The North Dakota Senate Appropriations Committee convened on March 25, 2025, to discuss key budgetary issues, particularly focusing on employee equity and library funding.

A significant topic was the request for equity adjustments for the lowest-paid employees within a state agency. The agency reported a high turnover rate of 42% prior to the last equity adjustment, which resulted in a lower-than-expected increase in pay. The agency is now seeking to raise the hourly wage for nine positions classified at a 102 level from $18 to $20. This request was partially fulfilled by the House, which approved the increase to $20 per hour. The agency representatives expressed optimism that this adjustment would suffice to retain employees, as they have lost staff to other agencies offering higher pay.

Another important discussion centered on potential amendments to Senate Bill 2307, which would require public libraries to implement internet filtering. Currently, 14 of the state's 81 public libraries do not filter internet access. The estimated cost for filtering these libraries is approximately $150 per year per library, totaling around $8,600. The committee acknowledged that while the bill is still under consideration, the decision to filter should ultimately rest with local libraries, which are best positioned to understand their community's needs.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to monitor the developments regarding the library filtering bill and to ensure that any necessary adjustments to the budget are addressed in future discussions. The committee remains focused on balancing employee compensation with the needs of public services in the state.