Bill > SB2018

This bill appropriates funds for the Department of Commerce and other state entities for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. * **Department of Commerce:** $158,285,660 total appropriation, including $33,546,083 from the General Fund and $115,989,707 from other funds. This includes $17,697,648 for salaries and wages, $26,682,666 for operating expenses, $101,557,315 for grants, and $7,000,000 for workforce programs. The department is authorized to hire 65.80 full-time equivalent positions. * **Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund:** $69,837,634 in one-time funding for various initiatives, including $15,000,000 for tourism destination development grants, $9,000,000 for an uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, and $15,000,000 for the beyond visual line of sight uncrewed aircraft system program. * **Attorney General:** $250,000 from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund for autonomous technology grants to aid in missing person searches and crime scene reconstruction. * **Department of Career and Technical Education:** $250,000 from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund for autonomous technology grants to support workforce training for industry shortages. * **State Fair Association:** $350,000 from the General Fund for a sanitation restoration project. * **North Dakota Development Fund:** $25,000,000 transferred from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund, with an additional authorization for the Department of Commerce to borrow up to $25,000,000 from the Bank of North Dakota for this fund. * **Legacy Investment for Technology Fund:** $10,000,000 transferred from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund for technology loans. * **Internship Fund:** $3,000,000 transferred from the Department of Commerce's operating expenses for the operation intern program. * **Children's Education Science Centers:** $2,000,000 from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund for grants to support the construction of science centers in cities with a population of at least 50,000, contingent on oil and gas tax revenue exceeding $402,000,000. * **Rural Health Care Grant Program:** $444,000 from the General Fund for matching funds to support rural health personnel recruitment and services, requiring a dollar-for-dollar match from non-state sources. * **Tribally Controlled Community College Grants:** $750,000 from the General Fund for workforce development grants, requiring partnership with at least one high school. * **Regional Planning Council Grants:** $600,000 from the General Fund for grants to support regional planning councils. * **Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Program:** Funding is allocated for the operation of a test site, the beyond visual line of sight program, and an enhanced use lease grant program. * **Global Talent Office:** The former Office of Legal Immigration is renamed and tasked with developing and implementing strategies to recruit and retain foreign labor and support immigrant integration.