The House Appropriations Government Operations division heard from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (HFA) about FTE requests and a proposed $13.5 million housing assistance package that the House chair asked be moved into HFA’s budget from Health and Human Services.

David Floyd, executive director of HFA, said the agency requested five FTEs in the House plan (the Senate included three). He told the committee most of HFA’s operating work is funded by agency revenues — HFA’s requested positions (except one homeless program manager tied to the transferred homeless grant) would be funded from agency program revenue, not general fund dollars. Floyd described a workload increase: loan servicing volume has grown in recent years and HFA relies on in‑house servicing staff and legacy systems.

On the housing assistance package: Representative Pyle described language and an ask that had been in HHS’s budget and asked HFA to take over administration. The plan she presented to the committee totaled $13.5 million: $10 million for a housing assistance program to support households at risk and $3.5 million for an eviction‑prevention program; HFA staff told the committee two FTEs would be necessary to operate the program and that those staff could be paid out of the 13.5 million in one‑time funds.

HFA’s internal capacity and grants administration: Floyd said HFA already administers several housing programs and has taken on prior Commerce and Bank of North Dakota programs that included a small number of FTEs. He and committee members discussed whether HHS should retain the program (HHS currently runs a federal/treasury‑funded rental assistance program established during COVID) or whether HFA could absorb it. Connor Swanson, a senior advisor to the governor, spoke in support of moving the program to HFA and said the governor’s office would back the transfer if the committee wanted that structure.

Accountability and staffing: Committee members requested more detail about program eligibility and whether recipients are Medicaid‑eligible; Floyd said those questions would need an HHS representative for a full answer. Representative Meyer asked whether the assistance is targeted to Medicaid recipients; committee members asked for details on reporting, audit and administrative mechanisms. Floyd emphasized HFA would administer grants to local providers on a reimbursement basis and would report back to the Legislature on program metrics.

Next steps: The committee placed the $13.5 million on the worksheet but highlighted that staff should return with more details about eligibility rules, reporting and whether two FTEs would be adequate. Members also noted other housing bills and funds in play (including a $25 million Senate housing authorization and a separate $50 million infrastructure proposal) and asked staff to coordinate across proposals so the overall scope and funding are clear.

Ending: The committee took no final vote. Staff and agencies were asked to provide more information about program mechanics, which budget the program should reside in and whether HFA can absorb administration with two FTEs paid from the one‑time funding.