North Dakota Senate Bill SB2254

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Caption

AN ACT to provide an appropriation to the department of transportation for fixed route city paratransit transportation services grants; and to provide for a legislative management study.

Summary

SB 2254 appropriates $2 million in one-time general fund money to the North Dakota Department of Transportation for grants to fixed-route city transportation providers to help cover associated paratransit services during the 2025-27 biennium. The bill is aimed at supporting city transit systems that operate fixed routes and must also provide complementary paratransit service, which is typically more costly to deliver. In addition to the direct appropriation, the bill requires the Legislative Management to study the funding needs of fixed-route city transportation networks during the 2025-26 interim. That study must examine how these systems can meet population growth, economic development, workforce, and health care needs, and it must produce a proposed funding formula for inclusion in the Department of Transportation budget. The study’s recommendations, along with any needed legislation, are to be reported to the 70th Legislative Assembly.

Impact

The bill creates a new one-time grant appropriation within the Department of Transportation budget and directs state funds toward local transit/paratransit operations. It does not permanently amend existing transportation statutes, but it does establish a legislative study process that could lead to future changes in how fixed-route city transit systems are funded and how grant formulas are structured. The measure affects city transit providers that operate fixed routes and provide paratransit, as well as the state agency responsible for administering the grants.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support, passing the Senate 43-4 and the House 88-5. The strong vote totals suggest general agreement that fixed-route city transit and related paratransit services need state support. The inclusion of a study also indicates interest in developing a more systematic long-term funding approach rather than relying only on one-time appropriations.

Contention

The main point of discussion implied by the bill itself is how to fund fixed-route city transportation networks in a way that reflects broader public needs, including growth, workforce access, and health care access. Any contention likely centers on the size and structure of state support, whether the $2 million appropriation is sufficient, and how a future funding formula should allocate money among transit systems. The few dissenting votes in each chamber suggest some concern about spending levels, state involvement in local transit funding, or the scope of the proposed study.