AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15-10-64 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the sale of the Ray Richards golf course; to provide an appropriation; and to provide an effective date.
HB 1625 amends North Dakota law governing the University of North Dakota’s Ray Richards golf course property and the disposition of proceeds if the property is sold. The bill directs that 53.57% of any sale price from the identified Ray Richards golf course property be deposited into a permanent endowment fund, the Ray Richards golf endowment fund, to be administered by the UND Alumni Foundation for the sole benefit of the UND men’s varsity golf program. If that men’s program has been terminated before the property is conveyed, the fund must first be used to reinstate the program, with any remaining money then used for the benefit of the golf program, improvements to the course, or direct support of UND men’s and women’s varsity golf programs.
The bill also creates a $4 million appropriation from sale proceeds, donations, and other local funds for capital improvements to the Ray Richards golf course, available from the effective date through June 30, 2027. The act takes effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State, indicating an intent to move quickly on any sale-related financing or redevelopment plans tied to the course.
In practical terms, the bill changes how state law allocates proceeds from a potential sale of the Ray Richards golf course and establishes a dedicated funding stream for golf-related purposes at UND. It affects the University of North Dakota, the UND Alumni Foundation, and any future purchaser or developer of the property by tying sale proceeds to a specific endowment and by authorizing use of funds for course improvements and varsity golf support.
The overall sentiment appears strongly supportive and noncontroversial. The bill passed the House 93-0 and the Senate 46-0, with only one member absent in each chamber, suggesting broad bipartisan agreement. No committee transcripts or recorded debate were provided, so there is no evidence in the available materials of organized opposition or significant concern during legislative consideration.
The main point of potential contention, based on the bill’s structure, is the earmarking of sale proceeds for a specific athletic program and related golf-course uses rather than for general university or state purposes. However, the unanimous votes indicate that any such concern was not significant enough to generate recorded opposition in the legislative process.
HB 1625 amends section 15-10-64 of the North Dakota Century Code to govern the sale proceeds of the Ray Richards golf course property and to create a permanent endowment mechanism for UND men’s varsity golf. It also appropriates up to $4 million from sale proceeds, donations, and other local funds for capital improvements to the golf course through June 30, 2027. The bill primarily affects the University of North Dakota, the UND Alumni Foundation, and the handling of any future conveyance of the identified property.
The bill appears to have enjoyed unanimous, bipartisan support in both chambers, with no recorded dissent in the votes provided. The absence of committee transcripts limits insight into floor or committee debate, but the vote totals suggest the measure was viewed favorably and as a practical way to manage the property sale and support UND golf programs.
The only notable policy tension is the dedication of a large share of any sale proceeds to a permanent endowment for a specific university athletic program, which could be seen as limiting flexibility for broader institutional or state uses. The bill also conditions the use of funds on the status of the men’s golf program and allows some funds to support women’s golf or course improvements, which may have been intended to address equity or program-continuity concerns. No explicit opposition or controversy is reflected in the available vote record or transcripts.