Bill > HB1017

This bill appropriates funds for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, totaling $114,864,690 from other funds derived from special funds and federal funds. * **Salaries and wages:** $39,325,719 for employee compensation. * **Operating expenses:** $19,804,296 for day-to-day operational costs. * **Land habitat and deer depredation:** $32,173,081 for wildlife habitat preservation and addressing deer damage. This includes up to $2,777,778 for midterm conservation agreements with private landowners, with specific terms regarding agreement length and buyback provisions. * **Capital assets:** $7,023,140 for acquiring or improving physical assets. * **Grants - game and fish:** $7,087,979 for various grants related to game and fish programs. * **Nongame wildlife conservation:** $100,000 for the conservation of wildlife species that are not game animals. * **Aquatic nuisance species program:** $2,885,507 for efforts to control and manage invasive aquatic species. * **Lonetree reservoir:** $2,108,597 for activities related to Lonetree Reservoir. * **Missouri River enforcement:** $323,781 for enforcement activities along the Missouri River. * **Grants, gifts, and donations:** $695,080, which includes up to $100,000 for surface damage, easements, or reclamation related to mineral exploration and extraction on department properties. * **Wildlife services:** $500,000 for wildlife management services. * **Shooting sports grant program:** $250,000 for grants supporting shooting sports. * **New and vacant FTE pool:** $1,862,510, which cannot be spent directly but can be transferred to salaries and wages with approval. * **One-time funding:** $7,550,200 for specific projects including information technology, dam repairs, equipment, and fish hatchery improvements, which will not be part of the base budget for the next biennium. * **Line item transfers:** The Director of the Office of Management and Budget is authorized to transfer up to $2,000,000 between operating expenses, capital assets, and grants - game and fish line items.