AN ACT to provide an appropriation to the department of commerce for a state radar data pathfinder program; to provide for a report; and to declare an emergency.
HB 1038 appropriates $11 million from North Dakota’s strategic investment and improvements fund to the Department of Commerce for a one-time state radar data pathfinder program. The program is intended to help North Dakota participate in the Federal Aviation Administration’s radar data pathfinder initiative and to work with the state’s uncrewed aircraft systems test site. The bill directs the department to use the money to integrate federal radar data with state UAS and beyond visual line of sight operations, develop security protocols that meet FAA requirements, improve radar and UAS infrastructure, increase operational safety, and provide training and technical support to state agencies.
The bill also requires the Department of Commerce to report to legislative management and the governor by June 30, 2026, on the program’s status, integration with the federal program, expenditures, and effects on UAS operations, safety, and data security. It is declared an emergency measure, meaning it takes effect immediately upon passage rather than waiting for the normal effective date.
HB 1038 creates a new, time-limited appropriation and program within the Department of Commerce without amending existing code sections, but it does affect how state funds are used and how North Dakota coordinates with federal aviation data systems. It supports the state’s uncrewed aircraft systems test site and broader UAS/beyond visual line of sight operations by funding infrastructure, security controls, and intergovernmental integration. The bill also imposes a reporting requirement to the legislature and governor, increasing oversight of the program’s implementation and outcomes.
The bill appears to have been broadly supported. The recorded votes were overwhelmingly in favor in both chambers, with 84-3 in the House and 40-4 in the Senate, indicating strong bipartisan approval. The emergency designation and the size of the appropriation suggest the legislature viewed the program as timely and important for North Dakota’s UAS and aviation technology efforts.
No committee testimony or floor debate was provided, so specific objections are not documented in the available materials. Based on the vote margins, any concerns were limited and did not prevent passage. Potential points of contention likely centered on the $11 million cost, the use of state funds for a program tied to federal radar data integration, and data security or implementation risks associated with sharing and using federal aviation data for beyond visual line of sight operations.