The House Appropriations Committee voted to adopt an amendment and advance amended Senate Bill 2025, adding $1.2 million in general-fund dollars and restoring one full-time equivalent position for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The amendment, offered by Representative O’Brien, was adopted on a roll call that the committee clerk recorded as 22 yes, 0 no and 1 absent. Committee members then voted to engross and give the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended, by the same margin; Representative O’Brien will be the House carrier.

The bill as amended increases the department’s appropriation to add a veterans benefits specialist FTE (the position had been removed in 2017) with $6,270 for operating expenses; restores $50,000 moved into operating expenses to reflect a commissioner salary equity adjustment; and adds general-fund, one-time money for homeless veteran services originally referenced in the earlier House bill. The amendment also adds provisions on the roles and supervision of the Veterans Home and changes related to governance authority, and includes authority language for a highly rural transportation grants program.

Representative O’Brien described the items in the bill, noting the $1.2 million increase reflected funds removed from House Bill 1504 for veteran homelessness and other reassignments. She told the committee the restored FTE will help with a “significant increase in the claims” handled by the department. O’Brien said the committee previously removed a commissioner salary equity increase; the amendment moves $25,000 back into operating and keeps the overall salary increase accounted for in the salary line item.

Committee members asked how the commissioner’s earlier pay increase had been funded. Committee discussion said the department used administrative dollars from the highly rural transportation grant program to cover the raise; members noted testimony that administrative use of the grant program is capped in practice (committee members cited a 10% cap and a suggestion some programs may allow up to 15%), and said the math needs further review or audit to be sure the use complied with grant rules.

The amendment also authorizes carryover for grants to assist construction of a Fisher House at the Fargo Veterans Affairs Medical Center and references document-scanning project completion and an emergency clause tied to a $200,000 federal fund item. Representative O’Brien said construction for the Fisher House had not begun and the project lacked a secured plot of land.

During debate, members discussed retention problems among veteran service officers, who reported pay disparities compared with county and federal agencies; the amendment provides general-fund increases intended to address those disparities. Representative Nelson mentioned availability of commemorative coins for Vietnam veterans and other outreach efforts in the department.

The committee record shows the amendment was moved as amendment 25.0192 0.02003 and carried on a recorded roll; the clerk recorded the final do-pass motion as carried 22–0–1. The committee did not adopt any changes removing the salary-related language beyond the amendment’s adjustments.

The bill now moves to the House floor with Representative O’Brien as carrier; committee discussion indicated staff will follow up with more precise accounting of the highly rural transportation grant balances and the department’s administrative use percentages.