North Dakota Legislature adjourns special session ahead of schedule

BISMARCK — The North Dakota Legislature has ended the special session called to fix a rejected budget bill with time to spare.

The House and Senate declared sine die at about noon Wednesday, Oct. 25. Leadership had expected to take three days to pass more than a dozen bills.

Instead, they finished in 2 1/2 days.

“This was no small undertaking,” House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said.

All but one bill will go to Gov. Doug Burgum’s Office for his signature. Once he signs the bills, they will immediately become law.

Burgum called the Legislature back starting Monday to fix a bill passed during the regular session earlier this year.

Senate Bill 2015 laid out appropriations and policies for state government, particularly the Office of Management and Budget.

The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled the bill violated the state’s single-subject rule. Lawmakers split the bill into 14 different bills, which for the most part gained widespread support when voted on.

Among those bills sent to the governor’s office Wednesday was the $141 million OMB budget.

The House also passed a resolution that voices support for Israel 83-6. It names Hamas, which attacked Israel earlier this month, as a terrorist group. It also asks law enforcement to be vigilant in protecting Israeli and Jewish Americans, as well as those who support Israel, from crimes and discrimination.

Rep. Donna Henderson, R-Calvin, said she had concerns that the resolution could have unintended consequences, since it calls on the U.S. “to provide all assistance as may be required to support Israel” against Hamas.

“I could give you 33 trillion reasons why that is a concern to me,” she said, referring to the national debt.

She said she didn’t want the U.S. to write a blank check or send troops to Israel.

Other lawmakers wanted the bill to include language about protecting Palestinian Americans. Rep. Mary Schneider, D-Fargo, noted the bill had good intentions but said should have called on Israel to uphold the rules of war and have law enforcement protect all groups, she said.

The Senate also passed the resolution, so it will head to Burgum’s office.

Senators killed

an income tax relief bill Burgum proposed.

It would have made the first $60,000 of income for single filers and the first $100,000 for married couples tax-free.

It was the only bill that didn’t make it to Burgum’s desk.

The Legislature approved a controversial Public Employee Retirement Systems bill. The legislation allows the Legislature to put more of its members on the board.

That bill was part of SB 2015. It’s the reason PERS brought a lawsuit the Legislature that forced the Supreme Court ruling to void SB 2015.

PERS claimed the move to put more legislators on the its board violated a separation of powers clause. The Supreme Court did not rule on that matter.

“This bill is the reason we are here today,” Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, said.

Check back for updates as this story develops.