ND lawmakers working on session details

North Dakota lawmakers might be back at the state Capitol as soon as the week of Oct. 23 for a three- to five-day session. The goal is to address the state Supreme Court ruling that voided a major budget bill.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley decried the court rescinding a previous stay until October 28th. Wrigley says the high court “reversed themselves from two weeks ago — now it’s going to be done the painful way with a lot of anxiety for state employees and people throughout the government.

The court ruled the bill was “unconstitutionally enacted and is void” because it goes against a provision limiting bills to just one subject.

Funding in the voided bill totaled about $322 million for the state’s 2023-25 budget cycle. Legislative Council Director John Bjornson says the Legislature may be able to include all of the voided bill’s provisions into 14 bills.

A top legislative panel is set to meet Tuesday to discuss session plans.