House Bill 1076, which would raise the state death gratuity paid to the beneficiary or next of kin of a National Guard member who dies while serving on state active duty, received supportive testimony from the Adjutant General’s office and advanced on a committee due‑pass vote.

Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, testified in support and said the bill seeks parity with the federal death gratuity. "What we're asking for with this bill is to increase that benefit to a hundred thousand dollars to align with the federal death gratuity," Huber said, adding that the state established a $15,000 death gratuity in an earlier session and that raising the amount better supports families.

Huber told the committee North Dakota has not lost a service member while on state active duty. She said the cost would be rolled into disaster costs associated with any state active duty activation, similar to salary and equipment costs charged to a disaster log. She described recent mission sets that she said are increasingly hazardous, including National Guard crews supporting wildland firefighting and aviation missions involving external bucket water drops.

Committee members asked whether the payment is a one‑time lump sum and how activation status is determined. Huber said the payment would be a one‑time lump‑sum payout to the next of kin identified as beneficiary; she also explained that state activations occur when local emergency managers request state support and the governor activates the Guard for state active duty. She clarified that routine training and federal drill weekends are federal status and would not be covered by the state payment.

Senator Marsalais moved a due‑pass recommendation; the measure carried on a recorded vote. No opposition testimony was recorded.