The North Dakota House of Representatives. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
(. North Dakota Monitor) – The North Dakota House reconsidered its actions on a bill that seeks to clarify the start date for legislative term limits.
The House concurred with Senate amendments to House Bill 1300 but ultimately defeated the legislation.
The state House revived the bill and instead rejected the Senate amendments, sending the bill to a conference committee.
North Dakota voters in 2022 approved a ballot measure that limits lawmakers to serving up to eight years in each chamber. It’s caused some confusion related to how it applies to lawmakers in even-numbered districts who were halfway through a term when the measure passed.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, clarified that the clock starts on term limits on Nov. 7, 2022. The impact of that change would mean lawmakers in even-numbered districts elected in 2020 and reelected in 2024 could be eligible to serve up to 10 years in one chamber. Without the change, they’d only be able to serve six years.
