Bill Increasing Financial Reporting for Public Officials Advances in North Dakota House

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

(Mary Steurer – North Dakota Monitor) -The House  last week voted 64-26 to require public officials to file statements of interest annually.

Current law only requires officials to submit one statement of interest form when they file for candidacy or when they’re appointed to office. Statewide officials file their forms with the Secretary of State’s Office, while local government officials file with their respective local offices.

The primary sponsor of House Bill 1469, Rep. Glenn Bosch, R-Bismarck, said the proposal will increase public transparency as well as make the submission process more straightforward for officials.

“Hopefully we can see that helps provide clarity for us, too, when we have to fill this out,” he said on the House floor.