A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying election and political party activities in a legislative district containing tribal lands.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Clayton Fegley and 2 co-sponsors

Directs a study of election practices in tribal-lands districts to ensure all electors can vote, assess redistricting litigation impact, and explore subdistrict options.

Second reading, failed to adopt

Overview

SCR 4014 is a concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to study election and political party activities within a legislative district that contains tribal lands. The resolution focuses on whether current or historical electoral practices in such districts require modification to ensure all qualified electors can freely participate in state elections. It also asks the study to consider impacts from recent litigation on redistricting and to identify measures to avoid litigation, including the historical use of subdistricts. The Legislative Management would report findings and recommendations, along with any proposed implementing legislation, to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

Purpose and Intent

Evaluate election and political party activities in a tribal-lands-containing legislative district to determine if electoral practices hinder equal participation.

Assess how recent litigation has affected redistricting of legislative district boundaries.

Explore measures to avoid future litigation and analyze the historical use of subdistricts within districts.

Provide recommendations and any necessary legislation to implement those recommendations.

Key Provisions

Directs Legislative Management to study:

Election practices in a district containing tribal lands.
Whether modifications to electoral practices are needed to ensure every qualified elector can freely participate in voting.
The impact of recent litigation on redistricting.
Measures to avoid litigation and the historical use of subdistricts.

Requires the study to deliver findings and recommendations to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

Allows for accompanying legislation to implement the recommendations, if deemed necessary.

Affected Parties and Impacts

Electors within legislative districts containing tribal lands.

State and local election administrators responsible for district boundaries and voting practices.

Political parties and candidates operating within those districts.

Legislatures considering potential changes to districting methods (e.g., subdistricts or other electoral structures) based on study outcomes.

Procedural and Timeline Details

Introduced: January 30, 2025 (Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly).

Committee Action: State and Local Government Committee heard it on February 21, 2025; committee reported back “do pass” and placed on the calendar.

Floor Action: Second reading on February 25, 2025, where it failed to adopt.

Status: Concurrence resolution that did not advance beyond the second reading at that time.

Notable Context

The bill recognizes that several North Dakota legislative districts include tribal lands and that district boundaries are subject to review every 10 years, with considerations to ensure elector equality.

It contemplates possible changes to how elections are conducted within districts containing tribal lands (e.g., subdistricts) and the potential legal implications tied to redistricting and litigation.

Summary Takeaway

SCR 4014 seeks a focused, data-driven review of electoral practices in tribal-lands districts to ensure equal voting participation, understand the impact of litigation on redistricting, and identify practical measures—potentially including changes to subdistricting—without requiring immediate changes, but paving the way for legislative action if warranted. The resolution, however, did not advance past the second reading in the 2025 session.

Bill