North Dakota lawmakers will return to the Capitol October 23rd to address a major budget bill. Governor Burgum called the special session in response to the Supreme Court rejecting Senate Bill 2015, which among many things included funding for the Office of Management and Budget. The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled last month that the bill violated the state’s constitution because it contained numerous appropriations and policy issues and did not focus on one topic. The legislature needs to meet before the end of the month before funding runs out for OMB.

Legislative Council has already drafted 14 bills (7 appropriations and 7 policy) that were part of SB 2015. Legislative Management met Tuesday to review those bills and discuss how to best organize ahead of the Special Session. There was considerable discussion during the meeting as to whether or not other bills should be allowed along with the committee structures during the Special Session.

Legislative Management set a deadline of 5 pm Thursday for bill drafts or bill concepts to be submitted to Legislative Council. Legislative Management will meet Friday to decide what bills will be considered during the Special Session. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor said any new bills should be limited and emergent, meaning they can not wait to be heard or addressed until the next legislative session in 2025. There will be a joint Appropriations committee made up of House and Senate members along with a joint Policy committee that will be comprised of House and Senate policy committee chairs.

Lefor indicated that part of the discussion that led to the decision to have the Governor call for a Special Session was for the Legislature to consider some of the Governor’s proposals including energy, tax relief and infrastructure. There was no further discussion in committee as far as what those proposals include.

With the Governor calling for the Special Session, bills are approved by a majority vote and will become effective immediately after he signs them.