North Dakota lawmakers consider new term limits in wake of voter-passed measure

BISMARCK — North Dakota lawmakers are contemplating crafting new time period limits for themselves and setting the identical for all government department officers

in a proposal that might override restrictions voters permitted final fall.

The Home Trade, Enterprise and Labor Committee on Wednesday, March 8, heard

Home Concurrent Decision 3019

by Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo. The measure must go the Home of Representatives and the Senate and be permitted by voters subsequent 12 months to take impact.

Lawmakers in the course of the listening to extensively questioned the 2022 time period limits committee chairman over the measure’s provisions, and its marketing campaign funding, spending and relationship to the nationwide group, U.S. Time period Limits, which seeks time period limits on Congress. Lawmakers additionally requested about what they known as misrepresentation of the measure to voters, as to whom the time period limits would apply.

Final 12 months, 63% of voters permitted the

time period limits

for eight cumulative years every within the Home and the Senate. The governor can’t be elected to greater than two four-year phrases. Time period limits usually are not retroactive, that means the service of present officeholders doesn’t depend towards them.

Notably, the measure’s language additionally bars the Legislature from proposing amendments to change or repeal the time period limits; solely residents are in a position to take action. Kasper, who was first elected in 2000, mentioned he “would like to have this in courtroom,” calling the 2022 measure flawed and unconstitutional.

The Home panel amended the decision to impose time period limits of 12 consecutive years every within the Home and Senate, with at the very least a four-year break earlier than these lawmakers might run to serve once more for an additional 12 consecutive years. Members who accomplished serving partial phrases could be eligible to serve 12 extra consecutive years.

The identical limits would apply to all elected government department officers, such because the lawyer basic and secretary of state.

“The individuals of North Dakota have spoken. They mentioned they need time period limits, so it is a modification of the present time period restrict regulation. This isn’t a throwing out of time period limits. It is only a modification,” Kasper advised the Home panel.

The committee gave the amended decision an 11-3 “do go” suggestion, with a Home vote possible subsequent week.

Lawmakers opposed Measure 1 final 12 months for decreasing institutional information within the Legislature. Gov. Doug Burgum supported the measure.

The measure additionally was mired in petition fraud allegations that reached the state Supreme Courtroom, which ordered a public vote on the measure that the then-secretary of state had initially rejected.

Measure Chairman Jared Hendrix opposes Kasper’s decision, calling it unconstitutional and saying a possible lawsuit could be a “frivolous expenditure of state funds.”

He known as Kasper’s proposal “successfully not time period limits,” amounting to “48 years between each chambers.”

Hendrix mentioned the measure “might be value supporting” if amended to carry the opposite statewide officeholders in step with the time period limits voters permitted for the governor and the Legislature.

He additionally mentioned the Legislature might put to voters whether or not to abolish the prohibition on legislative proposals to alter the time period limits.

“You can come again if that have been to go by the individuals, after which you can sort out the time period limits within the Legislature in two years,” Hendrix advised the Home panel.

Committee Chair Scott Louser, R-Minot, recommended Hendrix “for coming earlier than the committee and standing for what you imagine.”

Kasper additionally launched

Home Concurrent Decision 3020

for annual legislative periods, which the Home panel amended to provide the Legislature 100 days for assembly each two years, with an extra 20 days if permitted by a two-thirds majority vote of the Home and Senate. Days to reconvene and rethink a governor’s veto would not depend.

Proper now, the Legislature can meet for as much as 80 days each two years. Kasper mentioned he introduced HCR 3020 to allow extra expertise for brand new lawmakers within the time period limits period.

“Present regulation, with out this invoice, we might have annual periods by simply doing it,” Kasper mentioned. “However what that is saying is that if we will go to annual periods, we will want a bit of bit bigger than doubtlessly 40 days annually, so that is saying we will have biennial periods, or the management can resolve we will have annual periods.”

The committee gave HCR 3020 an 8-6 “do go” suggestion.