[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6100922,"mediaKeyId","2810851-3964f88fbd78fde0092fe99fd5b4e269","parentId",2810851,"title","Industrial Commission budget hearing: grant system support, transmission contract, grid resiliency grants and litigation funding discussed","audioSeconds",5075,"startMs",3857000,"endMs",8932000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810851-3964f88fbd78fde0092fe99fd5b4e269&start=3857&end=8932","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810851-3964f88fbd78fde0092fe99fd5b4e269/thumbnail_3857000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100922/North-Dakota/Industrial-Commission-budget-hearing-grant-system-support-transmission-contract-grid-resiliency-grants-and-litigation-funding-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100922-c09a068ec861efa88565dad3208e6c47/orig.mp4?Expires=1770966491&Signature=m7Lxf974KFIZsIkpyM4vELzQQfpVl0S8APvNugMDw3Ysd~0vNHcZ~cFaUvFmrQ8QYb02y21XmBY~GflAxWCUJ6-Y1WpQJYJ4f4BzhSUwCZfT0pV3GotI1Osi9blBhBUxrTv1IvvXeIYvmzPfrBieiINHvpqd4iBSCa705INljYI2X0EcoEqHCP7uvpgMhG-HIa4x89rbxVmozH7u--vKialdz9eTStoT1cRdjiKFRQGMCnj2cSNhSEqmZjhpJxnkI87-4RSr-dY46l~o-p1VSwe71Qm7eIH9ucZ2YmYG-IJ0uGDtZnGmBNEet2rVgoRybIYZaFhXcPNI1PuuKdt0aQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-03-28T00:00:00Z","article","Karen Tyler, executive director of the North Dakota Industrial Commission administrative office, briefed the House Appropriations — Government Operations Division on the commission’s budget requests, including ongoing support for a new grant management system, continued funding for transmission authority staffing, a federal grid resiliency grant package and one‑time litigation funds for lignite cases.

Tyler told the committee the commission seeks $275,000 in ongoing support for a grant management system initially funded at $1,250,000; the system will manage the commission’s primary energy grants — renewable energy, oil and gas research, lignite research, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority and the Outdoor Heritage Fund — and is scheduled for completion in October 2025. She said the $275,000 breaks down to roughly $52,000 per program per biennium and the programs will share ongoing costs.

Tyler also asked the committee to convert $400,000 in funding into ongoing support for the Transmission Authority executive director contract (Claire Vegasaw), an arrangement the commission described as similar to other professional services contracts it administers. Claire Vegasaw, the Transmission Authority executive director, described prior grant rounds funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and said the program helps utilities bury lines, install sectionalizing switches and modernize controls to reduce large‑scale outages. Vegasaw said awardees provide substantial cost share — often a third or more of project costs.

On the electrical grid resiliency program, Tyler and Vegasaw said recent rounds authorized grants to utilities such as Capital Electric Cooperative, Otter Tail Power and Northern Plains Electric for projects ranging from burying vulnerable lines to installing switches and remote control technology. The current request in the long sheet is $13,668,000 total for fiscal years 2024‑26, which they reported consists of $11,885,295 federal funds and $1,782,794 state match; the Senate had proposed the match come from the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) rather than general fund.

The commission also requested another one‑time $3,000,000 for ongoing lignite‑related litigation. Tyler told the committee $2.7 million of the prior $3,000,000 appropriation has been spent and that litigation effort remains active across multiple EPA and rulemaking matters; the Senate proposed funding the new $3,000,000 from SIF. Committee members requested a status update and Tyler said staff would arrange for the solicitor general to brief the committee on case timelines.

Tyler reviewed succession and compensation issues. The request includes $350,000 in ongoing funding split $245,000 to the Industrial Commission administration and $105,000 to the Public Finance Authority (PFA) to address succession planning and compressed salaries for future hires. The commission reported the PFA executive director salary was about $145,000 and the Industrial Commission executive director was about $169,000; Tyler said the commission would prefer the PFA director be closer to $160,000 and the Industrial Commission director nearer $200,000 for future hires. Committee members debated restoring a prior transfer of about $581,422 from salaries to operating in the base and discussed whether to leave the Senate’s $350,000 in place; the committee directed staff to correct the transfer so the salary line reflects the intended base and then treat the Senate $350,000 as a separate policy decision during conference.

Other items discussed included a $50,000 inflation/operating increase (the Senate included $50,000 of a $100,305 request), $15,200 in professional development and $369 in IT cost changes, all described as modest operating items. The committee also discussed a reduction in state funding for underground energy storage (salt cavern) feasibility from $6,000,000 to $2,000,000, with the commission planning to return with more detail.

Tyler said many Industrial Commission programs are special‑funded and pay for the admin office through assessments; she told the committee the PFA is self‑funded through bond transaction revenue and SRF loan income. Committee members asked staff to provide additional line‑item detail so legislative members could see the base operating and salary components more clearly when evaluating ongoing versus one‑time requests.

No final committee vote on the Industrial Commission budget worksheet was recorded in the transcript segment provided; members continued with other agenda items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Government Operations Division Mar 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Industrial Commission administration asked the House Appropriations — Government Operations Division for ongoing support of its new grant management system, continued funding for the Transmission Authority executive director contract, federal grid resiliency grant match authority and another $3 million request for lignite litigation.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Government Operations Division, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28887,"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},6100927,"Appropriations committee amends Senate Bill 2013 to add unclaimed‑property compliance FTE and $550,000 in salary adjustments",1799,63000,1862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2810851-3964f88fbd78fde0092fe99fd5b4e269&start=63&end=1862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2810851-3964f88fbd78fde0092fe99fd5b4e269/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6100927/North-Dakota/Appropriations-committee-amends-Senate-Bill-2013-to-add-unclaimedproperty-compliance-FTE-and-550000-in-salary-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100927-60e686b925b80f6048c370b6ca96e9ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770966491&Signature=XuMg0W5wJCG~3vBFegD-vZ9fb-l4ksCLJrsr~KI8b8SNFiiTjf55TJA42MUmOflmHXIPMDWfR4Y85Xwsq8H8wnSE2qtUvZ7JgbIzSRD9wOMbWP9QLpKKQdJcXAyF-U2a~XYYEQyK175s7gYkzhsBQ9wv3ttnRPchNnuu0uxFZKf4VFYOXa8rnCcAYTqEb9TjXD-lOP6ePBZ1MMXpOmExJOrHRI05pPsjIGyYjz4MvPZGZXmUbTrzdVGqqxVp0YAzDUvRjlVM5yIcWUknIzA4Iw3kJj8YbAAmDaWhstfd5Mm709kf3wRqne2LRdKVBMsyrIWlbNzkGCAWEju5HS4iIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Appropriations — Government Operations Division on an amendment added a $242,900 biennial unclaimed‑property audit compliance position and $550,000 labeled as an \"equity\"/salary adjustment package to Senate Bill 2013, and the committee carried the measures by roll call vote.

Committee Chair Munson opened discussion on a proposed unclaimed‑property auditor after staff said the office is currently staffed with one director, one holder‑claims worker, one part‑time outreach/claims staffer and one full‑time claims processor. Joseph, an Unclaimed Property staff member, told the committee that adding an auditor‑level FTE “could produce 150 more holder reports a year,” and staff estimate that would recapture about $1 million a year for rightful owners and free existing staff to meet the statutory 90‑day claim processing requirement.

The committee discussed office costs and funding sources. Representative Fisher noted that the Unclaimed Property unit pays the Common Schools Trust Fund an internal rent transfer, and quoted a per‑square‑foot internal rate of $16.21; Joseph confirmed the payment is an internal transfer and said the program operates on earnings and special funds rather than the general fund.

Several members signaled support for the added FTE as a return‑on‑investment. Representative Meyer recommended prioritizing salary adjustments for staff below recommended minimums; other members suggested $500,000 and then $550,000 as a compromise on the overall adjustment package. Committee staff recorded the amendment to include the $242,900 unclaimed‑property position and $550,000 for salary adjustments.

Representative Kempnick moved the amendment to Senate Bill 2013 as shown on the committee worksheet; Representative Bosch seconded. The clerk took the roll call and the motion carried. Representative Kempnick then moved the amended bill for \"do pass;\" Representative Fisher seconded, the clerk again took the roll, and the committee approved the amended bill for further action.

The committee concluded by encouraging members to check the Unclaimed Property website for their own possible claims; staff reminded the group the FTE and salary adjustments are funded from special funds, not from the general fund.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Amend Senate Bill 2013 to add unclaimed property audit compliance position ($242,900 biennium) and $550,000 for salary adjustments. Mover: Representative Kempnick; Second: Representative Bosch. Outcome: approved on roll call.

- Motion: Move amended Senate Bill 2013 for \"do pass.\" Mover: Representative Kempnick; Second: Representative Fisher. Outcome: approved on roll call.

What the amendment does and what it does not do

The amendment adds one funded compliance position for the Unclaimed Property division at $242,900 for the biennium and an additional $550,000 package described in committee as salary/retention adjustments for special‑fund agencies. Committee members explicitly discussed that the Unclaimed Property office operates from earnings/special funds; committee discussion stated these are not general fund appropriations.","The House Appropriations Government Operations Division voted to amend Senate Bill 2013 to add a full‑time compliance position for unclaimed property and a $550,000 salary adjustment package for special‑fund agencies; both motions passed on roll call.","actionData","errors"]

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Industrial Commission budget hearing: grant system support, transmission contract, grid resiliency grants and litigation funding discussed

Appropriations committee amends Senate Bill 2013 to add unclaimed‑property compliance FTE and $550,000 in salary adjustments