This bill proposes an appropriation of $16,000,000 from the general fund to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services for a behavioral health facility grant. The funding is intended to increase the number of inpatient behavioral health beds by thirty in the west central human service center region over the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. To qualify for the grant, entities must commit to operating the facility for a minimum of ten years, with provisions for repayment of the grant if this requirement is not met. Additionally, grant funding will only be awarded once the facility's physical infrastructure is complete and adequate staffing plans are submitted.

The bill also specifies that the requirements of chapter 54-44.4, which typically govern the selection of grant recipients and the awarding of funds, will not apply to this grant process. This exemption aims to streamline the grant award and payment procedures, facilitating quicker access to funding for the necessary expansion of behavioral health services in the region.