SB 2006 provides $32.17 million in funding for the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission for fiscal years 2025-2027, primarily to support airport infrastructure grants. The bill allocates $20 million from the airport infrastructure fund to provide grants to airports during this period, with the remaining funds covering the commission's salaries, operating expenses, and other costs. The $475,000 from the general fund specifically supports the commission's operations, including 7 full-time positions. This bill directly affects the Aeronautics Commission (which administers the funds) and airports receiving the grant funding.
SB 2011 appropriates $68 million (including $47.6 million from the general fund) to cover North Dakota Highway Patrol operating costs for the 2025-2027 biennium. It specifies funding sources, including $10.9 million transferred from the state highway tax fund and $1.4 million from motor carrier permit fees. The bill also authorizes $200 monthly payments to Highway Patrol officers for travel-related expenses (meals and non-lodging costs) during the same period. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting the Highway Patrol's budget and officers' travel allowances.
HB 1201 modifies North Dakota law governing bridges and culverts over drainage systems that intersect roads. It requires the water resource board to construct bridges/culverts for private land access, with costs shared between the board and land districts, and mandates counties to maintain these structures with 40% cost responsibility. For state highway culverts crossing drains spanning three or more counties, the bill requires installation of control valve systems to manage water flow. This bill directly affects counties, water resource boards, and land districts responsible for drainage infrastructure maintenance and costs.
SB 2254 provides $2 million in one-time funding for fixed-route city transportation systems in North Dakota to support their paratransit services (accessible transit options for people with disabilities or mobility challenges) during the 2025-2027 biennium. This grant program directly benefits cities operating public bus routes that offer complementary paratransit services. The bill also requires the legislature to conduct a study during the 2025-26 interim, examining how transit networks can address population growth, economic development, workforce needs, and healthcare access, with the goal of developing a future funding formula for these systems. The study will inform potential future budget allocations for city transportation services.
SB 2183 revises the penalty for speeding in construction zones in North Dakota. It directly affects drivers who exceed speed limits in these areas. The bill amends the existing law (North Dakota Century Code § 39-06.1-06) to change the penalty structure for such violations, though the abstract does not specify the exact nature of the penalty change.
HB 1614 would have required North Dakota's Department of Transportation to study autonomous and semiautonomous vehicle technologies, particularly focusing on automated truck tractors, and submit a legislative report on findings. The bill also amended state law to define "automated truck tractor" as a vehicle with safety-critical functions operating without direct human input. This study was intended to assess how such technologies might impact transportation infrastructure and safety regulations. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but failed to pass, receiving only two votes in favor during its House vote.
Relating to designating the bridge on state highway 6 as the CPL Raymond Porter Korea bridge; to provide a continuing appropriation; and to declare an emergency.
HB 1294 amends North Dakota's traffic code to adjust fees for moving violations, directly affecting drivers convicted of specific traffic offenses. It sets a base fee of $20 for most moving violations but increases fees for certain offenses, including $150 for a first violation of passing a stopped schoolbus (Section 39-10-46) and $750 for repeat violations within five years. The bill also specifies higher fees for other violations, such as $100 for speeding in school zones (Section 39-08-20) or $500 for certain commercial vehicle offenses (Section 39-10-59). These changes are codified in Sections 39-06.1-06, 39-10-46, and 39-10-46.1 of the North Dakota Century Code.
This bill exempts infrastructure fees collected by North Dakota cities and counties from local tax spending limits. It ensures fees for projects like roads, sewers, or utilities won't count toward the maximum taxes a city or county can levy under state law. The law applies to fees defined in specific sections of the North Dakota Century Code (including sections 11-11-55.1 and 40-22-01.3). This change directly affects how local governments fund infrastructure projects without triggering budget restrictions.
HB 1235 amends North Dakota's agriculture infrastructure grant program to specifically fund road and bridge improvements needed for value-added agriculture businesses. It directs the agriculture commissioner (with transportation department input) to award grants to counties, cities, and townships for projects like corridor upgrades on local roads or access road/bridge repairs serving these businesses. The bill directly affects local governments managing infrastructure and businesses processing agricultural products (like food manufacturing or packaging). Key provisions require grants to target infrastructure directly supporting value-added agriculture operations, not general road maintenance. This law, signed by the governor on March 24, 2025, clarifies and expands the program's focus.
