Chairman Sorvaug convened the conference committee on Senate Bill 2003 (higher education) and asked members to take the role before Representative Sanford walked conferees through the bill’s long-sheet budget provisions.

The committee reviewed a range of provisions in the conference draft, including who may select outside consultants for presidential searches, changes to completion and weighting factors in the funding model, limits on resident undergraduate tuition increases, authorization to grant hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers to clinics, and direction for several studies of higher-education policy and administration. ‘‘We’re gonna call the conference committee to order on, Senate Bill 2,003, the higher ed 1,’’ Chairman Sorvaug said at the start of the meeting.

The bill text under discussion would cap resident undergraduate tuition-rate increases at 4% per year and allow an additional 1% for differentiated tuition for graduate and professional programs. Conferees discussed language meant to clarify which officials decide how to select consultants to assist in recruiting college and university presidents (House draft: section 22). Representative Sanford summarized the recruitment language and said the change was intended to resolve past inconsistencies in the selection process.

Committee members flagged several budget and policy items for further negotiation. Representatives and senators discussed adjustments to the funding model that include revised completion factors, credit-weightings and equalization reductions; a stated 4% inflationary increase in the draft that conferees said translates to roughly a 3% increase for higher-education personnel; and changes intended to make North Dakota residents eligible for student financial assistance even if they did not graduate from an in-state high school.

Representative Sanford also described a set of provisions that extend unexpended-appropriation authority and extend the transfer period for unspent Bank of North Dakota Career Builders funds. Conferees discussed capital-project priorities and an apparent disagreement between the House and Senate on additional projects beyond a previously agreed four-year plan. Senator Thomas and others noted the Senate has resisted adding buildings outside that plan and warned the Senate likely would not concur with additional capital projects without further agreement.

The committee discussed University of North Dakota items in the draft. Representative Sanford said one section would permit UND to transfer proceeds from the sale of land to repair and maintenance and expressed the intent that proceeds remain on the selling campus for campus repairs. The committee also reviewed language about the UND School of Medicine: conferees discussed a provision aimed at increasing enrollment of North Dakota resident physicians and physician assistants and a provision authorizing UND to raise private funds to address major facility repairs at the school’s older building.

Conferees discussed previously appropriated equipment: Alex, a committee staff member, said, ‘‘that $2,100,000 was appropriated back in 2021, to purchase those hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers. So there's no new money for those.’’ Committee members explained the med school does not provide direct patient care and therefore has asked authority to grant those chambers to clinics and hospitals so the equipment can be used for patient care. The House draft extended the date for that transfer authority to June 30, 2027.

The draft includes two directed studies rather than immediate policy changes. One directs distribution and sharing of results from a statewide study comparing Praxis exam performance and program outcomes; Representative Richter summarized the study’s aim as examining whether Praxis I or Praxis II requirements hinder entry to or exit from educator-preparation programs. Another directs the State Board to study costs and benefits of a system led by a chancellor compared with one led by a commissioner, noting constitutional language references the commissioner while system governance documents sometimes reference a chancellor.

No formal motions or committee votes were recorded during the session. Committee members agreed there would be additional meetings to resolve outstanding differences between the House and Senate drafts; Chairman Sorvaug adjourned the half-hour session with a reminder that scheduling remained uncertain.

The discussion will return to conferees’ calendars pending further negotiation between the two chambers.