A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to legislative term limits.
Summary
HB 1300 would change how North Dakota’s legislative term-limit clock is calculated. Under the bill, the years of service used to determine term limits for members of the Legislative Assembly would not begin until the date a person is first elected or appointed to serve after January 1, 2023. In practical terms, the bill would reset the starting point for counting legislative service for newer lawmakers, while leaving prior service before that date outside the new calculation rule.
The bill amends chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code and is tied to the constitutional term-limit provision in Article XV, Section 1 of the North Dakota Constitution. Its effect would be to define when service begins to count for term-limit purposes, which could extend the amount of time some legislators may serve before reaching the constitutional limit. Because the measure deals with legislative eligibility and tenure, it affects current and future members of the House and Senate rather than the general public directly.
Impact
HB 1300 would alter state law governing the administration of legislative term limits by creating a new statutory rule for calculating years of service. It would not change the constitutional term-limit language itself, but it would direct how the service clock is applied under that constitutional provision. The practical impact would be on legislators’ eligibility to continue serving, especially those first elected or appointed after January 1, 2023, and on the Secretary of State or other officials responsible for applying term-limit rules.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generated mixed but initially favorable support, as reflected in its early House and Senate second-reading passage margins. However, the later House votes show the measure ultimately lost support and failed, indicating that concerns or opposition grew over time. The voting history suggests the proposal was controversial even among lawmakers, with support not holding through the final stages of consideration.
Contention
The main point of contention is whether the term-limit clock should be reset or delayed for legislators serving after January 1, 2023. Supporters likely viewed the bill as a clarification or fair starting point for counting service under the constitutional term-limit system, while opponents likely saw it as weakening or extending term limits for incumbents and future legislators. The split votes, especially the final House defeat, indicate disagreement over whether the bill preserved voter-approved term limits or effectively modified them in a way that could lengthen legislative careers.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to access to requests to the legislative council made by members of the legislative assembly.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to limitations on the introduction of legislative bills prepared by executive branch agencies and the judicial branch.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to limitations on the introduction of legislative bills prepared by executive branch agencies and the judicial branch.
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-05.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to restrictions on legislative lobbyists; to amend and reenact section 54-05.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to penalties for legislative lobbyists; and to provide a penalty.