North DakotaNorth Dakota may help fund large milk plant construction
North Dakota’s agriculture commissioner may provide capped grants for qualifying milk plants, with payment after full processing capacity is reached.
What it does
North Dakota provides grants for qualifying milk plant construction or expansion, capped at the lesser of $5 million or 5% of construction costs. The state pays after the plant reaches full processing capacity.
After the committee approves a grant, the agriculture commissioner may borrow up to $5 million for the grant fund. If borrowed, the commissioner must ask the next Legislature for repayment funds.
Argument forA qualifying milk plant could get help with construction and essential site services once it reaches full processing capacity.
Argument againstIf the commissioner borrows grant money, repayment could depend on a later Legislature approving the requested funds.
More detail
The agriculture committee develops grants for qualifying milk processing facility costs. The facility must be in North Dakota and able to process at least three million pounds of milk each year. Grants reimburse necessary infrastructure, site purchases, or other capital costs, such as roads, power, and water lines. A grant is limited to the lesser of $5 million or 5% of total construction costs. The agriculture commissioner distributes the grant after the facility reaches 100% of its processing capacity.
The agriculture commissioner may borrow money through a Bank of North Dakota credit line for the grant fund. The borrowed money would go into the agriculture diversification and development fund for the milk facility grant program. The agriculture committee must approve a grant under the Act first. The credit line is capped at $5 million and carries the rate charged to North Dakota government entities. If the commissioner borrows, the commissioner must request repayment funds from the next Legislature. The commissioner may borrow during the two-year period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- May 2Filed with Secretary Of State 04/30Latest
- May 1Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 04/29Became Law
- Apr 28Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 28Signed by President
- Apr 25Signed by Speaker
- Apr 22Second reading, passed, yeas 44 nays 3Major
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2342. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 22Concurred
- Apr 21Returned to Senate (12)
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2342. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 21Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 81 nays 11Passed House
- Apr 18Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Apr 17Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 22 0 1Minor
- Mar 17Rereferred to Appropriations
- Mar 14Reported back, do pass, place on calendar 13 0 1Minor
- Mar 13Committee Hearing 08:00
- Feb 25Introduced, first reading, referred Agriculture CommitteeMinor
- Feb 24Received from Senate
- Feb 21Second reading, passed, yeas 46 nays 1Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on SB 2342. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 21Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 20Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 16 0 0Minor
- Feb 10Rereferred to Appropriations
- Feb 10Reported back, do pass 6 0 0Minor
- Feb 6Committee Hearing 03:30
- Jan 21Introduced, first reading, referred Agriculture and Veterans Affairs CommitteeIntroduced
Agriculture