A BILL for an Act to provide an appropriation to the attorney general for bureau of criminal investigation cybercrime resources.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Jeff Barta and 7 co-sponsors

HB 1102 would provide $775,000 for 2025–27 to fund two cybercrime agents and equipment for the AG’s BCI to assist a northeastern North Dakota city of at least 50,000 residents.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 20 nays 69

Main purpose and intent

HB 1102 would appropriate state general fund money to the Attorney General’s Office to expand cybercrime investigative capacity within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). The appropriation is targeted to hire two full‑time equivalent (FTE) cybercrime agent positions and to purchase related equipment and capital assets to support prevention and detection of cybercrime in a specified locality.

Key provisions

Appropriates $775,000 from the state general fund (or so much as necessary) to the Attorney General for the 2025–2027 biennium (fiscal period beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027).

Funds are designated to:

Hire two FTE BCI cybercrime agent positions.
Purchase related equipment and capital assets; $161,000 of the appropriation is identified as one‑time funding for equipment.

Personnel and resources funded under the appropriation must be dedicated to assisting a police department in a city in northeastern North Dakota with at least 50,000 residents in preventing and detecting cybercrime.

The appropriation is a one‑time legislative funding authorization for the 2025–2027 biennium.

Who would be affected

Attorney General’s Office / Bureau of Criminal Investigation: would receive funds and hire the two cybercrime agents and acquire equipment.

The designated law enforcement partner: a police department in a northeastern North Dakota city of at least 50,000 residents (the bill does not name the city) would receive direct investigative and prevention assistance from the funded agents.

State general fund: appropriation would draw from available general fund balance for the biennium.

No other agencies or private parties are directly authorized to receive funds under this bill.

Fiscal impact (as specified)

Total appropriation: $775,000 (general fund) for biennium 2025–2027.

One‑time equipment/capital component: $161,000.

Ongoing personnel costs beyond the biennium (if positions continued) would depend on future budget decisions; the bill itself funds the two FTEs for the specified biennium only.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced: November 12, 2024.

Recorded legislative action: read first time March 7, 2025; referred to State Affairs.

Status provided: second reading — failed to pass (yeas 20, nays 69). As reported, this indicates the measure did not advance from the second reading stage.

Companion / related legislation: SB 1421 (companion); HB 791 (prior‑session).

Potential impacts and considerations

If enacted, the bill would provide a modest, geographically focused boost to cybercrime investigative capacity through two dedicated agents and equipment.

The requirement that resources be dedicated to a single qualifying city concentrates benefits but limits statewide flexibility.

Long‑term costs (salary and benefits for the two positions after the funded biennium) are not funded by this bill and would require future appropriations to continue beyond June 30, 2027.

If you want, I can: (1) draft a short one‑page explainer for stakeholders in the affected city; (2) identify likely ongoing cost ranges to continue the two positions after the biennium; or (3) prepare talking points for committee testimony.

Bill