ND panel sets the stage for special session

Members of the North Dakota Legislative Management committee will meet again on Friday to set the scene for next week’s special session.

Lawmakers will come back to Bismarck Monday to deal with the OMB bill after the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled it void because it violated the “one subject per bill” section of the Constitution.

Gov. Burgum called lawmakers back – because any bill passed during a special session would take effect upon Burgum’s signature. But some lawmakers want to propose other measures, and Burgum said he has a few ideas he’d like to see considered.

State Senator Jerry Klein says he’s not a fan of that.  “The idea is we are here to address what the Supreme Court did and I think that’s the standard I will go by.”

Senator David Hogue who co-chairs Legislative Management says he would like to keep the special session “tight and narrow” but understands there are some who may want to bring other issues forward.  “Try to keep the barn door closed pretty tight but I know there are things that want to slip out.  We as legislative management are the appropriate gatekeeper.”

Legislators with proposals need to have their “concepts” or bill drafts ready by Friday.