This bill appropriates approximately $2.72 billion for the North Dakota Department of Transportation for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. It includes enhancements for salaries, operating expenses, capital assets, and grants, with specific allocations for highway projects and passenger rail authority grants. A new section is established for the Big Sky North Coast Corridor identification and development program, allowing the director to enter agreements with the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority. The bill also mandates a report to the seventieth legislative assembly regarding the use of one-time funding items. Additionally, it amends several sections of the North Dakota Century Code, including the repeal of the legacy earnings fund and the introduction of provisions for the flexible transportation fund, which will allocate funds to counties, cities, and townships for road and bridge maintenance, particularly in non-oil-producing areas.

Furthermore, the bill creates a new "legacy earnings fund" within the state treasury, which will consist of funds distributed from the legacy fund, and outlines the allocation process for these funds. It establishes a municipal infrastructure fund and a county and township infrastructure fund to provide grants for essential infrastructure projects in non-oil-producing counties, with specific reporting requirements for grant recipients. The bill also sets eligibility criteria for organized and unorganized townships to receive allocations and mandates that the state treasurer distribute grants based on the latest data regarding infrastructure needs. Provisions for the construction of a four-lane highway on U.S. Highway 85 and cooperative agreements for rest area management are included, along with the repeal of several sections of the North Dakota Century Code to ensure continuity into the next biennium.

Statutes affected:
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division Committee: 6-09.4-10.1, 21-10-06, 24-02-37.3, 49-17.1-05, 54-27-19.3, 57-40.3-10
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 6-09.4-10.1, 21-10-06, 24-02-37.3, 49-17.1-05, 54-27-19.3, 57-40.3-10
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations Committee: 6-09.4-10.1, 21-10-06, 24-02-37.3, 24-02-40.1, 54-27-19, 57-40.3-10, 57-43.1-02, 57-43.2-02, 57-51.1-07.5
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Conference Committee: 6-09.4-10.1, 21-10-06, 24-02-37.3, 54-27-19, 57-40.3-10, 57-51.1-07.7, 57-51.1-07.8
Enrollment: 6-09.4-10.1, 21-10-06, 24-02-37.3, 54-27-19, 57-40.3-10, 57-51.1-07.7, 57-51.1-07.8