ND HB1249

$1.5 million total in one-time general fund appropriations for autonomous technology grants across four state agencies for the 2025-2027 biennium: $250,000 to the attorney general for law enforcement uses (missing persons, crime scenes, first response), $500,000 to career and technical education for workforce training in northwest North Dakota addressing oil and gas industry shortages, $250,000 to health and human services for rural emergency response and disaster mitigation, and $500,000 to the agriculture commissioner for agriculture industry applications

Autonomous technology is defined as uncrewed aircraft systems, autonomous vehicles, or other autonomous systems, processes, or technologies

Each administering agency must develop grant application processes with eligibility criteria, and may require recipients to provide $1 in matching funds for every $4 of state funding awarded

All four agencies must report to legislative management during the 2025-26 interim on grant recipients, amounts awarded, and how funding was used

Legislative management shall study the costs and benefits of investing in autonomous technology infrastructure, including economic impact and return on investment analysis, and report findings to the 70th legislative assembly