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HCR 3003

A concurrent resolution to amend and reenact section 9 of article III and section 16 of article IV of the Constitution of North Dakota, relating to the threshold for approving a constitutional amendment.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Glenn Bosch and 6 co-sponsors

Raises North Dakota's constitutional amendment threshold to 60% voter support; both citizen initiatives and legislative referrals must reach 60% to become part of the constitution.

Filed with Secretary Of State 04/15
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Bill Summary · HCR 3003

Summary — HCR 3003 (2025)

A concurrent resolution proposing to amend the North Dakota Constitution to increase the approval threshold for constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60 percent.

Main purpose

To raise the voter approval requirement for any state constitutional amendment (whether proposed by citizen initiative or by the Legislative Assembly) from a simple majority (>50%) to at least 60% of votes cast on the amendment question.

Key provisions / changes

  • Amends Article III, Section 9 (initiative process):
    • Retains the existing petition signature requirement: signatures equal to 4% of the state's resident population as determined by the last federal decennial census.
    • Changes the adoption rule so that a proposed constitutional amendment placed on the ballot is "deemed enacted" only if at least 60% of votes cast for the proposed amendment are affirmative (currently a majority is required).
    • Keeps other initiative provisions applicable to constitutional amendments unchanged.
  • Amends Article IV, Section 16 (legislative referral process):
    • Retains that an amendment may be proposed in either house and submitted to electors if agreed to by a majority of members elected to each house.
    • Changes the ratification rule so that an amendment submitted by the Legislature becomes part of the constitution only if at least 60% of votes cast on the question are in the affirmative (up from a majority).

Who is affected

  • All North Dakota voters (the threshold for approving changes to the state constitution would increase).
  • Petition sponsors, ballot initiative organizers, advocacy groups and campaign funders (higher approval bar makes passing constitutional initiatives more difficult).
  • State government and stakeholders relying on the constitution for policy outcomes (fewer or harder-to-pass constitutional changes anticipated).

Procedural / timeline details

  • Introduced: January 7, 2025.
  • Legislative approval actions:
    • House: second reading adopted Jan 29, 2025 — yeas 65, nays 28 (following amendment).
    • Senate: second reading adopted Apr 9, 2025 — yeas 33, nays 13.
    • Committees reported do-pass (Government and Veterans Affairs; State & Local Government) in January–April 2025.
  • Filed with Secretary of State: April 15, 2025.
  • Required next step: Submitted to the qualified electors at the general election in 2026 (per the resolution text).
  • If approved by voters in 2026 (receiving ≥60% affirmative votes), the constitutional text would be amended as provided.

Implications

  • Raises the hurdle for altering the state constitution via either direct initiative or legislative referral, likely reducing the number of amendments that succeed and making broad, cross-coalition support more necessary for passage.
  • Preserves existing signature and legislative-initiation procedures while changing only the voter-approval threshold.

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

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