BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) North Dakota's Senate has approved $1.1 billion in special funding so that infrastructure projects can begin by this summer.
Senators voted 44-2 Thursday to approve the ``surge funding'' bill that would fast-track funding to cities, school districts and communities affected by North Dakota's exploding growth.
The legislation sponsored by Dickinson Republican Senator Kelly Armstrong now goes to the House.
A similar so-called ``jump start'' measure pushed by Governor Jack Dalrymple failed in Senate on Thursday.
The key difference in the fast-track funding bills was the amount of money that would be spent on state highways and funding for counties.