Darren Hanson, director of the Homeland Security Division at the Department of Emergency Services, briefed the committee on preparedness, response and mitigation programs included in the executive recommendation for HB1016.

Hanson said Homeland Security’s work centers on preparing for, responding to, recovering from and mitigating disasters. He highlighted recent activity: training more than 500 people in 2023, managing multiple disaster declarations, and distributing about $86 million in disaster assistance in 2023.

Budget initiatives outlined included: ongoing general‑fund support of $87,336 to take over the NDresponse website (a resilient site built outside the state domain to survive cyberattacks and handle huge concurrent traffic for alerts); continuation of an emergency response loan authorization (historically $2 million) to permit rapid deployment of resources before Emergency Commission action; funding for two additional ongoing Watch Center FTEs at a proposed $462,000 to reach a 24/7 operations staffing standard; capital asset authority to permit the department to spend federal grant funds on eligible capital purchases; and authority/appropriations related to a federal mitigation revolving loan program (described as the Storm Act program in testimony).

On the revolving loan authority, Hanson said the department received a $16,600,000 federal award for mitigation but lacked the matching authority to accept the full award; the department asked for roughly $35,500,000 in federal authority and about $3.55 million in disaster relief fund authority so it could accept and administer mitigation loans and matching funds over the next two years. Hanson said the program provides favorable loan terms for locals and when repaid the funds become state money for future loans.

Hanson noted some federal grants have declined and that the department uses different programs—homeland security grants, Emergency Management Performance Grants, Operation Stonegarden and hazard mitigation programs—with statutory formulas for cost shares (he cited a 75% federal distribution tradition for certain recovery programs). Lawmakers pressed the division for historic carryover in capital asset projects and for better numbers on grant declines; Hanson said federal grant levels have been variable and offered to provide more detailed carryover figures.

Committee members asked follow‑up questions about ambulance/radio compatibility issues and other operational questions; Homeland Security was asked to return with additional documentation.