State Lawmakers Select Consultant for Term Limit Study After Questioning its Need

Senate Majority Leader David Hogue. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota lawmakers chose a consultant to conduct a study on the effects of the state’s term limits law, but some lawmakers questioned the need for the study at all.

Members of the Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee heard presentations from Garty Consulting LLC and the Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth, but during the meeting multiple lawmakers debated the need to spend up to $225,000 on a study they said would have a predictable result.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot, said the effects of the term limits law will compound each year. He said he believes lawmakers need to have a better idea of what to expect.

“This is just a slow moving, I’ll call it a train wreck, that will come off the tracks, not in one single rotation of the wheels, but over a period of two to four years where we could have 50% turnover,” Hogue said. “I don’t think we’re structured now to handle that rate of turnover.”