This bill appropriates funds to the North Dakota agriculture commissioner for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, with a total budget of $55,201,816. It includes base level enhancements for salaries, operating expenses, grants, and various programs, with specific allocations for agricultural products utilization, wildlife services, and the North Dakota trade office. Notably, the bill amends the salary of the agriculture commissioner, increasing it to $140,780 through June 30, 2026, and to $145,300 thereafter. Additionally, it establishes a new and vacant full-time equivalent (FTE) pool and outlines the process for transferring funds within the budget.

The bill also includes provisions for one-time funding items that are not part of the base budget for the 2027-29 biennium, totaling $8,200,000, which will be reported to the appropriations committees of the seventieth legislative assembly. Furthermore, it mandates several fund transfers for specific purposes, such as wildlife services and agricultural land mitigation, and exempts certain appropriations from standard budget provisions. The bill is declared an emergency measure, indicating its urgent need for implementation.

Statutes affected:
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for House Appropriations - Government Operations Division Committee: 4.1-01-02
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 4.1-01-02
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Wanzek: 4.1-01-02
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Conference Committee: 4.1-01-02
Enrollment: 4.1-01-02