AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the state historical society; to amend and reenact section 55-01-02.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to jurisdiction of the heritage center; to authorize a Bank of North Dakota line of credit; and to declare an emergency.
HB 1018 appropriates funds for the North Dakota State Historical Society for the 2025-27 biennium and sets out how those funds may be used. The bill provides a total appropriation of $114.2 million from all sources, including $23.4 million from the general fund, to cover salaries, operating costs, grants, capital assets, and a series of one-time projects. Major funding items include the military gallery expansion at the North Dakota Heritage Center, updates to the inspiration gallery, Pembina state museum exhibit work, Medora area planning, archive storage upgrades, historical structure improvements, and America 250th celebration activities.
The bill also amends state law governing the Heritage Center. It confirms the State Historical Society’s jurisdiction over the building’s administration and operations, keeps building maintenance with the Office of Management and Budget, and assigns the Society responsibility for public displays, signage, and museum content for the military gallery in consultation with the adjutant general. It also requires a memorandum of agreement between the Society and the adjutant general, names the regimental room the North Dakota National Guard regimental room, and authorizes alcohol service at invited-only events under specified licensing conditions.
A significant portion of the bill is dedicated to financing the military gallery expansion project. It includes $27.488 million from the strategic investment and improvements fund, $39.094 million from donations, and authorizes a $20 million Bank of North Dakota line of credit for the project. The bill also requires matching funds for certain historic museum repair and armory restoration grants, and it conditions access to part of the military gallery funding on certification that at least 33 percent of the donated amount has been pledged from nonstate sources. The bill declares an emergency for the military gallery expansion and related debt repayment, allowing those funds to be used immediately.
The overall sentiment appears broadly supportive, as reflected by strong bipartisan passage in both chambers and the fact that the bill advanced as an appropriations measure. The votes were 64-27 in the House and 43-4 in the Senate, indicating substantial support but not unanimity. The discussion implied by the bill structure suggests the military gallery expansion, Heritage Center governance, and large capital spending items were the main focal points, with the emergency designation underscoring urgency around the project.
The main points of contention likely center on the size and financing of the military gallery expansion, the use of state investment funds and debt financing, and the requirement for private matching donations before some funds can be accessed. The bill also touches on governance and content authority at the Heritage Center, which could raise questions about the respective roles of the State Historical Society and the adjutant general. Additional sensitivity may exist around the alcohol-service authorization and the prioritization of large one-time cultural and capital projects over other state needs.
HB 1018 increases appropriations to the State Historical Society and amends North Dakota Century Code section 55-01-02.1 to clarify jurisdiction over the Heritage Center and the military gallery. It creates or continues appropriations from the general fund, special funds, federal funds, donations, the strategic investment and improvements fund, and a Bank of North Dakota line of credit, while also imposing matching-fund and certification conditions on certain grants and capital projects. The bill directly affects the State Historical Society, the Office of Management and Budget, the adjutant general, donors, and organizations eligible for historic preservation grants, and it accelerates selected military gallery funding through an emergency clause.
The bill appears to have been generally favorable in the Legislature, with clear passage in both chambers and no recorded committee transcript opposition in the provided materials. The vote margins suggest broad support for funding the State Historical Society and its major capital projects, though the House vote shows more resistance than the Senate. The emergency designation and the large share of funding devoted to the military gallery expansion indicate that lawmakers viewed the project as important and time-sensitive.
Likely areas of contention include the scale of the military gallery expansion, the use of state investment funds and a Bank of North Dakota line of credit, and the requirement that substantial private donations be pledged before some state funds are released. The bill’s allocation of large sums to specific museum and heritage projects may also have prompted debate over spending priorities. Governance provisions assigning content authority for the military gallery to the State Historical Society in consultation with the adjutant general, along with the alcohol-service authorization at the Heritage Center, could also have been points of concern for some members.