This bill proposes an appropriation of $500,000 from the state general fund to the North Dakota State Historical Society for compliance with the federal Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. The funds will be used to establish a compliance committee that includes tribal historic preservation officers from each North Dakota tribe, as well as representatives from the state historical society, the Indian affairs commission, and the attorney general's office. Each participating tribe is required to provide matching funds of up to $100,000 for the committee's efforts, and all funds must be managed in a separate account overseen by the office of management and budget.

The compliance committee will focus on identifying and prioritizing efforts for the repatriation of culturally significant items, including human remains and funerary objects. It will also develop policies for meetings, grant usage, training, and compliance timelines related to repatriation. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that the appropriation does not permit any new scientific studies of Native American ancestral remains or burial property, ensuring that the funds are strictly allocated for compliance and repatriation efforts.