Dakota Center for Aerospace Medicine to support pilots' mental health

Committee votes not to advance bill requiring quarterly vaccine‑to‑death‑certificate summaries

Appropriations committee advances $5 million toward new Great Plains Food Bank distribution facility

Panel amends and advances county fair resiliency grant bill requiring dollar‑for‑dollar match

Sponsor introduces $50 million loan program for long‑term care infrastructure