[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6317492,"mediaKeyId","2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e","parentId",2372472,"title","Committee splits on sentencing and transitional placement bill; fiscal note estimated at about $40 million","audioSeconds",1429,"startMs",4535000,"endMs",5964000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e&start=4535&end=5964","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e/thumbnail_4535000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317492/North-Dakota/Committee-splits-on-sentencing-and-transitional-placement-bill-fiscal-note-estimated-at-about-40-million","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317492-9371b5b34792f08c74edf671f042e3a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163637&Signature=frX5ZC0PB661OVAOO60JHrwsUkYDOWks~WZZdTfxeq~uwDThO9yerEdb0VGGTMflVExvSyob7BCHnTZe75gwMv8pmLqfatV2Bbo2yMc4XoTjay7-dz3pJGO-Nm~nu1LTxhI4-WWIniAg8A0Ng0j0NsFCh0pu4WqVhf~2qyqcrgotX4oIz06OSedP5GZc0a2dOrhOL6gvsLbMEibH-HnVJyhCaeZ5y1P~rJzrHLGf~~SjSKTgnH-x7uQKC3hiu8PXYF9nafM2Tx4~pPT3P1iNtmEkQMcR44I5o1C8bl5lzlDPlPWeKKLgsaegqM2H8nomlHflCrAAOk4MyUi6iw~lBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 2,128 — legislation that adjusts release rules, good‑time calculations and the use of transitional facilities — generated extensive debate in the Appropriations Committee and will proceed to the Senate floor with split committee recommendations.

Senator Dever (committee member) introduced the amendments that clarified the bill would not prevent inmates serving under an 85% rule from participating in training and education programs. \"It was my interpretation and the OCR's interpretation that this would prevent any inmate under the 85% rule from participating in any education, training, and those kinds of programs,\" he told the committee; an amendment to clarify that point passed unanimously in committee.

Committee discussion focused on whether policy changes in the bill would lengthen stays in more expensive placements (state prison versus transitional facilities), with a department fiscal note estimating roughly $22.6 million additional direct costs in the upcoming biennium and about $4.1 million in other impacts (the bill presenter summarized those figures in an updated fiscal narrative distributed to committee members). Committee members urged more study and data collection about the duration and outcomes of placements before making sweeping statutory changes.

The Appropriations Committee voted on a do‑not‑pass recommendation as amended by a narrow margin; the committee chair noted the policy committee had earlier split 4–3 on a due pass. \"No bill in my legislative service has caused me the kind of stress that this bill does,\" Senator Dever said, urging further deliberation and study. The bill will move to the floor where the broader Senate will consider the competing policy and fiscal recommendations.

The transcript and the DOCR materials provided to the committee show the majority of the projected fiscal impact stems from moving more people into more expensive placements and providing longer periods under state supervision; the committee emphasized the fiscal note is not an appropriation but would need to be accounted for in future budget work if the law changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations Friday, Feb 21, 2025 10:04 AM - 11:44 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2,128, which tightens rules about placements and good‑time calculations and affects where inmates serve portions of their sentences, passed the policy committee but drew a do‑not‑pass recommendation from the Appropriations Committee by a narrow margin; DOCR estimated a fiscal impact of roughly $40 million for the upcoming biennium.","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},6317496,"Appropriations committee advances corrections budget with added transition funding, facilities planning and victim services boost",3498,958000,4456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e&start=958&end=4456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e/thumbnail_958000.jpg","/articles/6317496/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-advances-corrections-budget-with-added-transition-funding-facilities-planning-and-victim-services-boost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317496-ff7ac547495893324f8b2da5077d6875/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163637&Signature=cIqxG7gH7vNguTw3tiJ5tRQHp56r~cWgiVJY-IwLfSV993fY-qKLQzzl0bNxzuNy4rKZErwM2FaNd~bSPAkXHX2p7Ih50dYArZ7cdDCC7em6jgJCZ3rzNJyZqnAQbmQI5ieusaKMnPQbItAlPDfsVTxfapNm1dekZrxpE8KuhqW2D~yWqJuJmH~I5oIMVhNkk7XT2YbYx-OlMLTtO3M6rDcwiVEkalZk5ipppCD-G0Gg2ZFqmsNX0owgr1mvG4iZ2~vfXak4yRDFTbDJ9Hom6EOo5JpvjXqT-yHmqGgNdlaa4sOFdzD25HP247Wx8L~-fmgdxrQMRShUeK9uvyBoBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations Committee approved a due pass as amended for Senate Bill 20‑15, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) budget, after adopting a multi‑section amendment that adjusts staffing, capital planning and program funding.

Senator Cleary, who presented the amendment, said the changes include conversions of temporary employees to permanent FTEs; 26 FTEs to staff the Heart River Correctional Center (HRCC) as it comes online; seven FTEs for a temporary 88‑bed unit at the Missouri River Correctional Center (MRCC); two FTEs for pretrial services (the governor requested three); and a 10‑FTE placeholder for county and regional correctional centers tied to ongoing Grand Forks discussions. \"We thought putting 10 in there, and then they can come back if there's an agreement and ask for the appropriate amount of FTEs,\" Cleary said.

The amendment included large one‑time items: about $35.6 million in special funds and a small general fund amount to complete HRCC, $15 million for deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs, $11.113 million for IT and software modernization, $1.5 million for a Northwest regional reentry/transition center in Minot, and $17.5 million estimated for payments to county and regional jails for overflow housing. The committee also recommended eliminating parole supervision fees because of low collection rates.

During the debate, Senator Mather offered an amendment to add $2 million from the Special Infrastructure Fund (SIF) to the Victims of Crime Grant Fund, raising the DOCR‑administered allocation from $5 million to $7 million to replace declining federal victim‑services grants; that amendment passed on a roll call. \"These are funds that DOCR acts as the administrator for going out to different organizations, nonprofits that help with services for victims of crime,\" the bill presenter said.

Lawmakers discussed a placeholder $3 million for potential contracting with a Grand Forks facility and a broader proposal to shift a larger higher‑education appropriation to corrections; that floor amendment was withdrawn after extended debate and failed attempts to pass larger appropriations. Committee members required quarterly reports to Legislative Management on MRCC planning and added language for a study of use of transition facilities and parole at a sponsor's request.

The committee adopted the amendment package and passed the bill as amended. The amendment and bill together reflect a combination of one‑time construction and renovation funding, operating increases (payroll, inmate wages, contract inflationary adjustments), IT modernization, and programmatic changes intended to address bed shortages and reentry services.","Lawmakers advanced the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget (Senate Bill 20‑15) as amended, adding FTEs, funding for new and temporary facilities, IT modernization, deferred maintenance, and a one‑time increase to the Victims of Crime Grant Fund.",{"_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},6317501,"Committee rejects bill to increase charitable gaming support for gambling‑disorder programs",218,747000,965000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e&start=747&end=965","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e/thumbnail_747000.jpg","/articles/6317501/North-Dakota/Committee-rejects-bill-to-increase-charitable-gaming-support-for-gamblingdisorder-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317501-4d8d3ef853c480766c3101008b6509a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163637&Signature=lOLq27Gqj~uOJFgSaTSwq-osrzFgtTZQgWoAR1Vye7a12jjz9gMUflpa2ZyCnNe6Nljtu1OoearksQQ5q1tWrGvK-XzUTTmWlg5z3QsVvFK3uXhsSTyW8ac0TgskPsV5PTp1O3ebf42x6lADjLj04SJhL7qUvIeToFz8icHNLMXK05QrOruFRMbrjlOsVagM6f5~qLBlYGkzIH0JCADrrZoveweWbYkMPo2YNl6wMHEjniBSQxH9cq-86RLX~eiKeSa7hYWeN6MPX3js15A1VoW-C8-Hq0Fi-p2xcAjH2l1mteUkTxIAD8OBM7ZuagLseRziaztL~LVsx~bksejMVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations Committee recommended a do‑not‑pass on Senate Bill 2,393, which would have modified transfers from the charitable gaming fund to gambling disorder prevention and treatment efforts.

Senator Dever (bill presenter) explained the bill would adjust how dollars from the charitable gaming fund are allocated for gambling addiction prevention and treatment, and it also proposed an additional full‑time equivalent (FTE) position to support that work in the Attorney General’s Office. Committee members said the bill’s dollar language overlapped with another bill, Senate Bill 2,205, which raised quarterly transfers from $10,000 per quarter to $75,000 per quarter. There was concern SB 2,393 might unintentionally replace, duplicate or conflict with SB 2,205. Committee staff also noted the Attorney General’s fiscal note did not include the cost of the proposed FTE.

Given those overlaps and the committee’s view that the funding and the requested staff position were better considered in the human services budget process, Senator Dever moved a do‑not‑pass recommendation. The committee adopted that recommendation on a roll‑call vote and the bill received a do‑not‑pass recommendation from the Appropriations Committee.","Appropriations subcommittee recommended a do‑not‑pass on Senate Bill 2,393 after discussing overlap with another bill and concerns about where staffing and dollars should be allocated.",{"_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},6317506,"Appropriations panel backs $600,000 pilot to mail plain‑language ballot summaries",756,128000,884000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e&start=128&end=884","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2372472-4d101d0c1e715297eb4734caa0b8de9e/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6317506/North-Dakota/Appropriations-panel-backs-600000-pilot-to-mail-plainlanguage-ballot-summaries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317506-d9d0533b9a9817d2d6fb5718309f2500/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163637&Signature=X3ITmc04VBCIhh199mWaeFoRQwaZIE4OLOMDtxtI8SDRzenZ-e3jK8F2HdcGi3i6BfJ7QcEC4s6fK3liAbly5fY0fPc5CHZ7naMiAUDs5makeh7wSVWGyJRUuUbpgbRH2fZ9RbehfwUNG5ED0ZUxhXhfb0LvtZUe9pd0U0iaFDItZEEFOU8VMd4-elLoYUWrBDLoQuTt9qqi~EB1jo7jzd6tuouX-45zl4tf2e88O3wvkBgRynNaYOnmZ6GzgGafWoRZE2~-ramb8jhP0SBJ4SVQXn-KoG29Qw74XyeSwTA7r2XGx3~RD5SUYpruUBCFDRbCFU3p9rjJSuKW7FwDjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Appropriations Committee voted to give a due pass as amended to Senate Bill 2,230, a one‑biennium $600,000 appropriation to the Secretary of State to create and mail simple, objective summaries of statewide ballot measures to active voters.

The bill carrier, Senator Urban Lee, told the committee the measure is designed to help voters understand statewide constitutional measures and initiated measures that appear on the ballot. \"If you vote yes, it'll do this. If you vote no, it'll do that,\" Lee said, describing the intended format for the two‑sided sheet. The mailing would be sent about 45 days before an election and would be limited to primary and general elections in the biennium.

Supporters said the model mirrors an existing program in Montana and that the committee received a cost estimate from the Secretary of State. The department estimated the program would reach about 450,000 active voters; postage was estimated at about $400,000 using bulk rates and printing and materials about $200,000. The appropriation covers a single biennium to allow a judgment on whether the mailer improves voter understanding before any longer‑term funding is considered.

Committee members added amendment language clarifying the one‑time funding and then voted to adopt the amendment. The amendment passed on a recorded voice roll call and the bill carried a due pass as amended out of the committee.

Action on SB 2,230 now moves forward with the committee recommendation and the Secretary of State will be the implementing agency if the appropriation becomes law.","The Appropriations Committee voted to give a due pass to Senate Bill 2,230, a one‑biennium $600,000 appropriation to the Secretary of State for objective, plain‑language mailers explaining statewide ballot measures to active voters.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee splits on sentencing and transitional placement bill; fiscal note estimated at about $40 million

Appropriations committee advances corrections budget with added transition funding, facilities planning and victim services boost

Committee rejects bill to increase charitable gaming support for gambling‑disorder programs

Appropriations panel backs $600,000 pilot to mail plain‑language ballot summaries