[{"_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",6322142,"mediaKeyId","2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38","parentId",2348171,"title","Appropriations panel trims egg diversification appropriation to $15 million, approves due-pass","audioSeconds",703,"startMs",516000,"endMs",1219000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38&start=516&end=1219","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38/thumbnail_516000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322142/North-Dakota/Appropriations-panel-trims-egg-diversification-appropriation-to-15-million-approves-due-pass","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322142-189ad9f31cc0aef5dd0bcd1947ab297e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183438&Signature=bWqFDFf5LdzX3R7TNbFQJRHJFx6trHl28IIkvipD9-nlEEwI2w9X-~NuW4enW7Tg7-t4ozRkTefE7CYIU3Xe~Jx~I4k9KwLe-V-Ke2nSJMpmkyhhrGFka7CCx-reiveLg0-bE3iYnTuGKDDTEHDfr8Nygt~jhatZg3C6wLoCgHMm-qceGwOSbhRCZsu9EHlASvUO8Avu5gJBNt1ZqIzYse3h8dZYktUvjKm~3yZmbLc8Ogfh31Zx7ygauoYjeIjVUOyklwlfFJuidpjOf9S2eE-9ZSV~aQxPbrHcZAQYi~LKBpqYcTBndrVaXwBUkjRC5OWZC28MXEtq-eXJ2VxP-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to amend Senate Bill 2,327, lowering a proposed $25 million appropriation for the Agriculture Department's Egg Diversification and Development Fund to $15 million, and then approved a due-pass recommendation as amended.

Chairman Beckettall opened the committee item and recognized Senator Thomas, who explained the bill would appropriate funds for the department to administer grants and interest-rate buy-downs under the egg diversification program. Senator Thomas said the fund already contained a $10 million pool dedicated to infrastructure projects and proposed the amendment to limit the current appropriation to $15 million to match the program's original grant purpose. He moved the amendment; Senator Wozniak seconded.

Senator Davidson asked whether unspent dollars at the end of the biennium would revert to the general fund or remain in the AD fund. Levi from the Office of Management and Budget said unobligated balances would remain in the fund source. Committee members discussed adding language to prevent the fund balance at the start of a biennium from exceeding a stated cap and to clarify that only unobligated, uncommitted dollars would be eligible to revert. Senator Thomas said many grants are reimbursable, and projects sometimes have committed but unspent balances that should not be swept.

The amendment passed and the committee then voted to give the bill a due-pass recommendation as amended. The committee recorded the motion carried and planned to list an intended floor carrier and to coordinate with House policy in the next stage.

The committee also heard from Doug Goring, Ag Commissioner, who explained related programs (APUC and AD) and funding sources; he said APUC is funded from state mill and elevator profits and Bank of North Dakota support for economic development efforts. The committee asked the department to include carryover and unobligated/committed language in any final draft.

The committee discussion focused on program purpose (grants vs. infrastructure), the timing of two remaining grant rounds, and ensuring that committed reimbursement obligations would not be unintentionally cut off by a reversion. No final statutory language beyond the amendment was enacted in committee; policy committees and the House may add changes during subsequent consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025 8:25 AM - 11:56 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Appropriations Committee on (date not specified) amended Senate Bill 2,327 to lower a proposed $25 million appropriation for the Agriculture Department's egg diversification grant program to $15 million and approved a due-pass recommendation as amended.","taxTitle","Appropriations, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28312,"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},6322124,"Appropriations panel approves moving guardianship funding to judiciary; attorneys-general staffing left to separate budget",952,3623000,4575000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38&start=3623&end=4575","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38/thumbnail_3623000.jpg","/articles/6322124/North-Dakota/Appropriations-panel-approves-moving-guardianship-funding-to-judiciary-attorneys-general-staffing-left-to-separate-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322124-396ee3c5c87edbc1c871b1fc1f0ff598/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183438&Signature=OLzXYTDki-GIyN7a8ZHS9mQZT6mowbGNdK19YoKjLNn3sGJ6SuquUxprT56krKp-qt-xYpC6E8P7pz1EbaWJgh8ZJJkSblhHq39r578CceeTvwAO7IZHhrUGFS-CEocg7yLTJh5QS6pT5VSFIrwW6JWTYyzv57rKFDyRwLTNk49GvjAuGDE5mCbVXDuzcM-imRck3TjVP-p5LvS5ThUH6XZk8KQAB7GAt0vNjmt7IEjV9C6FPKkKmMNTrk3~WgN8xVstgTLdSoGwXz8lHvIvOGxXtekNyFf3ZQQc7UHRftPpuA-r~8AJMNVSjnQzV7tiTkDcHQsrpmp0s63z2ka80w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2,029 would move appropriations for the state guardianship program from the Department of Human Services (and OMB pass-throughs) into the Judicial Branch, with the judiciary responsible for management oversight and the Attorney General responsible for enforcement of complaints.

Senator Thomas described the amendments that set specific program amounts across several lines: establishment and implementation costs, public guardian and conservator fees, and contract funding for developmental-disability guardianship services. The committee reduced several line items from initial requests to reflect prior appropriations and to keep amounts consistent with the last biennium where called for.

The committee deliberately struck direct funding for Attorney General staffing from the bill, noting appropriations to the AG for BCI agents and investigative support should be handled in the Attorney General's budget process. Committee members said the judiciary's requested administrative staff would be funded in the judiciary budget (02/2002), rather than within this bill, but the program-level appropriations remained in 2,029.

Members debated policy issues at length in committee, including whether moving guardianship oversight into the judiciary is appropriate and how county pass-throughs and public guardian payments are monitored; sponsors said the appropriation adjustments were intended to leave policy debates for the floor and the policy committee while ensuring funds for program continuity. The committee approved the amendment and then approved a due-pass recommendation 10-6 as amended.","The committee amended and approved Senate Bill 2,029 to transfer guardianship program appropriations to the judiciary branch and to set program-level funding. Funding for Attorney General enforcement staff (BCI agents) was removed from the bill and left for AG budget consideration. The committee approved the bill as amended 10-6.",{"_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},6322125,"Committee backs apprenticeship grant program to expand workforce training",332,2723000,3055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38&start=2723&end=3055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38/thumbnail_2723000.jpg","/articles/6322125/North-Dakota/Committee-backs-apprenticeship-grant-program-to-expand-workforce-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322125-2aa5cfc8f7bb0a9e7365fd55684dba0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183438&Signature=JTYYZUCk9Evc3eoFTYksSdcnnpqusfjOtoNeczgODJpgcD4M1KUnoc6l0Xp4fOfIqZY8exnme8yAnQc4tf6HPpgFgvf2UOtmx2uL3uGgd4qW4TJ-7SbEeCviQhczFoFa~ie5U6fCLNfKOvUwnMboSCRUOpYqsKFPJWK-aoGJeylkee92I4gL2fGaA6jRuDCttSbAdwTaeXJmD80gEr11X-ozUX-52rAlka9RQHH4C4r6HOhsd62WCnKceErgXlfFgXrt2wk6T~aV4v9Cw71k7~GAcURGHqGbBeFIC4royiSlGHODjE0RBNae~nTxNP5j8fPNJUnA2VlvNsCQxcZEGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2,239 directs funding to an apprenticeship grant program designed to expand registered apprenticeships and support tools and training for career and technical pathways. Committee members said the program aims to preserve small-town trades by enabling retiring tradespeople to mentor and certify new workers in local communities.

Senator Mather (subcommittee lead) summarized testimony from multiple supportive parties and said the program is not a scholarship or internship but a registered apprenticeship pathway. The committee discussed typical grant sizes and the difference between front-loaded and staggered payments; sponsors said programs often cover training-related tools and initial supports. The committee approved a due-pass recommendation unanimously; the bill will return to the policy committee for carrier assignment.

Committee members noted prior examples and how apprenticeships can keep local trades and businesses viable in smaller towns.

The committee recorded a 16-0 vote for due pass in committee.","Senate Bill 2,239 would fund an apprenticeship program to expand work-based training and keep skilled trades in local communities; the Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to give the bill a due-pass recommendation.",{"_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},6322132,"Committee recommends continuing $25 insulin copay cap for NDPERS members; bill passes 15-1",264,2388000,2652000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38&start=2388&end=2652","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38/thumbnail_2388000.jpg","/articles/6322132/North-Dakota/Committee-recommends-continuing-25-insulin-copay-cap-for-NDPERS-members-bill-passes-15-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322132-4680f1ba39e8473c0b694b74b16146c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183438&Signature=Dccow4w2ly~Fz72SL1Rh-Q~KdjWDbaMuXOI4-d6vEO2RAZufaAse24fedW~lqsnMEOovHABMZlstrb6ftxlznL7bMBNm5AAuSVTDuUmzCIwMD3GFds9iRXCPpg33-CV3fifLgzttWGRKxdiPaqa1N83TqWnyyKq54yzD2pE38~I05HtyDmj8PAiLvWImDgCLg5giG7RFpOsKoyPLroJW6mYID7Ulv63bSZ4kagCPCeN39qUbph8biFpOEyKbnOoAFh6Tgi-tz7o5J-rI4rQZdhK6JHv~HgTmh1cZHood-BQ9XmKvxygtvCilqwO3tG8Q0QISgZCNjBK8976dEl~2aQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2,370 would continue a pilot program that caps members' out-of-pocket insulin and diabetic supplies at $25 per month for participants in the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS) plan.

Senator Cleary, carrying the bill, told the committee the pilot reduced average member out-of-pocket costs by about $80 per month for roughly 831 covered individuals and increased overall premiums by about 0.21 percent. The fiscal note the sponsor cited estimated a $365,000 general-fund cost for the coming biennium, $469,000 in special funds, and impacts for political subdivisions participating in the plan. Cleary and supporters argued that the cap improves adherence and could reduce downstream healthcare costs from uncontrolled diabetes.

Committee members noted the bill currently applies only to the NDPERS plan and discussed whether a broader commercial-market cap would be appropriate; Cleary said broader application is a separate policy discussion.

The committee voted a due-pass recommendation 15-1. Members said the bill will be carried forward to relative policy/action on the floor; names for a floor carrier were discussed.","Senate Bill 2,370 would continue a $25 monthly cap on insulin and diabetic supplies for members of the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS) plan. The committee voted 15-1 for a due pass recommendation; sponsors cited cost and health benefits and the enacted pilot'program's small premium impact.",{"_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},6322137,"Committee approves $10M milk-processing grant cap, shifts funding to line-of-credit approach",934,1422000,2356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38&start=1422&end=2356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2348171-96397a5b46420e3a04e2409331d63f38/thumbnail_1422000.jpg","/articles/6322137/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-10M-milk-processing-grant-cap-shifts-funding-to-line-of-credit-approach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322137-7ee3353b1b00f7b7dd378655e8515adb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183438&Signature=f~nwh~6bD1Dq4sFo-rYhQ1~-maEt2u24GlQmS-ek5fIYoCZoquF~IhCm-0Xx4BaiKSr6YlXJgY3f-ILW-nKXnEFQSOZm~AyN8VjItAIOU9AwLcxOVfSXTa69Rf-TJ0FzGnLgI2jfFUMP~Jr8bosGTllgiozrWFnfbsk2nJUTWijHfsjOvaOfNMpIlGCd4tmtCELojBmbV7BAGgzXi82rBEoFPJwc-UiVJh0XEGVVQhf-FCsfvDwEGM6gUeyxdIBUxlPnnfhhKnzrA7RwSztoF5s-EIvgGKyQz9NZSP94PljIjJ-bTXokO6gIsjhuZIY4s79rcM~riqCBfmSQG0qdxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations Committee amended Senate Bill 2,342 to authorize up to $10 million in grant funding (or up to 5% of total project costs) for milk processing facilities as an AD fund project and changed the funding mechanism from an up-front appropriation to a Bank of North Dakota line of credit that the Agriculture Department could call on if a qualifying project moved forward.

Senator Dwyer, carrying the bill, told the committee the state faces a processing shortage after a Bismarck plant closed; shipping milk to out-of-state processors raises costs and discourages dairy operations. The bill sets grants as reimbursable and limits funding to 5% of a project's total cost, capped at $10 million. The committee discussed whether grants or interest-rate buy-downs were the right tool; sponsors argued grants would be more effective to attract large processing investments.

The amendment that established the $10 million/5% cap and the line-of-credit mechanism passed in committee, and the committee then voted a due-pass recommendation as amended. Senators noted the model mirrors recent large economic development appropriations in which a state-backed credit facility was used to avoid leaving large up-front appropriations idle.

Committee members emphasized the proposal aims to create a financial \"carrot\" to attract large processors, referenced private fundraising prospects, and pointed to South Dakota's recent expansion of dairy processing as an example. A recorded tally for the amendment and the due-pass motion was reported in committee as \"Motion passed 16,\" reflecting a unanimous or near-unanimous favorable committee vote.","Senators approved an amendment and recommended a due-pass for Senate Bill 2,342, establishing an AD fund-backed reimbursable grant cap of $10 million (or 5% of project cost) to incentivize milk processing facilities and allowing Bank of North Dakota line-of-credit triggers rather than an up-front appropriation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations panel trims egg diversification appropriation to $15 million, approves due-pass

Appropriations panel approves moving guardianship funding to judiciary; attorneys-general staffing left to separate budget

Committee backs apprenticeship grant program to expand workforce training

Committee recommends continuing $25 insulin copay cap for NDPERS members; bill passes 15-1

Committee approves $10M milk-processing grant cap, shifts funding to line-of-credit approach