[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,76,88,100,111],{"_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",6313475,"mediaKeyId","2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612","parentId",2387817,"title","Senate passes Commerce budget; renames 'Office of Legal Immigration' and adds grant-reporting requirement","audioSeconds",965,"startMs",2624000,"endMs",3589000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612&start=2624&end=3589","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612/thumbnail_2624000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6313475/North-Dakota/Senate-passes-Commerce-budget-renames-Office-of-Legal-Immigration-and-adds-grant-reporting-requirement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313475-a8ee7a25c431dda18506996dd4d8903c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675510&Signature=BttOcos08kITlW6RvtawUwYV5mo9vDby1wFEO01HkEn60JgFTtWhPqpGDZz~bDe40vPM8JLBifgsdd0zIaw5lfDam6MPjShqlM4FyrdoSGdlgLwGpaqwh-EL5O7Sfn0OBqm~AkqCEb4N~SBPDCHDZ107qY76ylkR7kAcrQepC2W0LUI5BSlm9PltLo3nNMeE2HIUyU-BnRhwaO9p6ynGg1omnzvYr1VyzALvOR9YzWbSKFTvuqIaHRzRfEkua8xKJegzxN~czGW8sJylbY14-dWGcsocO38LHZE07MzOt1LkQqvCKN6RLnd7ETDIoPQV6U3IOyhzxmkGF59AKXZMkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 2018 passed the Senate 36-9 with one senator absent after floor debate and multiple committee adjustments to funding levels for Department of Commerce programs.

Senator Dwyer, sponsor for the Appropriations Committee’s Government Operations Division, told the Senate the department oversees economic development, tourism, small-business supports, workforce programs, native American economic initiatives and housing incentives. Two non-funding amendments were highlighted: a new semiannual reporting requirement to Budget Section for all state-funded grant programs (section 11) and renaming the Office of Legal Immigration to the Office of Global Talent (section 12).

Committee funding changes reduced the Senate’s recommended total for Commerce from figures presented by the governor and earlier drafts. Dwyer said the colored summary sheet showed a Senate Bill total of $169,000,000, Governor Armstrong’s recommendation at $143,000,000, and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s package set at $95,000,000 — a $48 million reduction from the governor’s level to the committee’s recommendation.

Program-level notes from the floor: the committee combined two tourism line items into a single pool instead of $5 million apiece; tourism destination development grants were raised from $15 million to $20 million by the Government Ops committee; the bill retains funding for Native American business and workforce programs and for regional workforce impact grants and entrepreneurship funds. Dwyer emphasized that economic development investments often require multiple bienniums to measure success and that the reporting requirement is intended to increase transparency.

Senator Meyer stated a recusation under footnote 9 because his employer receives an appropriation in the bill; the Senate allowed him not to vote. The clerk recorded final passage as 36 ayes, 9 nays, 1 absent not voting; the bill is passed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","69th Legislative Assembly - Senate Floor Session Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025 7:56 AM - 8:56 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 2018, the Department of Commerce appropriation, passed after amendments that include a semiannual grant reporting requirement and renaming the Office of Legal Immigration to the Office of Global Talent; the committee reduced the overall recommended package and adjusted funding across tourism, workforce and broadband programs.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28311,"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},6313480,"Senate passes judicial branch budget, approves one-time judge salary adjustments and new guardianship office staffing",679,1939000,2618000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612&start=1939&end=2618","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612/thumbnail_1939000.jpg","/articles/6313480/North-Dakota/Senate-passes-judicial-branch-budget-approves-one-time-judge-salary-adjustments-and-new-guardianship-office-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313480-71bcbca851aa7eb9ab1fb601d5a829f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675510&Signature=D8KVOelt3quyR8hYC-PYpFN1t2Y7CD4Slt7mDvy2lScI59pZdCvpeuUihX9thqgiMoaa12WDeiOB4YWwvcPfcsL6kIAsRntnjs-yFMhFvlOwUPst2l2IpruWiROBwJ7RuWP-wmou-KcuXDRehqjgTE5EEyk7KnxKI9hc7biYCE2DrGsoKYs3nGAEhdZ5sFiNAVG2UsnMfEsnbA9I7Nu3~RjxOeGrmdarb3KVXWGjae1wfTmqhzvX7Y7mGt4s0A-duHVvkyFOIYPZbOz0Cxt6dRQVoNCNOwOobPKns~jy3FztoELHEU~zSLGXzFgDk-y1OvOUlQDGLpFEdZ3bdM-j0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2002 passed the North Dakota Senate 45-1 with one senator absent after floor consideration of amendments to judicial branch budgets.

Senator Thomas, speaking for the Appropriations Committee, outlined amendments covering the Supreme Court, district courts, the Judicial Conduct Commission and a new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship. The package includes a one-time salary adjustment in the current biennium: a 9% increase for the chief justice and an 8.5% increase for other Supreme Court justices (described as a one-time adjustment), and a 7% increase for district court judges.

The amendment added one FTE for the Supreme Court (administrative assistant) funded at $293,625 and seven FTE positions for district courts (admin assistant in Bismarck, deputy court administrator in Minot, and five IT staff). The Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship will absorb two Supreme Court staff and adds four new FTEs with $1,200,000 in funding to administer guardian/ conservatorship programs created under recently passed legislation.

Other appropriations noted on the floor include IT system maintenance and enhancements ($1,938,000 increase), $873,216 for one-time district court IT equipment, $758,000 for cloud migration of case management, $1,250,000 for clerk filing software and $960,000 for court record management upgrades. The clerk filing software was described as intended to improve filing efficiency and reduce staffing pressure.

The senate agreed to the amendment and the bill’s final passage; the clerk’s tally recorded 45 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent not voting.","Senate Bill 2002, the appropriation for the judicial branch, passed after senators approved amendments that include one-time salary adjustments for justices and district judges, new FTEs across the branch and funding for a newly created Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship.",{"_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},6313486,"Senate approves Information Technology budget with funding for interoperable radio network and broadband projects",732,1204000,1936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612&start=1204&end=1936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612/thumbnail_1204000.jpg","/articles/6313486/North-Dakota/Senate-approves-Information-Technology-budget-with-funding-for-interoperable-radio-network-and-broadband-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313486-036c9625bc52af82b61e2cd4754f1d42/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675510&Signature=EfGRL40-hkdHaAraLVTKvtHZsr9j5UtGNucAxCHreRo5Eq6w6UJXbtuMcSp~YruMOSY3Tnn-VWvwoHtQQ0eZo6WYIoZHHuZ0Kf5x3CWbXH6Hj004PwKiaOk9fn9U7tGSov7BGqlG39V0EQ8pOZ6G7dnaXXgYQEUF1-VnvRoFy4A67pOkBIc4XO0wCTNOyfMS~mj8TpG11SlJgB4c8Xw0InhN-OsWGxy92MwA0uEB4fJOKLTJKFJxYy2t-8yoxzzF54UW0COjtPHIUiYcbnRsqsum1DNSqV1Ptj65IN9DVsV8Ap0st6t762i75mIWmlgybZ6mWa53fzLX4pjCdqAB6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2021 passed the North Dakota Senate unanimously with a recorded 46 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent not voting.

Sponsor Senator Tim Davison described the bill’s amendment as effectively the budget for the North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) department and said it covers salaries, pooling, and multiple operating adjustments across fund sources. The amendment functions as the bill in this case, he said.

Key allocations cited on the floor include $608,000 added for the State Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN), $4,100,000 for cybersecurity network enhancements and $391,000 for an EduTech training application. Davison said NDIT’s funding is a mix of special funds, federal funds and general fund dollars; he noted the department will draw down an existing $37,000,000 reserve before using newly appropriated general funds.

Davison also explained that a 50-cent fee on cell phones yields about $4.5 million per biennium for the SIRN program and that an additional $147,000,000 originates from federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act capital for broadband work, with a required state match of $487,000. The bill includes exemptions that allow NDIT to spend previously appropriated federal coronavirus capital project dollars for broadband (about $45,000,000) and other enterprise digitalization project funds that have not yet been spent.

The bill also seeks continuing appropriation authority for certain internal rental/transfer arrangements to avoid double-counting in the state budget; Davison said the House will further consider transparency concerns. The engrossed bill amends and reenacts sections 54-59-14 and 54-59-15 of the North Dakota Century Code and provides appropriation and transfer language.

The Senate recorded a final tally of 46 ayes, 0 nays, 1 absent not voting; the bill is passed.","Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department appropriation bill, won final passage; the bill allocates funds for the state interoperable radio network, cybersecurity, broadband-related exemptions and other IT priorities, and includes a continuing appropriation provision.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":92,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6313490,"Senate approves bill to create uniform licensure chapter in Title 43",234,970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612&start=970&end=1204","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612/thumbnail_970000.jpg","/articles/6313490/North-Dakota/Senate-approves-bill-to-create-uniform-licensure-chapter-in-Title-43","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313490-68a3ee681d2ae7fcf184b81f49a51f23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675510&Signature=KFwFQciZAG7oZTJ6BINzBGEPa0Noz9kPqUPXkw6-kmAeWjm9g9mVnxvS7-ov1QTSD92Uu0Zqj9WJR4RgRx8EovJXUpE45-ntV354~EBVf-MZgY9XMuJuLSz-celYWi-0JS-HutU5vCAixPU2ICXC2sGg3u7YpEkxoKqhDMDftguPJQYCACCU0fD6AIeU2xoB0PLewrXFfL-f7a4Blg2EBZKTknKHn01z4G5cWuIeHCpYndTt2kwUjjZKq4keeP0o1FoAwNIBrMyAioV83eadZA2X1JwD8hNuKCdkGefIWNm3OQZ5VSdbZ1eFusn0RduyohXoav8qQceGjZnSFD9OpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2395 passed the North Dakota Senate 45-1 with one member absent after senators adopted an amendment clarifying terms and exemptions for certain offices.

The bill creates a new chapter in Title 43 NDCC to establish a consistent set of licensure processes across the state’s professional boards, where reasonably possible. Sponsor Senator Wabamaw told colleagues the change aims to reduce “red tape” and improve workforce access by creating symmetry in board operations.

Among the amendment’s edits: the secretary of state is exempted where licensing there differs in scope; the Supreme Court and the Board of Law Examiners are addressed with specific language for background checks and examination handling; interstate mobility language was added; and a 10-day licensure timeline for certain actions was included.

Senator Wabamaw said multiple boards cooperated during drafting and that the workforce development committee voted unanimously for a do-pass recommendation. The engrossed bill text creates and enacts a new chapter to Title 43, relating to universal licensure and board operations.

The clerk recorded final Senate passage as 45 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent not voting; the bill is passed.","The Senate passed Senate Bill 2395 to create a new chapter in Title 43 of the North Dakota Century Code establishing a universal licensure framework across professional boards, including appointment and removal processes and a 10-day licensure timeline.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":104,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6313495,"Senate passes bill to shift PERS health plan from 'grandfathered' to non-grandfathered",261,709000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612&start=709&end=970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2387817-b7448b7c1b779503092e985f1d59a612/thumbnail_709000.jpg","/articles/6313495/North-Dakota/Senate-passes-bill-to-shift-PERS-health-plan-from-grandfathered-to-non-grandfathered","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313495-7d5352804996484a0c35064b8c1d6e4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770675510&Signature=I8kSaIVFbi1Yb39Ym1UHBvJql--S~XtNqfRaxcb--m3j4-61ckEIAEOFO6Xh3BZEXC8e~iDjadhA0RDHlrX6xfF-k9Ra1XkVFwHAqZSXvzjZuvdobtZDILwvGAE796saLrZIm0BtAUUTz2aVPakWgzpwYug7mWBsMenJpBYhMOpLkC2RsSzPj6rA4yi-JZKdl0reDV8pLwnSmO5v9875ehna3xHAQDins23SJ3jdSxiH17ZYXrMYriXhWZ4i-06CoJk7ijSZueIGlqZl8u382psu7WbUHXRjxJLQUmgRklfDE7Jr3BKxawBztalFo1cuVZrDhdP8QhAxUI~7Xl7ufQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 2160 passed the North Dakota Senate 44-2 with one absent after senators approved an amendment to adjust funding sources and start dates for the health insurance changes.

The bill moves the North Dakota PERS health insurance plan from a grandfathered design to a non-grandfathered plan and includes appropriations to cover the transition. Senator Tim Davison, sponsor, told the Senate the change will allow the state to modify plan design “without regard to limits placed on a grandfathered plan.”

Why it matters: Davison said the bill is meant to give the state more tools to combat medical inflation when the contract is bid in July 2026. “In the past 2 bienniums, our health insurance has risen between 7 to 8% a year. Currently, our premiums are somewhere between $600,000,000 and $650,000,000 per biennium,” Davison said on the floor.

Supporters said the bill also expands certain benefits for state employees. Davison listed examples: copayments will count toward out-of-pocket maximums, preventive colonoscopies and additional well-child and lactation counseling coverage, and routine prenatal and postnatal care covered at specified levels.

Appropriations and committee action: Davison outlined the funding in section 4: $1,900,000 from the general fund, $2,400,000 from special and federal funds, and $4,300,000 from the health insurance reserve fund. He reported unanimous passage in the Human Services Committee and a 15–1 vote in Senate Appropriations.

The Senate clerk recorded the final tally as 44 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent not voting; the bill is passed.

Less critical details: The engrossed bill amends and reenacts Section 54-52 of the North Dakota Century Code, provides an appropriation and states legislative intent; the bill text also references an effective date.","The North Dakota Senate approved Senate Bill 2160 to allow changes to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) group health plan and provide related appropriations; supporters said the move will give the state more flexibility when bidding health coverage and expand benefits for some employees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate passes Commerce budget; renames 'Office of Legal Immigration' and adds grant-reporting requirement

Senate passes judicial branch budget, approves one-time judge salary adjustments and new guardianship office staffing

Senate approves Information Technology budget with funding for interoperable radio network and broadband projects

Senate approves bill to create uniform licensure chapter in Title 43

Senate passes bill to shift PERS health plan from 'grandfathered' to non-grandfathered