North Dakota Legislature Approves Revised Commerce Budget Without Roosevelt Library Funding
BISMARCK — The North Dakota Legislature has sent the Department of Commerce’s budget to Gov. Kelly Armstrong, omitting the previously added $50 million funding for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The budget, encapsulated in Senate Bill 2018, underwent over three hours of debate before passing and entering a conference committee.
The final version of the bill slashed approximately $70 million from the Strategic Investment and Improvement Fund (SIIF), a state reserve supported by oil and gas tax revenue. While the presidential library’s proposed funding totaled $50 million—$25 million from SIIF and another $25 million from the Bank of North Dakota—other critical areas also faced cuts, including tourism marketing and various development initiatives.
Lawmakers chose to defer further discussions on the library’s funding until the next legislative session, allowing for more detailed scrutiny once the library has been operational for several months. Library officials report raising $260 million toward a $450 million goal by its anticipated July 2026 opening. The approved budget for the Department of Commerce stands at approximately $158 million, with $42 million sourced from the General Fund.
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