WELCOME TO THE NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRUST LANDS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN
FUNDING K-12 EDUCATION IN NORTH DAKOTA
View available school trust land tracts, minimum bid amounts, county auction details, and more.
Submit information online to obtain easements, surface damage agreements, and other permits.
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Upcoming Oil & Gas Lease Auction
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 08:00 am - Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 05:00 pm
Categories: MineralsOn behalf of the Board of University & School Lands the Department of Trust Lands will hold its next online oil & gas lease auction from February 4-11, 2025. The nomination deadline is December 20, 2024.
RECENT NEWS
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Record Distributions for 2025-2027 Biennium
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – DECEMBER 11, 2024
Board of University and School Lands Announces Record Distributions for 2025-2027 Biennium
Bismarck, ND – On behalf of the Board of University & School Lands, the Department of Trust Lands is pleased to announce historic distributions for the upcoming 2025-2027 biennium, reflecting a significant increase in asset values. The Board, in close collaboration with Trust Lands staff, has carefully managed assets including over 700,000 surface acres, 2.6 million mineral acres, and 13 permanent trusts. This prudent management has preserved the integrity of the assets while driving significant growth, leading to a 17% biennial increase in overall distributions to fund beneficiaries.
This record growth stems from a powerful combination of factors, including $2 billion in oil and gas royalties generated over the last five years from nearly 10,000 wells, agricultural rents, easement revenues, and a well-diversified $7.4 billion investment portfolio, all of which directly strengthen the funding of education in North Dakota both now and for future generations. The Common Schools Trust Fund, with a June 30, 2024 value of $7 billion, makes up the vast majority of the Land Board’s investment portfolio.
The Department of Trust Lands will distribute nearly $620 million dollars over the next two years to the following beneficiaries:
- Common Schools Trust Fund (K-12 Public Education) - $584,677,350
- North Dakota State University - $8,770,000
- University of North Dakota - $6,948,000
- Youth Correctional Center - $3,136,000
- State College of Science - $2,570,284
- School for the Deaf - $2,388,000
- State Hospital - $1,976,284
- School for the Blind - $1,936,284
- Valley City State University - $1,566,000
- Mayville State University - $1,102,000
- Veterans Home - $994,284
- Dickinson State University – $406,284
- Minot State University – $406,284
- Dakota College at Bottineau - $406,284
"We are proud to announce record distributions, demonstrating the Land Board’s ongoing commitment to prudently manage North Dakota’s trust land assts and support the state’s educational needs," said Joseph Heringer, Trust Lands Commissioner "These funds will continue to ensure that education in our state remains strong, now and for generations to come."
2024 Surface Lease Auctions Results
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 05:00 pm
The Department of Trust Lands on behalf of the Board of University & School Lands has concluded the fall auction season.
Press Release: North Dakota, 25 other states settle unclaimed property dispute
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 11:30 am
North Dakota, 25 other states settle unclaimed property dispute over checks issued by MoneyGram
States will take possession of more than $190M in unclaimed property, including $2.2M to North Dakota; citizens urged to visit website to check if any of the money is theirs
BISMARCK, N.D. (Oct 1, 2024) – Officials from the state of Delaware and a bipartisan coalition of 30 states, including North Dakota, announced they have agreed to a settlement of an unclaimed property dispute before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2023, a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court sided with Arkansas, and its coalition partners, that unclaimed official checks issued by MoneyGram Payment Systems Inc. are governed by the Federal Disposition Act.
Under the terms of the settlement, Delaware will transfer to the coalition states more than $102 million of the property that MoneyGram reported to Delaware from 2011 to 2017. Delaware’s transfer represents roughly half of the report years disputed in the litigation.
In addition, approximately $89 million had been deposited by MoneyGram in a litigation escrow account from 2018 to 2022. These funds, plus interest earned, will be distributed among all 50 states based on each instrument’s place of purchase. North Dakota will receive $1,268,765 from the escrow account, along with $925,678 from the state of Delaware, for a total of approximately $2.2 million.
The North Dakota Unclaimed Property Division will assume custody of those funds and return them to rightful owners as claims are received. Until these funds are claimed by their rightful owners, the money will be held in the state’s Common Schools Trust Fund to help fund North Dakota K-12 public education.
“North Dakota is pleased to bring this matter to a close with the signing of this historic interstate settlement agreement,” said Joseph Heringer, North Dakota Trust Lands Commissioner and Unclaimed Property Administrator. “Please take a few minutes to visit our website at www.unclaimedproperty.nd.gov to see if any of this $2.2 million belongs to you.”
Contact:
Susan Sommerfeld, Director Unclaimed Property Division
701-328-1944
Changes to Minerals Management Division Fees
Friday, June 7, 2024 at 04:50 pm
The following Minerals Management Division fees have been changed or eliminated as follows:
Minerals Management Division Fee Amount/Per
Oil & Gas Lease Nomination Fee $0.00
Oil & Gas Lease Application Fee (upon winning lease) $50.00/tract
Oil & Gas Lease Assignment Fee $0.00
Oil & Gas Lease Extension/Amendment Application Fee $1,000.00/lease
Oil & Gas Lease Shut-in Application Fee $100.00/lease
Coal Lease Assignment Fee $0.00
Coal Lease Amendment, Renewal Request Fee $0.00
2024 County Rents and Prices Survey Available Now
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 01:40 pm
The Most Recent Survey - 2024 County Rents and Prices Survey
Last Year's Survey - 2023 County Rents and Prices Survey
Past Surveys can be found under the Resources tab.