AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of labor and human rights.
Summary
HB 1007 is an appropriations bill for the North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights for the 2025-2027 biennium. It authorizes a total appropriation of $3,658,937 from all funds, including $3,110,514 from the general fund, to cover salaries and wages, a new and vacant FTE pool, and operating expenses. The bill maintains the department at 13 full-time equivalent positions and increases funding above base level primarily to support personnel costs and operations.
A notable feature of the bill is the creation of a new and vacant FTE pool, which is funded but cannot be spent directly. Instead, the department may request transfers from that pool to the salaries and wages line item under guidelines established in House Bill No. 1015. This structure gives the department some flexibility in managing staffing costs while keeping legislative oversight over how the funds are used. The bill does not change substantive labor or human rights law; it is a budget measure that funds the agency’s existing duties and administration.
Impact
HB 1007 affects state law by appropriating general fund and federal/other funds to the Department of Labor and Human Rights for the 2025-2027 biennium. It updates the department’s operating budget, including salary, vacancy, and operating expense authority, but does not amend enforcement standards, employee rights, or human rights provisions in the underlying statutes. Its practical effect is to sustain agency staffing and operations at 13 FTEs and to provide a mechanism for managing vacant-position funding through transfers subject to separate budget guidelines.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad support overall, passing the House 92-1 and the Senate 43-3. Those vote totals suggest the appropriation was generally viewed as routine and necessary to keep the department functioning. The limited opposition indicates some disagreement, but not enough to threaten passage or suggest major controversy in the legislative record provided.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the new and vacant FTE pool and the related transfer authority, which gives the department flexibility but also limits direct spending of those funds. Legislators who prefer tighter control over appropriations may have concerns about how vacancy savings are redirected, while supporters likely view the mechanism as a practical staffing tool. Because no committee transcript is available, the specific objections of the few dissenting members are not identified in the record provided.