AN ACT to provide an appropriation to the department of health and human services for grants to organizations providing care for the elderly.
Summary
SB 2138 appropriates $200,000 from the state general fund to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services for grant funding to organizations that provide care for elderly individuals in rural areas. The money is split evenly: $100,000 for existing organizations already serving rural elderly residents, and $100,000 for organizations that will expand or establish services in rural counties that currently lack them.
The bill is a targeted funding measure rather than a broad policy overhaul. It directs state dollars to support elder-care services in rural parts of the state during the 2025-2027 biennium, with the goal of improving access to care for older adults in underserved areas. It does not create a new regulatory program or amend substantive eligibility rules; instead, it creates a specific appropriation and grant allocation within HHS.
Impact
SB 2138 affects state spending by authorizing a one-time $200,000 general fund appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services for elder-care grants. It impacts organizations that provide services to elderly people in rural counties, including both existing providers and new or expanding providers in counties without current services. The bill does not appear to amend existing statutes governing elder care, but it does direct how state funds are to be distributed for the 2025-2027 biennium.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate unanimously, 45-0, and the House with strong support, 84-6. The vote pattern suggests general agreement on the need to support services for elderly residents in rural areas, with only limited opposition in the House.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available record, and no committee transcript is provided. The only notable point of possible disagreement is the use of general fund dollars for a relatively small, targeted grant program, which may explain the six dissenting House votes. Otherwise, the bill’s focus on rural elder care and service expansion appears to have drawn bipartisan support.
Appropriations: department of health and human services; appropriations for fiscal year 2026-2027 for human services; provide for. Creates appropriation act.