Historical society would receive funding and manage military gallery displays

The State Historical Society would receive up to $114,226,907 for the 2025–27 budget period. The funding covers salaries, operating costs, buildings and other property, grants, museum and gallery projects, planning, repairs, storage, and celebration activities. The money would come from general-fund, special-fund, federal, and other funds listed in the appropriation. The society could not directly spend the new and vacant employee-position pool, but could request a transfer to salaries and wages under the required guidelines and reporting rules. One-time funding would not be included in the society's 2027–29 base budget, and the society would report its use to the next legislative assembly's appropriations committees. The funding applies to the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027.

The society could borrow up to $20 million from the Bank of North Dakota for the military gallery expansion and would seek later legislative money to repay any borrowing. The financing applies to the military gallery expansion and also covers state grants for historic museum repairs and historic armory restoration. The line of credit could be used during the 2025–27 biennium, with an interest rate no higher than the rate charged to North Dakota governmental entities. The society could use state money for the two historic-repair grant programs only when organizations provide one dollar in nonstate matching money for every two dollars from the society. The society could access $15 million for the military gallery only after its director certifies that at least 33 percent, or $12,785,693, of the required donation amount has been pledged. The borrowing authority applies from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027; the $4.2 million repayment and $15 million gallery funding are identified as emergency measures.

The State Historical Society would manage the Heritage Center's operations and work with the adjutant general on military gallery displays, signs, and museum content. The society's responsibilities cover the Heritage Center building, its collections, and the military gallery, including the gallery's regimental room. The society and the adjutant general would have to enter a memorandum of agreement setting policies for military gallery displays, signs, and content. The regimental room would be named the North Dakota National Guard Regimental Room. The society would have to maintain and secure collections at the Heritage Center. The society would establish a policy allowing alcohol at invitation-only events when a qualified alcohol licensee dispenses it.