[{"_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",6322368,"mediaKeyId","2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e","parentId",2347938,"title","Appropriations committee hears three‑bill reentry package aimed at reducing recidivism and improving transitions","audioSeconds",2747,"startMs",4678000,"endMs",7425000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e&start=4678&end=7425","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e/thumbnail_4678000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322368/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-hears-threebill-reentry-package-aimed-at-reducing-recidivism-and-improving-transitions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322368-06e525c4e770f15d69c154b9876d2886/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447845&Signature=ZslKCnYmEIXKWCoL-TzGs7w4WZ6iWvjM86F6Z0C-pfURJuiKaHj0fjmoVpJ1a74glzipViSXgPxCJD57Rr5Z-p7BS7vHC7MK6cUDnMvjFBeNegvmFHRAFJlZU98gXAbjawwDqwdm8noASwynU6tdALBKt-jczfH~rvRJYF1kbg4z-yx-bu0JIoua8AsvntENGy0gC8QGetiVYq~07ua8NFs~LCtqIG0sdExsYmFBlmHOkoR8gm-hqY0vn~UCwXnuOaulCUMQH5e7yoaeoa~LOzoE6jX96i5g5I2L6g1TVeu2YO-OXN4Vl-1ZsLXWvowdk8-Lqim-lCzx6gSegC10GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Lawrence Clameen, presenting a package of three bills to the Appropriations Committee, said the measures target front‑end diversion, supervision consistency and reentry supports to reduce recidivism and relieve pressure on overcrowded prison and jail beds.

House Bill 14 25 (prosecution‑led diversion, deflection and pretrial services): Clameen said the bill would authorize prosecution‑led diversion programs (court rule 32.2 codified) and establish a three‑county pilot in which the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) would provide supervision. The bill requests an appropriation to DOCR for supervision administration and requests $750,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for treatment and related services for participants. Clameen and DOCR described deflection as a community‑level process that connects people with behavioral health needs to services \"rather than putting them in jail.\" The bill additionally asks for a $55,000 study to evaluate cost savings from pretrial services.

House Bill 14 17 (parole/probation violations, fees, indigent defense): Clameen said HB 14 17 proposes a more consistent, tiered response to technical supervision violations — for example, short custodial sanctions for initial technical violations (15 days for a first revocation, up to 30 days for a second, up to 90 for a third, before imposing the remaining sentence on a fourth violation) — and would eliminate a $55/month supervision fee and a $35 public‑defender application fee. The fiscal impacts were described: eliminating the $55/month supervision fee would reduce DOCR collections by about $1.5 million over two years (collection rate ~25%); eliminating indigent defense application and recoupment fees would reduce revenue by roughly $310,000–$343,000 over the biennium; HB 14 17 includes a $310,000 appropriation to the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigence to offset lost application fee revenue.

House Bill 15 49 (reentry grants, IDs, Medicaid coordination, Native American reentry): Clameen said HB 15 49 would create a grant program to fund evidence‑based jail reentry programming ($1.5 million appropriation to DOCR) and direct DOCR to work with the Department of Transportation to improve access to state identification and to coordinate with DHHS to enroll eligible people in Medicaid before release. The bill also directs DOCR to partner with tribes on culturally appropriate reentry initiatives and appropriates $25,000 for a Native American reentry program liaison. Section 7 requests a study on criminal record sealing and possible automation or expansion of sealing eligibility.

Colby Braun, DOCR director, told the committee that the department does not currently have the requested supervision FTE in its budget and would need appropriations for new positions and contract oversight. Pam Segnus of DHHS explained that the proposed diversion funding would target pre‑prosecution populations and supplement (but not replace) existing programs such as Free Through Recovery, which serves people under DOCR custody.

Committee members asked about expected savings from reduced admissions and whether the proposals would meaningfully bend the upward trend in admissions. DOCR said outcomes data exists on improved short‑term outcomes (court appearance, service connection) but a study is needed to quantify long‑term impacts and cost savings. Members discussed candidate counties for the pilot, operational details for third‑party contracts, and coordination with existing county and tribal programs. No final committee votes on the reentry bills were recorded in the provided transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025 9:55 AM - 12:08 PM","oneSentenceSummary","A three‑bill reentry package presented to Appropriations would fund pilot prosecution‑led diversion and deflection, create tiered sanctions for supervision violations while eliminating some supervision and indigent defense fees, and appropriate money for jail reentry grants, IDs, Medicaid coordination and a Native American reentry liaison.","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},6322374,"Appropriations committee approves $400,000 for UND immigration law clinic; bill passes on voice vote",1512,3392000,4904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e&start=3392&end=4904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e/thumbnail_3392000.jpg","/articles/6322374/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-approves-400000-for-UND-immigration-law-clinic-bill-passes-on-voice-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322374-e90e3b6e46ff2edabedc24c2f18390d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447845&Signature=lqBGmwpYoHHksd5RGWsgamZ2r~ywVuMpreNRPfUuZIlZM130~bNhhixrtTvmcbtZ8jqxBVAdCUMQLCqCdW8kDHur~bV28AvyvWn6xs~XrW3oTVtDV2OWZHdd2tL6Cg9j79UM9VE4xBIUvcqNjYef2-J~4lZzMHTvHqb9EpE1r~szw4oag96Inqwb-9M7OeY2PPDb-5l6-DnS9CT2RlEd00s1nK7ahpQ3~hgyn65ApsVwYzvJzYanq~fPxKFOYFf-YVuuewMBidULwC7~8sHSrtb02V7bT73hh~9zh~afil68yVoaymuu004wfCiOno9EHaxroFopN5keAEBLt13-RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Lawrence Clameen presented House Bill 1,600 to the Appropriations Committee and described a proposal to establish an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota School of Law. \"The bill contains an appropriation of, dollars 400,000,\" Clameen said, and he handed out a Dean’s cost estimate showing annual program needs of $150,000 to $200,000 for a staff attorney, travel, software, malpractice insurance, interpreters and administrative support.

Representative O’Brien described the clinic’s purpose as helping employers navigate work‑visa processes and providing law students experiential practice: “The intention… is to help these individuals to go through the process because the employers are the ones that are navigating it,” she said, and added the clinic would serve the entire state using remote tools such as Teams or Zoom.

Committee members asked operational questions including geographic reach, whether the clinic would substitute for private practitioners, and how the clinic would coordinate with the Office of Legal Immigration under the Department of Commerce. Witnesses and members acknowledged limited existing immigration legal capacity in the state — testimony identified only a few active immigration attorneys — and supporters said the clinic aims to expand local capacity and provide a training pipeline.

Representative Murphy moved a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Richter seconded. The committee recorded a roll call and the motion carried (as announced in committee): \"Motion carries. 22 and 1.\" The bill will return to the original carrier in the Judiciary Committee for floor consideration.

The transcript shows no further fiscal or policy amendments at the Appropriations hearing.","The committee gave a due‑pass recommendation to HB 1,600, which would fund an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota School of Law with a $400,000 appropriation to support a staff attorney, training, interpreters and operational costs; Representative Murphy moved the due‑pass motion and the committee carried it in roll call.",{"_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},6322379,"Bill would move reduced‑cigarette enforcement fund into Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund; committee delays action",365,2915000,3280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e&start=2915&end=3280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e/thumbnail_2915000.jpg","/articles/6322379/North-Dakota/Bill-would-move-reducedcigarette-enforcement-fund-into-Insurance-Regulatory-Trust-Fund-committee-delays-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322379-df71ddef1c6384f08ef71c2eadb9840a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447845&Signature=Ot3VTud1yEfPErNDcCVw5rgpec9LvA3qLERr2-MNUGYZURzaL5N4Q0F1pevAslUN4EhwQZ-v~PU7yTdR99VtuvFZI4IgdiDAnE1W2fAucxTZ8qvn9GyWaL9hcPYTH3PMxGjoPYvKIshWhjokLSYk7LhjT7oxyRvdIZW5abfAkHc44Ev6bi34IlMV9Mn6V7BfCsmi1QcQViC~2dtlwY~HNaNXZdTamVW1~LnZ6Kr12wyxflVV3fTj~mnrUdBN4aHpFDrBZhPmubw5OKjF63AlWve6dXWpn-HBIw1HdJuT0TTqxwRf5Q4zkxjfYhwdu9cWTWOCYaIRjF~RlpAusZz~2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Wohrey (District 22) presented House Bill 10 86, an agency bill that would move the Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act enforcement fund into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund and allow the trust fund to support fire marshal expenses.

Wohrey explained the fund was established in 2009 and is financed by periodic manufacturer contributions tied to cigarette certification. He said the current cash balance in the enforcement fund is about $491,360 and that amendments to HB 10 86 would transfer the enforcement fund balance to the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund on August 1, with any unused amount at the end of the fiscal year (June 2026) transferring to the general fund.

The committee discussed the bill’s fiscal mechanics in the context of previously passed trust‑fund language. Members said one previous committee action had set the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund reserve at $1,000,000 while HB 10 86 reflected an intent to increase the reserve to $1,500,000. Chair and members said they needed consistency across committee actions and deferred a motion pending resolution of the ending fund balance issue.

Representative Nelson asked whether the cigarette‑related testing program had measurable public‑safety outcomes; Wohrey said the fund originally supported cigarette testing to enforce performance standards designed to reduce fire hazards and described the program’s history. A representative from the insurance department was available for technical questions but committee members concluded they would resolve the trust fund balance question before taking further action.

No committee vote on HB 10 86 was recorded in the transcript; the committee indicated it would hold the bill for later discussion to ensure consistent messaging about the trust‑fund reserve level.","Representative Wohrey presented agency bill HB 10 86 to transfer the Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act enforcement fund into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to address cashflow matters for the fire marshal office; the committee deferred action pending consistency on trust fund reserve levels.",{"_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},6322383,"Committee hears $5 million proposal to help small political subdivisions install natural gas distribution",459,2352000,2811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e&start=2352&end=2811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e/thumbnail_2352000.jpg","/articles/6322383/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-5-million-proposal-to-help-small-political-subdivisions-install-natural-gas-distribution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322383-7b6cf402f98ff02bf38c33fc198ffa03/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447845&Signature=GbFLsDOc4b-h-vvVtj~dvR3tEKVIMXgCFl0Cn5S5cEFNubZG3TG7Sa9XOEKU0xNnW~Y1sqGaDdTHvjmEdTQFzRGVm~czaPg3RQJVYderf~BZl64p0M-0xmwalFsbktoOAcm30fjzSbKmKEjBl2iJ7TVgGdlOUQvXMBPapKaTXkSicX94xCSSgaktRamBBTbR5LObVv6psD2kylNLhM40pFta2IC1gK15wYUNozwRGM~1d3n3PUaabHMQrwZmioZEH7DVNr2b~8~YIPuQj~k1GJIjw~gZ~PwqYg~7xe0z5gYNDTwRoHdwSSsqki25YVfGhYEvbi3XxerNZQ~0Ew5drA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Olson presented House Bill 12 75 to the Appropriations Committee, describing a proposal to appropriate $5,000,000 from the Strategic Investment Fund for a natural gas distribution grant program. \"This would be a grant program for political subdivisions to get a 50% match, to assist in putting in natural gas infrastructure,\" Olson said, and noted the program targets political subdivisions with populations under 10,000.

Members questioned practical application and timing. Representative Gampett and others noted that mainline construction and pipeline availability can be years away in many regions; Olson acknowledged there was no delayed effective date in the bill and that projects might not be able to use the money within the current biennium. Representative Pyle asked if the bill included a maximum award per applicant; Olson said the draft did not set a per‑project cap and instead prioritizes projects that offer a greater local match.

Representative Nelson described local experience where a hook‑up to an existing transmission (Alliance) pipeline can cost many millions — far above a single community’s ability to match. Committee members said $5 million would be small relative to statewide transmission and distribution costs; Olson said the amount reflected the original request and committee discussion had considered larger sums but did not change the introduced figure.

The bill language allows political subdivisions to use funds for initial distribution infrastructure and does not explicitly restrict use to new pipeline construction versus tapping existing lines. No committee vote on HB 12 75 was recorded in the transcript segment provided.","House Bill 12 75 would create a $5 million grant program from the Strategic Investment Fund to assist political subdivisions under 10,000 people with 50% matching grants to install natural gas distribution when a mainline becomes available.",{"_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},6322387,"Appropriations committee hears bill to create $50 million wastewater grant program",293,782000,1075000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e&start=782&end=1075","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2347938-4b898ad363b00580c62869b41474c94e/thumbnail_782000.jpg","/articles/6322387/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-hears-bill-to-create-50-million-wastewater-grant-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322387-f7d7dfae88ff32ad8fcb4322b3cf8a92/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447845&Signature=NIlb4arno4jj7dn~k74~lMegWbdG6GU~xlmF-t68vNvGDeYJ5VVcLHo~g2mgHeSsKVTsd6F1QzcUVzjhFTyMZ6kDAq72LzI9cUT5FhVz0Hs-M4w~2tZ9xkZPxsbCU34isR9MoUxJEhzC21ehAtiDvxe-Aw0P3oSPndCV4PTv~w-tpYtUw3nCkpwwa2WiIl1mezamThNQuT1Ck5R4ak8D8bAAv8Cq07v~kRShiBD-Xv1aU2WHPnVeuefqSi7MGp-k0iFO9sWftR6T7SkZen1cS0ZePz~A03VdC2hFTgqTVGn5LRK6oHMfGqQ8F58KoMCvkIksYeo1cFFlvghyzV9fFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Liz Conmey, presenting HB 15 77 to the full Appropriations Committee in Bismarck, said the bill would create a wastewater infrastructure grant program administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality and “appropriate 50,000,000 from the State Investments and Improvement Fund or SIF.”

The bill would cap grants at 12,500,000 per project and provide an “equal allocation for cities under 5,000 residents,” and use a 60 percent state / 40 percent local cost-share to reduce reliance on property taxes and special assessments, Conmey said.

David Brushhein, Division Director of Municipal Facilities at the Department of Environmental Quality, told the committee the state’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) currently distributes federal funds as low‑interest loans and a limited amount of grants. “Currently with the bipartisan infrastructure law there’s $7,000,000 per year in grama funds that are available through the Clean Water SRF program,” he said, adding that the federal boost is time‑limited and is expected to drop in 2027 to about $400,000 annually.

Committee members and agency witnesses said needs statewide are far larger than the bill’s appropriation. Brushhein and other witnesses described a 2025 project priority list that included roughly 257 wastewater projects with total construction cost near $1.4 billion; many small communities remain on such lists for years because they cannot afford required local matches.

Committee members asked technical and policy questions: Representative Nelson and others sought clarity on how current CWSRF grant/loan forgiveness works and whether other federal grants (Army Corps, USDA Rural Development, Community Development Block Grant) would be counted toward the local match. Brushhein said program rules and administrative decisions would determine how outside funds interact with a state grant, and that the DEQ had not finalized those operational details.

Diane Ayment of the Public Finance Authority described how both the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF programs use ranking criteria to allocate the small pool of grant or forgivable funds to the highest‑priority projects. She confirmed the clean water program historically had less grant forgiveness than the drinking water program and that North Dakota’s share of federal grant dollars has been reduced in years when congressional earmarks reallocated SRF funds.

Supporters framed the bill as a targeted, immediate infusion to reduce pressure on small systems and ratepayers; several committee members cautioned that $50 million is only a partial response to multi‑hundred‑million needs and asked for more detail on administration, prioritization and how the program would coordinate with existing federal and state grant sources.

No committee vote on HB 15 77 was recorded in the transcript segment provided.","Representative Liz Conmey told the House Appropriations Committee that House Bill 15 77 would create a $50 million wastewater infrastructure grant program administered by the Department of Environmental Quality, with 60/40 grant-match structure, project caps and special set-asides for very small cities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Appropriations committee hears three‑bill reentry package aimed at reducing recidivism and improving transitions

Appropriations committee approves $400,000 for UND immigration law clinic; bill passes on voice vote

Bill would move reduced‑cigarette enforcement fund into Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund; committee delays action

Committee hears $5 million proposal to help small political subdivisions install natural gas distribution

Appropriations committee hears bill to create $50 million wastewater grant program