HB 1018 Summary

• Appropriates $323.7 million to the Department of Commerce for the 2023-25 biennium, including $62.2 million from the general fund, with increases for salaries, operating expenses, grants, workforce programs, COVID-19 response, and weatherization/energy programs.

• Establishes $28.5 million in general fund workforce programs: $12 million for workforce talent attraction initiative, $12.5 million for workforce investment grants, $2 million for technical skills training, and $2 million for new Americans workforce training.

• Renames the "Innovation Loan Fund to Support Technology Advancement" to "Legacy Investment for Technology Fund" and transfers $10 million from the strategic investment fund for innovation technology loans.

• Transfers $65 million to the North Dakota Development Fund and authorizes uncrewed aircraft system programs with fee-based operations, including a $26 million appropriation for beyond visual line of sight uncrewed aircraft systems.

• Declares $120 million in federal weatherization and energy assistance funding and $26 million for uncrewed aircraft programs as emergency measures; requires Department of Commerce to report on grant program usage to legislative management.