requiring a logic and critical thinking course within the state high school education curriculum.

2026 Regular Session

ND authorizes the Dept. of Commerce to award grants to regional planning councils to implement state programs (housing, workforce, rural/local food), pending appropriations.

Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/12/2026 HJ 4 P. 3

HB 1524 — Regional planning council grants (North Dakota) — Summary

Status: Enacted (Act 939); filed with Secretary of State 05/02/2025
Introduced: Dec 5, 2024
Primary sponsors: Representatives Monson, Brandenburg, Kempenich, O'Brien, Ostlie, Pyle; Senators Kessel, Meyer, Myrdal, Barta, Lemm
House vote: Yeas 70, Nays 20. Senate vote: Yeas 36, Nays 10.

Purpose
- Authorizes the North Dakota Department of Commerce to award grants to regional planning councils to support local and regional implementation of state‑authorized programs and initiatives, subject to legislative appropriation.

Key provisions
- Adds a new section to chapter 54‑60 of the North Dakota Century Code establishing the Department of Commerce’s authority to approve grant awards to regional planning councils under chapter 54‑40.1.
- Grants may be used to support implementation of state programs and initiatives explicitly including (but not limited to): housing, regional workforce, rural catalyst, local food and grocery programs.
- The Department may approve grants to support program implementation, resource development, and efforts to attract and leverage public or private investment in local and regional areas of the state.
- All grants are subject to legislative appropriations (i.e., the Act authorizes the program but does not itself commit a specific statewide appropriation in the final enrolled text).

Who is affected
- Regional planning councils statewide — they become eligible to receive state grant support to carry out or expand locally‑focused, state‑authorized initiatives.
- Department of Commerce — given grant administration, review and approval responsibilities.
- Local governments, nonprofit partners, and private entities — potential indirect beneficiaries where councils deploy grant funds to projects that attract or leverage additional investment.
- State Legislature — retains appropriation control; further funding decisions will determine program scale.

Implementation and timeline
- The authority takes effect per the enacted law (filed with the Secretary of State May 2, 2025).
- Actual grant awards depend on future legislative appropriations and Department of Commerce program rules and application processes.

Notes on earlier drafts
- Earlier committee drafts of HB 1524 included more detailed provisions (e.g., biennial work plans, reporting metrics, permitted/prohibited uses, funding formulas, and specific biennial appropriation amounts ranging in committee versions from $1.0M to $8.0M). The final enrolled Act focuses narrowly on establishing grant authority under chapter 54‑60 and does not include the broader funding/formula provisions or a specific statewide appropriation.

Potential impacts
- If appropriated, the authority could increase state support for regional implementation of priorities (housing, workforce, local food systems, etc.) and help leverage private/public investment at the regional level. Administrative workload and grant oversight responsibilities will increase for the Department of Commerce and for recipient regional councils. The magnitude of impact will depend entirely on amounts and conditions in future legislative appropriations and Department grant rules.