Relating to rail passenger authority agreements and a legacy earnings fund; to amend and reenact section 6‑09.4‑10.1, subsection 1 of section 21‑10‑06, and sections 24‑02‑37.3, 54‑27‑19, and 57‑40.3‑10, section 57‑51.1‑07.5 as amended by Senate Bill No. 2323 as approved by the sixty-ninth legislative assembly, and sections 57‑51.1‑07.7 and 57‑51.1‑07.8 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to funds invested by the state investment board, the flexible transportation fund, the highway tax distribution fund, motor vehicle excise tax collections, the state share of oil and gas taxes, the municipal infrastructure fund, and the county and township infrastructure fund; to repeal sections 21‑10‑12, 21‑10‑13, 54‑27‑19.3, and 54‑27‑19.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legacy fund definitions, a legacy earnings fund, the legacy earnings highway distribution fund, and legacy earnings township highway aid fund; to provide for a legislative management report; to provide for application; to provide an effective date; and to provide an exemption.
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 1106 allocates $2 million from North Dakota's general fund to the Department of Transportation for grants supporting nonfixed route public transit services. These grants directly assist public transportation providers (such as rural or on-demand transit systems) during the 2025-2027 biennium. The bill creates a dedicated funding stream for nonfixed route transit programs without altering existing service requirements or eligibility rules.
HB 1444 amends North Dakota law to clarify the process for adding local roads to the county road system. It requires county commissioners to notify townships when a road meets criteria under section 24-05-16 and is under township jurisdiction, and to hold a public meeting for community input before making a final decision. This directly affects county commissioners, townships, and residents who use these local roads, ensuring transparency in road system expansion. The bill does not change road maintenance responsibilities but adds a procedural step for community engagement.
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.