WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1408

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 54-03-02 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to annually reconvened sessions of the legislative assembly; to provide an effective date; and to provide an expiration date.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Landon Bahl and 11 co-sponsors

ND bill would authorize annual reconvening of the Legislature, giving Legislative Management power to set dates, session structure, and rules within a 70-calendar-day limit.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 17 nays 30
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1408

Summary — HB 1408 (North Dakota)

A bill to amend and reenact NDCC § 54‑03‑02 (when the legislative assembly meets), clarifying and expanding how the Legislative Assembly may reconvene annually; includes provisions on scheduling, session structure, and rulemaking. (Multiple amendment versions were proposed; this summary focuses on the North Dakota bill and notes key variant provisions and procedural status.)

Purpose / intent

To authorize and structure annually reconvened legislative sessions by giving the Legislative Management greater authority to select reconvening dates, determine session structure and logistics, and set scheduling rules—while keeping sessions within constitutional time limits.

Key provisions

  • Reconvening authority: The Legislative Assembly shall reconvene annually at 12:00 noon on a date determined by Legislative Management, but not earlier than January 2 and (in most amendment drafts) not later than January 11 of each year following the organizational session.
  • Constitutional time limit: The number of session days must be scheduled within a 70‑calendar‑day period each year, and the number of natural days used may not exceed the constitutionally available days that have not previously been used by that Legislative Assembly.
  • Weekly schedule guidance (amendment drafts):
    • The first week each year: convene Monday–Friday.
    • Thereafter: primarily convene Monday–Thursday. Friday sittings are allowed only if determined by Legislative Management with prior notice. Standing committees may meet on Fridays with notice to presiding officers.
  • Reconvening after adjournment sine die: Notwithstanding a motion to adjourn sine die, the assembly may reconvene as determined by Legislative Management (subject to the constitutional day limits above).
  • Legislative Management powers: Empowered to determine session structure and logistics.
  • Rules for annual sessions (in some amendment versions): Legislative Management directed to promulgate temporary rules to accommodate annual sessions; those temporary rules would be adopted as the temporary rules of the 70th Legislative Assembly during the organizational session and could be amended for permanent adoption. One amendment made this rule‑promulgation provision effective only through Dec. 31, 2026 (i.e., a limited, transitional rulemaking authority).
  • Effective date(s) in drafts: proposed effective dates include January 1, 2027 (primary) and, in one amendment, August 1, 2026 for certain provisions; one subsection (rules) was proposed to expire Dec. 31, 2026 in some drafts.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, Legislative Management, legislative committees, and legislative staff (scheduling, staffing, rule changes).
  • Secondary: State agencies and stakeholders that interact with the Legislature (timing of sessions may affect agency budget/legislative activity, public participation, and administrative planning).

Procedural status & timeline

  • Introduced (per provided metadata): November 19, 2024 (multiple related drafts dated March–April 2025).
  • Multiple amendment versions were prepared by Legislative Council staff and the Senate (see versions dated March–April 2025).
  • Floor action (per provided actions): Second reading — failed to pass (yeas 17, nays 30). Additional entries indicate the bill later “died in House Committee at sine die adjournment” (May 5, 2025).
  • Because multiple amendment texts and effective/expiration dates were proposed, final enacted language (had it passed) would have depended on the adopted amendment; as provided, the measure did not become law.

Notes / caveats

  • Documents provided with the same bill number (HB 1408) from multiple states (Maryland, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana) concern entirely different topics (medical cannabis employment protections; use of HSAs/FSAs for medical marijuana; criminal law disorderly‑conduct changes; regional innovation districts). This summary pertains to the North Dakota HB 1408 that amends NDCC § 54‑03‑02. If you want a summary of any of the other HB 1408s included in the materials, I can provide separate, focused summaries.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.