A proposed new $21 million veterans home in southeastern North Dakota is nearing final legislative approval, close enough that Gov. John Hoeven has scheduled a Thursday ceremony to sign the bill.

North Dakota's House voted 89-1 on Wednesday to approve the new home, which is to be built on the grounds of the present home in the Ransom County community of Lisbon. The lone dissenter, Rep. Gary Sukut, R-Williston, said later he voted "no" by mistake.

The existing facility is more than 50 years old and has structural problems, including narrow hallways, a poor ventilation system and bathrooms that are often too small to be accessible with a wheelchair. It is to be torn down.

Rep. Gary Kreidt, R-New Salem, said the new home will have 150 beds, including 52 beds that offer skilled nursing care. The present home is licensed for 38 skilled nursing care beds.

"We've had incidents in Iraq. We've had Desert Storm. We're going to be having people coming back from those that are going to need the type of care that the vets home can offer to those individuals," Kreidt said.

The federal government is expected to pay about $12 million of the cost to build a new home. The state will pay about $9 million, including $6.48 million from a state oil tax fund and $2.56 million in bonds. The estimated total expense includes the cost of tearing down the existing building.

Mark Johnson, the home's administrator, said the bonds will be retired using a portion of the fees that veterans pay to stay in the home.

The Senate is expected to give the bill final approval today, just before Gov. John Hoeven's scheduled signing ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

The bill is SB2418.