AN ACT to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 24-02-37 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the special road fund.
House Bill No. 1051 (HB1051) seeks to amend and reenact subsection 3 of section 24-02-37 of the North Dakota Century Code, specifically concerning the special road fund. The bill mandates that the state treasurer deposit the funds from the state highway fund into an interest-bearing account at the Bank of North Dakota. It stipulates that 80% of the income generated from this account will be allocated to a special interest-bearing account known as the special road fund, which is designated for the construction and maintenance of access roads to recreational, tourist, and historical areas as determined by a special road committee.
The bill outlines the process for political subdivisions, tribal governments, or state agencies to request funds from the special road fund. These entities must apply using designated forms and may be required to contribute to the project costs as a condition for receiving funds. Additionally, any unallocated funds in the special road fund by June 30 of each odd-numbered year will revert back to the state highway fund after an additional two-year holding period.
If enacted, HB1051 will modify the management and allocation of funds within the state highway fund, specifically enhancing the financial resources available for road construction and maintenance in designated recreational and historical areas. This change could lead to improved infrastructure in these areas, potentially boosting tourism and local economies. The bill also establishes a structured process for funding requests, which may streamline project approvals and ensure accountability in the use of state funds.
The sentiment around HB1051 appears to be overwhelmingly positive, as indicated by the unanimous support in the House with a vote of 91-0 and a strong majority in the Senate at 46-1. This suggests broad bipartisan agreement on the importance of improving access to recreational and historical sites through enhanced road infrastructure.
While there is strong support for the bill, some points of contention may arise regarding the requirement for political subdivisions and tribal governments to contribute to project costs. This could be seen as a burden on local entities, particularly smaller communities with limited budgets. However, the specifics of these contributions and their implications were not heavily discussed in the available committee transcripts.