The House Appropriations Committee considered several short appropriations and judiciary referral items and recorded votes on multiple bills.

K‑12 council studies (Senate Bill 2262): Representative Pat Heinert presented a request to appropriate $120,000 to the K‑12 Council to contract for research and studies on education topics the council identifies. Members asked whether the council could use existing DPI funds; the sponsor and witnesses said the council’s small administrative budget is insufficient to contract for outside research. The committee first voted on a due‑pass motion; that motion failed (9–13, 1 absent). A later motion for do‑not‑pass carried on a roll call that the transcript records as 14–8; the committee sent a do‑not‑pass recommendation.

Forensic medical examinations — domestic violence/child abuse (Senate Bill 2209): Representative Steve Vetter presented a bill authorizing forensic medical examinations and making a $200,000 appropriation to continue a pilot that reimburses providers for exams and associated work (for example, photography, swabs, clothing collection). Christie Wolf of Central Dakota Forensic Nurse Examiners described the pilot (February–December 2024) and said her organization alone saw 62 victims during that period. The bill aligns domestic violence evidence‑kit reimbursement with existing funding structures for sexual‑assault forensic exams. Committee members asked about chain‑of‑custody, training, tribal coordination and how the appropriation would be administered; witnesses confirmed exams were performed by trained forensic nurses and that the AG’s office currently reimburses similar sexual‑assault exams. The committee voted a due‑pass recommendation (roll reported as carried; tally recorded in the committee as 21 yes, 0 no, with two not voting/absent counted).

Court fee adjustments (Senate Bill 2057): Representative Vetter summarized changes that the judiciary committee left to appropriations — primarily increases to court filing and court cost fees (criminal fee increases were removed). The state court administrator explained the bill will not affect the indigent defense budget after the House stripped criminal fee increases. The committee approved a due‑pass recommendation on SB 2057 (roll reported carried 21–0; two members absent/not voting).

Prison nursery policy (Senate Bill 2352): SB 2352 would permit policies allowing children age 18 months or younger to reside with incarcerated mothers in residential units the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) would establish. DOCR witnesses said the fiscal note ($100,000) covers nursery supplies (cribs, car seats, feeding equipment) and that program staffing is being absorbed in the department’s staffing plan for the Heart River facility under construction. Members debated timing and whether appropriations now are necessary; the committee voted a due‑pass recommendation and the bill was advanced. Members noted the actual operating costs could be revisited in the next biennium once policy details and grant options are developed.

Move forensic‑exam reimbursement to general fund (Senate Bill 2292): Representative Matt Ruby presented a proposal to use the general fund rather than the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund to reimburse forensic medical examinations related to sexual assault. Insurance division testimony said the trust fund historically turned back excess balances to the general fund and that prior statute changes and other appropriations have reduced the trust’s uncommitted balance. The committee voted to advance SB 2292 (reported as carried on roll, 20 yes and 3 not voting/absent).

What’s next: Several bills referred to appropriations will return with budget integration or additional fiscal detail; the committee chair asked divisions to be ready to move small budgets the next week. Members also asked agencies and the Land Commissioner to provide data and projections requested during hearings.