North Dakota House Passes Department of Commerce Budget Amid Controversy
Bismarck, ND — The North Dakota House of Representatives passed a contentious budget for the Department of Commerce on Thursday, concluding a two-day debate over Senate Bill 2018. The session featured a heated discussion lasting over three hours, notably addressing amendments introduced late in the House Appropriations Committee.
Key issues included funding for a $16 million drone replacement program, a proposed $50 million allocation for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, and a $75 million line of credit from the Bank of North Dakota to support the North Dakota Development Fund. Representative Ben Koppelman criticized the process, suggesting that failed policies were being incorporated into the budget improperly, undermining legislative standards and the state’s single-subject rule.
Koppelman argued, "We might as well not have policy committees if we’re going to just put policy in budget bills whenever we feel like it.” Supporters of the bill, including Rep. Mike Nathe, defended the relevance of the amendments, emphasizing their alignment with the state’s commerce goals.
The budget ultimately passed with a 61-31 vote and now awaits Senate approval, potentially leading to further discussions in a conference committee.
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