The Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division meeting held on April 21, 2025, focused on the financial status of the common schools trust fund and related discussions about land and mineral rights in North Dakota.

The meeting began with a report on the current value of land held in the trust fund, which was noted to be just under $700 million. However, updates indicated that this figure is expected to rise to approximately $750 million. Additionally, the value of mineral rights was reported at around $2.5 billion, contributing significantly to the overall financial picture.

A member of the committee shared insights from their farming career, highlighting the dramatic increase in land prices from $150 per acre to as high as $9,000 per acre. This prompted questions about the state's monitoring of land values and their implications for the trust fund.

In total, the committee calculated that the combined value of land, minerals, and cash or investable assets amounts to about $11 billion. This includes approximately $8 billion in investable assets, $2.5 billion in mineral rights, and the previously mentioned land value.

The discussion also touched on potential opportunities for utilizing the land, with mentions of interest from solar energy companies, data centers, wind generation projects, and transmission lines, particularly in the Jamestown area.

The meeting concluded without any formal resolutions but highlighted the importance of ongoing monitoring and potential future developments regarding the trust fund and its assets. Further discussions on these topics are expected in future meetings as the committee continues to explore the implications of these financial figures.