SB 2020 — Summary (North Dakota, 2025 Session)
Status: Filed with Secretary of State 05/02/2025; approved by Governor 05/02/2025 (emergency clause carried).
Primary sponsor: Appropriations Committee (introduced Mar 6, 2025)
Purpose
Provides biennial appropriations (FY2026–FY2027: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2027) to support the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension Service and affiliated research and outreach entities: Northern Crops Institute, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI), NDSU Main Research Center, Branch Research Centers, and the Agronomy Seed Farm. The bill also establishes one‑time capital/equipment funding, reporting requirements, narrow exemptions for transfers and fund use, and contains an emergency clause.
Key dollar and staffing provisions (conference committee version)
- Grand total (all funds): $285,731,890 (Base $249,802,173 + Enhancements $35,929,717)
- Grand total general fund: $128,756,012 (Base $117,009,982 + Enhancements $11,746,030)
- Total FTEs authorized after adjustments: 792.38 (net increase +4.37)
Major subdivisions (selected totals, all funds):
- NDSU Extension Service: $66,484,460 (includes a new & vacant FTE pool allocation)
- Northern Crops Institute: $7,376,163
- Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute: $25,595,490
- Main Research Center: $140,775,031 (significant enhancements and new & vacant FTE pool)
- Branch Research Centers (seven centers combined): $43,820,750
- Agronomy Seed Farm (special funds): $1,679,996
One‑time funding (must be reported to 70th Legislative Assembly)
- Grand total one‑time items: $17,387,500 (General Fund $1,567,500; Other funds $15,820,000)
- Principal purposes include: protein extraction and air classification system (Northern Crops Institute), equipment/storage sheds, irrigation research site work, Langdon seed conditioning plant ($2.6M), Nesson Valley irrigation site ($2.3M), deferred maintenance, Williston storage shed, swine facility renovation ($6M), and a Main Research Center greenhouse addition ($3.25M).
Required reports and limits
- Entities must report use of one‑time funds to appropriations committees for the 2027–29 base‑budget consideration.
- Williston Research Extension Center must report mineral‑royalty revenue receipts and expenditures for the 2023–25 and 2025–27 biennia.
- Dickinson Research Extension Center may use up to $755,000 in mineral‑royalty revenue for ongoing operations in 2025–27; any receipts above that amount are limited to one‑time expenditures for the biennium.
Exemptions, transfer authority, and FTE treatment
- The bill authorizes intra‑appropriation transfers among certain subdivisions (with approval by the state board of agricultural research and education and relevant center directors, via the Office of Management and Budget).
- The state board of higher education may adjust or increase FTEs for the listed entities as needed, subject to fund availability; required annual reporting to OMB and the budget section.
- Unexpended general fund appropriation authority and excess income for the listed entities are exempted from a specified reversion statute and may be carried forward/expended into the 2027–29 biennium.
Effect/timing
- Emergency clause carried — appropriations effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature (signed May 2, 2025).
- Agencies receiving funds: NDSU Extension Service, Northern Crops Institute, UGPTI, NDSU Main and Branch Research Centers, Agronomy Seed Farm — impacting research operations, capital projects, staffing, and extension services statewide.
If you’d like, I can extract a table of line‑by‑line appropriations or prepare a short memo on the expected budgetary impact in the state general fund over the 2025–27 biennium.
