The bill establishes a new section in the North Dakota Century Code to create a grasslands grazing grant program, which will be administered by the agriculture commissioner. This program aims to provide grants to organizations that represent cooperative grazing associations within the state. Organizations receiving these grants can distribute the funds to cooperative grazing associations for eligible infrastructure projects located on national grasslands. Eligible projects include water development, fencing, conservation initiatives, compliance with federal permitting requirements, and other efforts to enhance wildlife habitat and improve grassland health.
To qualify for a grant, organizations must provide matching funds from nonstate sources, specifically one dollar for every four dollars of grant funding received. Additionally, program participants are required to develop and implement a grazing land plan that complies with local soil conservation district guidance, which must be approved by the local district. The agriculture commissioner is tasked with establishing further guidelines for the program to ensure its effective implementation.