ND HB1265

Creates a state information technology research center as a collaborative virtual center to conduct research in data science, software engineering, artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, and cybersecurity

Establishes an advanced technology review committee with 7 members including the state chief information officer, NDUS vice chancellor for IT, three private sector appointees (by governor and legislative majority leaders), the commerce commissioner (nonvoting), and a digital academy executive director

Creates a compute credits grant program administered by the Information Technology Department to fund entrepreneurs, startup companies, and small businesses in early-stage advanced technology product development who lack access to financial resources

Grant funds must be used for compute credits and CPU storage capacity; cannot be used for capital/building investments, administrative costs, or regular operations; recipients who leave the state must repay grant funding

Establishes an advanced technology grant fund as a special fund in the state treasury, with interest earnings credited to the fund, and requires post-award monitoring to evaluate outcomes including patents, commercial viability, and workforce impact