Legislature approves bill for Roosevelt library endowment

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Legislature has voted to commit public money for a Theodore Roosevelt presidential library in the western part of the state.

The House voted 76-16 after a nearly hour-long debate to use $50 million from the state treasury and loans from the state-owned Bank of North Dakota to help fund operating and maintenance costs of the proposed library in Medora.

The money must be matched by $100 million in private funds to build the facility. The legislation says $10 million from the private funds would be use to digitize presidential documents at nearby Dickinson State University. The project has been a top priority of Gov. Doug Burgum.

The Senate approved the measure Tuesday night. It now goes to Burgum for his signature.