[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6119190,"mediaKeyId","2713846-44ebdfba39e278cf4a272287e56e3479","parentId",2713846,"title","Appropriations committee roundup: K‑12 council study funding, forensic exam reimbursements and other votes","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7539000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2713846-44ebdfba39e278cf4a272287e56e3479&start=7539&end=7539","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2713846-44ebdfba39e278cf4a272287e56e3479/thumbnail_7539000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6119190/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-roundup-K12-council-study-funding-forensic-exam-reimbursements-and-other-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119190-e756e70ed62444f5ca2936deb84c67a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152167&Signature=OxyK3-zkZk1pvmmkK6o1LAbqg89rUUSlzTBWaxT0EqXf6Q8xfRT4zY8CrgMpII1T3j9x13p3M8uQrEUnMwK7zZ0URz9YryZAqyZHajT5rbRjasE-UKfU5IPPqaKHu3NS2B0MPVuyMY5tCxzTshGJ5lHJOwPJxs3mJOIHER5WA2PUMC~uEkZmfRBNI-qD-x4No08XBz2S94PWDLE9nfOdU8LHaNsWdP6UWLK9~-YAdr1qUmIIa3PnvIV2TFa95sHbd8rbHmfaKfqW-PDEQtTrxMW~BAbMfjzwkKlxUYuDoXpzF2NGBrAXemUIrAGuHU~e06d4Y5zehSI7xBap3PSzOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","The House Appropriations Committee considered several short appropriations and judiciary referral items and recorded votes on multiple bills.

K‑12 council studies (Senate Bill 2262): Representative Pat Heinert presented a request to appropriate $120,000 to the K‑12 Council to contract for research and studies on education topics the council identifies. Members asked whether the council could use existing DPI funds; the sponsor and witnesses said the council’s small administrative budget is insufficient to contract for outside research. The committee first voted on a due‑pass motion; that motion failed (9–13, 1 absent). A later motion for do‑not‑pass carried on a roll call that the transcript records as 14–8; the committee sent a do‑not‑pass recommendation.

Forensic medical examinations — domestic violence/child abuse (Senate Bill 2209): Representative Steve Vetter presented a bill authorizing forensic medical examinations and making a $200,000 appropriation to continue a pilot that reimburses providers for exams and associated work (for example, photography, swabs, clothing collection). Christie Wolf of Central Dakota Forensic Nurse Examiners described the pilot (February–December 2024) and said her organization alone saw 62 victims during that period. The bill aligns domestic violence evidence‑kit reimbursement with existing funding structures for sexual‑assault forensic exams. Committee members asked about chain‑of‑custody, training, tribal coordination and how the appropriation would be administered; witnesses confirmed exams were performed by trained forensic nurses and that the AG’s office currently reimburses similar sexual‑assault exams. The committee voted a due‑pass recommendation (roll reported as carried; tally recorded in the committee as 21 yes, 0 no, with two not voting/absent counted).

Court fee adjustments (Senate Bill 2057): Representative Vetter summarized changes that the judiciary committee left to appropriations — primarily increases to court filing and court cost fees (criminal fee increases were removed). The state court administrator explained the bill will not affect the indigent defense budget after the House stripped criminal fee increases. The committee approved a due‑pass recommendation on SB 2057 (roll reported carried 21–0; two members absent/not voting).

Prison nursery policy (Senate Bill 2352): SB 2352 would permit policies allowing children age 18 months or younger to reside with incarcerated mothers in residential units the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) would establish. DOCR witnesses said the fiscal note ($100,000) covers nursery supplies (cribs, car seats, feeding equipment) and that program staffing is being absorbed in the department’s staffing plan for the Heart River facility under construction. Members debated timing and whether appropriations now are necessary; the committee voted a due‑pass recommendation and the bill was advanced. Members noted the actual operating costs could be revisited in the next biennium once policy details and grant options are developed.

Move forensic‑exam reimbursement to general fund (Senate Bill 2292): Representative Matt Ruby presented a proposal to use the general fund rather than the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to reimburse forensic medical examinations related to sexual assault. Insurance division testimony said the trust fund historically turned back excess balances to the general fund and that prior statute changes and other appropriations have reduced the trust’s uncommitted balance. The committee voted to advance SB 2292 (reported as carried on roll, 20 yes and 3 not voting/absent).

What’s next: Several bills referred to appropriations will return with budget integration or additional fiscal detail; the committee chair asked divisions to be ready to move small budgets the next week. Members also asked agencies and the Land Commissioner to provide data and projections requested during hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations Thursday, Mar 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Appropriations Committee acted on multiple bills: it rejected funding for K‑12 council research, approved continued reimbursement for forensic medical exams for domestic violence and child‑abuse forensic exams, advanced several judiciary bills, and cleared a policy change moving a forensic‑exam payment source to the general fund.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28310,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6119195,"Appropriations committee weighs constitutional measure to divert up to $3 billion from trust funds for school construction",2731,666000,3397000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2713846-44ebdfba39e278cf4a272287e56e3479&start=666&end=3397","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2713846-44ebdfba39e278cf4a272287e56e3479/thumbnail_666000.jpg","/articles/6119195/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-weighs-constitutional-measure-to-divert-up-to-3-billion-from-trust-funds-for-school-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6119195-8c3bea626f49b5d0f8abe118e29a8d0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152167&Signature=bTqHJs-YXYD9mQh5XL7Ko5xoBoUJhk2oDGkzlBT01R6kWSp7bXjOq-fa4BWTsrXIGlqtBkwkLr6bYHHb72uuhNPZ96LQwSlxnjad49fiX9y0~w4xj90-WwW9fDrDmN1ICI2QyihDLHzfAp~y143GTfgAblXoLIfNqG91XuRJGQjMunEE~V98mkRr9--hqf0e1GZEB~NkGNm3ZWitlYV-eSLdlY6TgRhGHLwRuklQO-KsObq6TIVXSe68gkyA-It6-jLv3DRWWbVHd2ffM0Z-op1~7HcGCpohRnSkDmcj6Yqa6wyszXcyKlPW~Wk4yq3J-ul6ATJlIU10C-bpUyONXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Appropriations Committee members debated House Concurrent Resolution 3,035 on the measure’s plan to send a constitutional amendment to voters allowing up to $300 million per year for 10 years (a cumulative $3 billion) to be withdrawn from perpetual trust funds for a school construction program.

The resolution’s sponsor, Representative Pat Heinert, told the committee the measure would redirect $300 million per year for 10 years from perpetual trust funds established under Article IX of the North Dakota Constitution into a school construction program, and that committee modeling projects long-term reductions in distributions and trust balances. “This is a resolution to put on the vote of the people a constitutional measure to utilize $300,000,000 per year for 10 years totaling $3,000,000,000 from the perpetual trust funds established under Article 9 of the Constitution for School Construction Program,” Heinert said during his presentation.

Why it matters: supporters said the money would provide capital funding for school construction needs that some districts cannot meet locally; opponents and a fiscal witness said the withdrawals would materially reduce future distributions from the Common Schools Trust Fund and related perpetual funds, potentially lowering the long-term funding available for K–12 state aid.

Land Commissioner Joseph Herringer testified in opposition and described modeling the Land Board provided to the committee. Using the board’s 6.72% assumed rate of return, Herringer said the projected cumulative reduction in distributions from the Common Schools Trust Fund would be roughly $4.4 billion over 30 years and that the fund balance could be reduced by roughly $5.8 billion, which he characterized as a long-term negative impact. “I do believe there are some major issues with this bill. I have some major concerns,” Herringer said, summarizing the Land Board’s analysis.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on details the resolution does not contain. Representative Bosch asked how recipients would be chosen; Heinert and others acknowledged the resolution does not include implementation mechanics and that no allocation or qualification process currently is in law. Representative Richter asked whether the program would be grants or loans; Heinert initially misstated loan but corrected himself, saying the measure contemplates grants. Multiple members noted the resolution does not create a baseline assessment of school needs or a distribution formula, and several said the absence of mechanics makes it difficult to determine who would benefit.

Several legislators expressed concern about the constitutional and policy implications of diverting funds intended to benefit all public schools. Representative Nelson pointed to language in the resolution that says state aid payments may not be reduced “as a result of this subsection,” but warned that, in practice, if trust distributions decline, the general fund could be required to backfill school aid. Representative Nathie and others said opening the trust to principal withdrawals would set a precedent that could be difficult to reverse.

Representative Murphy offered Amendment 25.3103.01001, which narrowed some language and clarified that distributions would originate from the Common Schools Trust Fund rather than all perpetual trusts and set an up-to-$600 million per biennium ceiling. The committee voted on the amendment; the amendment failed on the floor roll (tally reported later as 7 yeas, 16 nays). After further debate, the committee voted on a motion of \"do not pass\" for HCR 3,035. The committee’s recorded action was a do-not-pass recommendation, which carried on a roll call reported as 22 to 1.

What the committee did not decide: the resolution leaves open who would qualify for funds, how funds would be prioritized among districts, and whether districts that recently completed projects using bonds could seek grants. The sponsor and witnesses repeatedly said the legislative assembly would need follow-up legislation to create distribution mechanics if voters approve the constitutional change.

Ending: With division among members and a detailed fiscal warning from the Land Commissioner, the Appropriations Committee recommended a do-not-pass on HCR 3,035. Sponsors and opponents said the issue would likely return if the legislature or voters pursue school construction funding again; members urged any future measure to include distribution mechanics and baseline assessments of school needs.","Lawmakers debated House Concurrent Resolution 3,035, which would send a constitutional measure to voters to authorize up to $300 million a year for 10 years from perpetual trust funds to a school construction program; committee rejected a sponsor amendment and voted to recommend ‘do not pass.’","actionData","errors"]

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Appropriations committee roundup: K‑12 council study funding, forensic exam reimbursements and other votes

Appropriations committee weighs constitutional measure to divert up to $3 billion from trust funds for school construction