The House Commerce Committee voted to adopt a package of amendments to Engrossed Senate Bill 2018 on a series of Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) and related appropriations, approving the bill as amended and sending it out of committee.

Representative Ben Nathie, the bill sponsor in committee, outlined the amendment package as a set of SIF-driven appropriations and statutory changes affecting tourism and destination grants, workforce and uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) programs, and a proposed study and authorization language for a tribal‑state gaming compact in Grand Forks County. He told the panel the committee returned many line items to the governor’s recommendations and added targeted increases in some programs, including destination development grants and Vantas-related funding.

The amendment package approved by the committee included: a $50 million SIF appropriation for the TR Presidential Library and Museum (structured as $25 million from SIF and $25 million from the Bank of North Dakota with a required 1:1 match and conditional access tied to the library’s fundraising); funding for a state UAS replacement program and FAA‑security upgrades for test sites; increased destination development grant funds; a $75 million line-of-credit authorization for the state development fund; added appropriations for autonomous agricultural grants, Native American small business grants, historic theater restoration, local transportation in Medora and a community hall grant for Driscoll; and intent language authorizing study of a tribal‑state gaming compact in Grand Forks County.

Nathie described the drone replacement line as a multi‑year replacement of state‑owned UAS inventory and argued the action responds to security concerns raised by federal agencies. “When you have the Department of Defense, FBI, and Homeland Security telling you that these are a security risk, I listen to them,” he said, and later added, “It’s China, China, China,” when describing the national-security concerns discussed in committee. He said the package restores some items that the Senate had reduced or removed and that some appropriations are conditioned on SIF balance thresholds.

Committee members questioned costs and program details. Representative Mike Nelson asked whether the FAA-related $10 million and the Vantas funding were part of the same appropriation; Nathie and other witnesses clarified they are separate: the FAA security upgrade appropriation had been enacted earlier, and the Vantas/VANTAS funding in this bill would be additional. Representative Nelson also questioned whether replacing hundreds of small, education‑use drones justified the expense; Nathie said higher education and other users had indicated willingness to replace equipment and reiterated the national‑security rationale.

Members discussed the $50 million TR library appropriation at length. Representative Nathie said the $50 million would be split 25/25 between SIF and the Bank of North Dakota and would be released only as matching private funds are raised; committee members raised affordability and access concerns for families. Representative Vanessa Bosch moved an amendment requiring free admission for all children 17 and under to the TR Presidential Library and Museum as a condition of the funding; the committee approved that amendment 15–5, with 3 members recorded absent. Other committee members suggested alternative language to prioritize affordability for in‑state families rather than a blanket free‑admission mandate.

The committee also considered language that would exempt certain grant selections from the state procurement chapter; Representative Brandenburg moved and the committee approved language stating that procurement requirements would not apply to selection of grant recipients under the applicable section.

On gaming, committee discussion focused on intent language and a multi‑step process required before any casino could be built in Grand Forks County. Representative O’Brien described the amendment as “intent language” to allow study and due diligence and emphasized additional federal and compact approvals would be required, potentially a multi‑year process.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to adopt amendments for Engrossed Senate Bill 2018 (version 02011): moved by Representative Nathie; seconded by Representative Steeman. Motion carried 22 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.
- Motion to adopt amendment 02013 (Brandenburg procurement exemption): moved by Representative Brandenburg; seconded. Motion carried 22 yes, 0 no, 1 absent.
- Amendment to require free admission for children 17 and under at the TR Presidential Library and Museum (Bosch): moved by Representative Bosch; seconded by Representative Brandenburg. Motion carried 15 yes, 5 no, 3 absent.
- Motion to report Engrossed Senate Bill 2018 as amended (due pass): moved by Representative Nathie; seconded. Motion carried 20 yes, 0 no, 3 absent.

The committee noted several appropriations are contingent on SIF balance thresholds (committee discussion repeatedly referenced a $410 million SIF projection floor for certain releases) and that multiple items would require additional administrative work or federal approvals before implementation. Representative Nathie and other members said certain projects are intended to be rolled out over multiple years rather than funded all at once. The bill was taken up again immediately after floor session per the committee schedule.

Ending: The committee voted to advance S.B. 2018, as amended, to the next stage; several members indicated concerns about program details and access provisions that could be refined in conference committee or on the floor.