North Dakota Senate Bill SB2001

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Caption

AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the legislative branch of state government; to amend and reenact sections 48-08-04, 54-03-10, 54-03-20, and 54-35-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to use of legislative rooms and halls and legislative compensation; to provide a statement of legislative intent; to provide for a report; to provide an exemption; and to provide for application, transfer, and cancellation of unexpended appropriations.

Summary

SB2001 is the legislative branch appropriations bill for the 2025-27 biennium. It provides funding for the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Legislative Management, and Legislative Council, including salaries and wages, operating expenses, capital assets, public printing, conference dues, and a new and vacant FTE pool. The bill also identifies one-time funding for chamber and systems upgrades, new positions, a legislative term limit study, and information technology equipment, and requires reporting on the use of those one-time funds to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly. Beyond appropriations, the bill amends several statutes governing legislative operations and compensation. It increases daily and monthly compensation amounts for legislators and certain leadership positions, updates reimbursement rules for lodging and travel, and revises compensation for Legislative Management members and committee chairs. It also gives the legislative branch flexibility to transfer appropriation authority among line items and agencies, exempts certain legislative appropriations from general transfer and cancellation rules, and reserves specified Capitol spaces for legislative use under Legislative Council authorization.

Impact

The bill increases the legislative branch’s general fund appropriation and changes North Dakota Century Code provisions governing legislative pay, expense reimbursement, and use of Capitol space. It raises compensation rates for members, leaders, and committee chairs; adjusts lodging and travel reimbursement formulas; and authorizes the Office of Management and Budget to make requested transfers among legislative line items and agencies. It also creates reporting requirements for one-time funding and for use of the new and vacant FTE pool, while exempting certain legislative appropriations from otherwise applicable budget transfer and cancellation statutes.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported, as reflected in strong floor votes in both chambers. The Senate passed it 45-2 and the House passed it 62-29, indicating clear majority approval but some notable opposition. The available record does not include committee testimony or debate, so the overall sentiment can be described as favorable but not unanimous, with the main support likely centered on funding the legislative branch’s operating needs and updating compensation levels.

Contention

The most likely points of contention are the increases in legislator and leadership compensation, the size of the overall legislative appropriation, and the creation of a 25-FTE new and vacant position pool. The bill also gives the legislative branch broad transfer authority and exempts it from some standard budget controls, which may have raised concerns about oversight and flexibility. The House’s larger number of negative votes suggests more resistance there than in the Senate, but the record does not identify specific arguments or sponsors of opposition.