North Dakota Lawmakers Eye Special Session in January or February

Rep. Zac Ista, right, D-Grand Forks. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota lawmakers are planning for a special session in late January or early February to make decisions on how the state will spend up to $500 million in federal Rural Health Transformation funds.

It’s unclear whether Gov. Kelly Armstrong would call the special session or if lawmakers would use their remaining legislative days to gather at the Capitol.

The Legislature can meet for up to 80 days every two years. Lawmakers have six days left after adjourning the regular session in May. If the Legislative Management Committee calls a special session, that time limit would apply.

If the governor calls a special session, it would not count against the Legislature’s 80-day limit.