The proposed bill aims to provide an appropriation for the public service commission in North Dakota, covering expenses for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. It includes adjustments to salaries and wages, increasing the total from $12,134,387 to $12,174,387, and operating expenses from $2,622,654 to $2,752,654. Additionally, the bill introduces a new and vacant full-time equivalent (FTE) pool with an allocation of $265,735, and outlines one-time funding for drone imaging technology and federal intervention funding totaling $405,000. The total funds appropriated are adjusted from $23,286,172 to $23,456,172, with general fund allocations increasing from $9,051,704 to $9,221,704.

Furthermore, the bill amends the salary structure for public service commissioners, setting their annual salary at $139,256 through June 30, 2026, and $143,434 thereafter. It also modifies the distribution of special fuels excise taxes collected on diesel fuel sales to railroads, increasing the cap from $332,320 to $352,892 per year, which will be deposited into the rail safety fund. The bill authorizes the public service commission to obtain a loan of up to $900,000 from the Bank of North Dakota for costs related to a rail rate complaint case, with provisions for repayment based on the outcomes of the case.

Statutes affected:
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations - Government Operations Division Committee: 49-01-05, 57-43.2-19
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 49-01-05, 57-43.2-19
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division Committee: 49-01-05, 57-43.2-19