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HB 1438

Waters and water rights; Rural Economic Action Plan grant program; monetary cap; effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Spencer Kern and 1 co-sponsor

One-time $1.1M appropriation to the State Historical Society to fund a historic theater restoration in a city over 100,000, released only with nonstate matching funds.

Becomes law without Governor's signature 05/07/2025
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1438

HB 1438 — Historic Theater Restoration Grant Program (summary)

Status: Introduced Nov. 21, 2024; read/considered in 2025 session; failed to pass (second reading: yeas 0, nays 91); died in House committee at sine die.

Note: Multiple unrelated “HB 1438” bills from other states and on other topics appear among the documents provided. This summary focuses on the version titled “An Act to provide an appropriation to the state historical society for a historic theater restoration grant program” (North Dakota legislative text / committee report and engrossed versions).

Main purpose

To appropriate one-time state funds to the State Historical Society to support restoration of a historic theater in a city with a population over 100,000 by providing a matching grant to an organization dedicated to that restoration.

Key provisions

  • Appropriation: $1,100,000 from the general fund (not otherwise appropriated) to the State Historical Society.
  • Purpose: Provide a grant to an organization dedicated to restoring a historic theater located in a city with population >100,000.
  • Time frame: Funding authorized for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027.
  • Matching requirement: The State Historical Society may expend the funds only to the extent that the recipient organization has secured nonstate matching funds. Draft language across versions is inconsistent; the engrossed/committee text specifies securing “one dollar in matching moneys for every two dollars from nonstate sources,” i.e., the state funds would be available only if nonstate funds meet the stated ratio. Other drafts suggested a dollar-for-dollar match. The bill treats the appropriation as a one-time funding item.

Who would be affected

  • State Historical Society: recipient and administrator of the grant program.
  • Eligible organization(s): limited to organizations “dedicated to the restoration of a historic theater in a city with a population of more than 100,000.” (Effectively restricts eligibility to theaters located in larger cities.)
  • State general fund: reduction by the one-time appropriation amount, if enacted.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • One-time appropriation: $1,100,000 (biennium FY2026–FY2027 window).
  • The bill contains a clear eligibility and matching condition limiting the State Historical Society’s ability to release funds until matching is secured.
  • Procedural history (select): introduced; committee consideration and amendments occurred; read and engrossed versions exist; second reading failed (yeas 0 / nays 91); died in House committee at sine die.

Ambiguities / points to confirm

  • Matching formula: Drafts contain inconsistent phrasing (1:2 match vs. dollar-for-dollar). The engrossed language indicates a requirement tied to a 1:2 ratio; this should be confirmed against final enrolled text or committee amendments.
  • The bill restricts eligibility by city population threshold; it does not define “historic theater” or further application/review criteria — implementation details would be set by the State Historical Society or by subsequent rule/ guidance.

If you want, I can prepare a short briefing for legislators that compares this bill’s match requirement variants and the budgetary implications under each scenario.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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