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HCR 3033

A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying personal legislative staff for the Legislative Assembly.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Landon Bahl and 9 co-sponsors

Directs a study on allowing legislators to hire personal staff, examining benefits, costs, and models in other states, with a report and possible legislation.

Second reading, failed to adopt
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Bill Summary · HCR 3033

North Dakota HCR 3033 — Summary

Overview

House Concurrent Resolution No. 3033 (HCR 3033) is a concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to study the concept of personal legislative staff for the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Introduced on February 25, 2025, the measure would have the Legislative Management examine the impact, benefits, and potential implementation of legislators hiring personal staff, including a review of practices in other states.

Purpose and Intent

  • Acknowledges anticipated legislative turnover due to term limits and the need to provide appropriate support to current and future legislators.
  • Seeks to determine whether allowing personal legislative staff would improve planning, prioritization, delegation, and overall productivity in serving citizens.

Key Provisions

  • Directs the Legislative Management to study the impact and benefits of personal legislative staff for the Legislative Assembly.
  • Requires a review of other states that permit legislators to hire personal staff.
  • Mandates the Legislative Management to report its findings and recommendations, along with any proposed legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

Affected Entities

  • Legislative Management (the study administrator)
  • North Dakota legislators (current and future)
  • Legislative Assembly operations and budgeting processes
  • Potentially, staff and entities involved in hiring or overseeing legislative staff (subject to further legislation)

Timeline and Procedural Status

  • Introduced: February 25, 2025
  • Committee hearing: March 19, 2025
  • Reported back, do not pass: March 25, 2025
  • Second reading: March 26, 2025 (failed to adopt)
  • Earlier actions included: passage of a do-pass recommendation in committee and a second-reading adoption on March 7, 2025, prior to the eventual failure to adopt on March 26

Status

  • Current status: Failed to adopt at second reading. As a concurrent resolution, it would have created a study directive rather than immediate policy changes.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Budget and Staffing: If studied further, potential costs for creating or funding personal legislative staff (salaries, benefits, procurement) would need clarification.
  • Governance and Oversight: Questions about ethics, compliance with conflicts of interest, lobbying rules, and relative accountability for personal staff.
  • Equity and Access: Implications for different legislators (e.g., districts, leadership roles) and how staff support would be allocated.
  • Precedent and Comparators: Variability in how other states structure personal staff and what governance frameworks exist elsewhere.
  • Next Steps: If the Legislative Management completes the study and recommends changes, the Seventieth Legislative Assembly could consider enabling legislation to implement any approved model.

Bottom Line

HCR 3033 aimed to authorize a formal study of the viability and benefits of allowing legislators to hire personal staff, with a report and potential implementing legislation to follow. The resolution did not advance past the second reading.

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

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