HB 1017 provides $104.7 million in state and federal funds to North Dakota's Game and Fish Department for the 2025-2027 biennium, covering salaries, habitat programs, deer depredation control, and operational costs. It includes specific allocations like $27.2 million for land habitat and $2.5 million for aquatic nuisance species management. The bill also allows the department to transfer up to $2 million between budget lines during the biennium and sets rules for conservation agreements with landowners. This is a funding bill, not a policy change, and directly affects only the Game and Fish Department's budget operations.
Relating to a low-carbon fuels fund; to amend and reenact sections 39‑04‑39 and 54‑44.5‑09 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the distribution of certain vehicle registration fees and ethanol production incentives; to repeal chapter 17‑02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to ethanol production incentives; to provide a continuing appropriation; to provide for a transfer; and to provide for a report.
SB 2325 requires property owners granting nonfederal easements on North Dakota wetlands to first obtain a verified "ordinary high water mark" determination from the Department of Water Resources or a federal agency. Existing easements granted before August 1, 2025, must also get this verification by that date. Easement holders must record the easement, water mark determination, and a map with the county recorder. If water levels exceed the marked high water level, the easement holder is liable for civil damages to affected crops, roads, rail infrastructure, or private property.
Relating to conservation easements and leaseholds; and to amend and reenact sections 4.1‑01‑21, 4.1‑01‑21.1, and 49‑22‑09.2 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the federal environmental law impact review fund, the environmental impact mitigation fund, and mitigating environmental impacts; and to declare an emergency.
SB 2368 creates a state-administered grant program for infrastructure projects on North Dakota's national grasslands, directly benefiting cooperative grazing associations and their representative organizations. Grants fund specific improvements like water systems, fencing, conservation work, wildlife habitat enhancements, and carbon capture initiatives, all located on federally managed grasslands. Organizations receiving grants must provide a $1 nonstate match for every $4 in state funding and develop approved grazing land plans with local soil conservation districts. The agriculture commissioner will oversee the program, focusing on practical infrastructure upgrades to support sustainable grazing operations.
SB 2246 appropriates $49,500 from the general fund to the North Dakota Legislative Council for a one-time study on regenerative grazing. The bill directs a consultant to research the feasibility of creating a regenerative grazing ranch (focused on soil health and carbon absorption) and study how regenerative grazing practices affect carbon levels, rangeland productivity, and ranching sustainability. Key provisions require gathering scientific data, connecting ranchers with stakeholders, and identifying funding sources for carbon management practices. The study would involve input from the agriculture commissioner, mineral resources department, and ranching/energy industry stakeholders, with findings to be reported to the next legislative assembly. This bill does not create the ranch but examines whether it would benefit North Dakota's ranching and energy sectors.
