The North Dakota House of Representatives passed House Bill 16‑19 on final consideration by a recorded vote of 79‑11, enacting a long‑term care facility infrastructure loan program reduced from earlier proposals.

Representative Bosch presented the conference committee report and said the committee changed the program from a revolving loan fund to a one‑time funded program with repaid principal and interest deposited back into the State Investment Fund (SIF). The appropriation was reduced from $50,000,000 to $15,000,000, and loans at 2% interest were authorized for new construction and renovation projects for long‑term care facilities.

Representative Bach, speaking for the bill, said the program would support renovations and infrastructure improvements for the state’s 74 nursing facilities and 66 basic care facilities, and described the measure as addressing an “urgent need.” Representative Nelson recounted that earlier drafts identified roughly five shovel‑ready projects but that, at the reduced funding level, only about two and one‑half projects could be funded.

Nelson argued for the bill on both service and fiscal grounds, noting that basic care facilities represent a lower level of care and that investing in them could reduce Medicaid expenditures by shifting patients out of higher‑cost skilled care.

After discussion, the House recorded the final vote at 79 yea, 11 nay, and House Bill 16‑19 passed.