Grand Forks County Commissioner Part of Lawsuit Against State Lawmakers

(Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – A ballot measure that would change voter-approved legislative term limits faces a challenge before the North Dakota Supreme Court.

In a lawsuit filed former Minot lawmaker Sen. Oley Larsen and Grand Forks County commissioner Terry Bjerke claim the Legislature violated the state constitution by creating the measure.

Under an amendment passed by voters in 2022, state lawmakers can serve no more than eight years in the House and eight years in the Senate.

Last year, the statehouse narrowly approved Senate Resolution 4008, which aims to give lawmakers more freedom over how they spend their terms. The resolution creates a ballot measure to allow lawmakers to serve up to 16 years in either chamber. It would also make it so partial terms don’t count against term limits.