Summary — SB 2025 (North Dakota)
Status: Filed with Secretary of State 04/23/2025. Introduced March 6, 2025. Emergency clause included.
Main purpose
SB 2025 is an appropriations and administrative bill for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). It (1) provides funding for the DVA for the 2025–27 biennium, (2) makes statutory changes shifting certain governance and appointment authorities toward the governor, (3) authorizes transfers and one‑time expenditures (including a transfer to the Veterans’ Postwar Trust Fund), and (4) includes exemptions and an emergency declaration.
Key fiscal provisions (biennium July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027)
- Total all‑funds appropriation (as enrolled, first engrossment with House amendments): $5,007,966.
- Less other funds: $2,008,162 → Net general fund: $2,999,804.
- Full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions: increases from 9.00 to 10.00 (net +1.00).
- Line‑item highlights (approximations from bill text):
- Veterans’ affairs operating: $2,730,517 (all funds).
- State approving agency: $390,336.
- Grants — transportation program: $1,319,706.
- Transport vans: $23,000.
- Service dogs program: $50,000.
- Veterans’ home cemetery (other funds): $291,500.
Additional appropriations and transfers:
- One‑time transfer: $500,000 (general fund) to the Veterans’ Postwar Trust Fund (Section 5).
- One‑time general fund allocation: $500,000 for homeless veterans’ services (listed as one‑time funding in committee report).
- Federal funds appropriation (retroactive period): $200,000 (federal) to DVA for the highly rural transportation grants program for the remainder of the 2023–25 biennium (Section 4).
Reporting and base budget notes:
- One‑time items (e.g., veterans’ home cemetery) are excluded from the 2027–29 base and must be reported to appropriations committees.
- A “new and vacant FTE pool” is funded but not directly spendable by DVA; DVA may request transfers from the Office of Management and Budget per HB 1015 guidelines.
Administrative and statutory changes
SB 2025 amends multiple sections of the North Dakota Century Code (37‑15‑03, 37‑15‑07, 37‑15‑16, 37‑18‑01, 37‑18‑07, subsection 1 of 37‑18‑12, and 37‑18.1‑03) to, among other things:
- Replace references to the “administrative committee on veterans’ affairs” with the “governor” in multiple provisions — effectively centralizing supervisory and approval authority (appointments, general supervision) with the governor.
- Specify that the Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs serves at the pleasure of the governor and that appointment/qualifications/salary are prescribed by statute referenced to the governor’s authority.
- Require that acceptance/expenditure of funds to assist veterans be authorized by the governor (and emergency commission approval where specified).
- Amend reporting/oversight duties related to the veterans’ home administrator (e.g., handling of small unclaimed estates).
(Full text of 37‑18.1‑03 is truncated in the bill documents; the bill indicates changes to committee powers, creation of subcommittee/governing board, and advisory roles to the governor.)
Who is affected
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs (operations, staffing, programs).
- Veterans using DVA services: homeless veterans, recipients of transportation grants, veterans’ home residents, and those using cemetery services.
- Administrative Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (its statutory authority is reduced/shifted toward the governor).
- Office of Management and Budget and Emergency Commission (approval/transfer roles).
- Veterans’ Postwar Trust Fund (receives one‑time $500,000 transfer).
Procedural / timing notes
- Bill filed and moved through appropriations and both chambers; enrolled and filed with Secretary of State 04/23/2025. Emergency clause was carried, indicating immediate effect upon signature.
- One‑time items are identified and must be reported to the 70th Legislative Assembly regarding their use.
Potential impacts to note
- Provides increased funding for transportation, homeless veterans’ services, cemetery work, and a service‑dog allocation.
- Centralizes appointment and approval authority to the governor, altering existing committee oversight structures — may change governance and decision‑making processes for veterans’ programs.
- Adds one new FTE and creates flexibility for DVA to request reallocation of funded FTEs through OMB.
