North Dakota’s Republican-controlled Legislature successfully concluded a three-day special session on Wednesday, addressing the complications caused by the state Supreme Court’s ruling that voided a major budget bill. The ruling, which deemed the bill unconstitutional for violating a single-subject requirement, had raised concerns about potential disruptions to government operations. However, the Legislature’s swift response resulted in the passage of fourteen bills aimed at reconstructing the voided legislation.
The bills covered a range of important issues, including transfers from state government funds, K-12 education funding, a $125 million incentive program for a fertilizer plant development, criminal penalties for supplying drugs resulting in overdose deaths and injuries, and effective dates for transitioning the state’s public employee pension plan to a 401(k)-style plan for new hires. This comprehensive approach ensured that crucial aspects of the budget were addressed and resolved.
During the special session, Republican Governor Doug Burgum’s unrelated proposal for an expanded income tax cut was rejected by the Senate. The proposal, which aimed to provide tax relief using excess state tax revenue, was met with opposition from senators who believed it required further vetting and input. Instead, constituents expressed a stronger interest in property tax cuts. Governor Burgum expressed disappointment at the rejection, seeing it as a missed opportunity to provide much-needed relief in the face of inflation and ample state revenue.
Lawmakers diligently carried out their duties during the special session, despite wintry weather conditions. After adjourning around noon, they quickly left the state Capitol. In addition to addressing the voided budget bill, the passed legislation also included a modified bill to appoint more legislators to serve on the state’s public employee retirement board. This move aimed to rectify a provision of the voided legislation that was challenged by a lawsuit from the board.
Republican legislative majority leaders acknowledged the need for a system to correct late-session mistakes in future sessions. They emphasized that the bill struck down by the court had traditionally served as a catchall or cleanup bill passed at the end of the Legislature’s biennial session. To prevent similar issues in the future, the leaders expressed the intention to establish a mechanism for correcting errors during late stages of legislative sessions.
The North Dakota Legislature’s successful resolution of the budget bill voided by the state Supreme Court ensures the smooth functioning of government operations. The efficiency displayed by lawmakers in reconstructing the voided legislation within a short timeframe demonstrates their commitment to addressing crucial issues promptly. As the state looks towards its next regular session scheduled for January 2025, lessons learned from this special session will undoubtedly contribute to the improvement of legislative processes and decision-making in the future.
