HB 1442 — Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency (North Dakota)
Status
- Filed with the Secretary of State: 04/28/2025 (introduced Nov 21, 2024).
- Emergency measure; effective upon enactment.
- Sunset/expiration date: Act is effective through July 31, 2031.
Purpose
- Establish a temporary, legislatively created task force to identify opportunities to increase government efficiency, implement cost‑saving measures, eliminate duplication, review outdated regulations, and recommend legislative or administrative changes to improve state government performance and foster public–private partnerships.
Key provisions
- Creation and authority
- The Legislative Management shall create a Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency.
- The task force may review budgets and reports, receive testimony from executive branch agencies, boards and commissions, and the Supreme Court, and request program evaluations from the State Auditor or independent auditing firms using generally accepted performance audit standards.
Membership and terms
- Members serve two‑year terms.
- Membership (as enrolled/engrossed): director of the Office of Management and Budget; chief operating officer for the Governor’s office; one elected statewide officer (appointed by the Governor); one individual residing in the state (appointed by the Governor); three House members (appointed by the House majority leader); and three Senate members (appointed by the Senate majority leader).
- The chairman of Legislative Management selects a legislative member (from those appointed by leaders) to chair the task force.
Operations and reporting
- Meetings at least quarterly, more often at the chairman’s call.
- Duties include reviewing agency budgets/reports; identifying unnecessary/duplicative programs; targeting outdated regulations; exploring state–private partnerships for financing innovation; and reviewing the effectiveness of existing laws and programs.
- The task force must submit an annual report to Legislative Management summarizing findings, progress on cost‑savings and efficiencies, and any recommended legislation for the next legislative session.
Compensation and staffing
- State employee members continue to receive regular salary and are reimbursed for mileage/expenses by their employing agency.
- Legislator members receive per diem under NDCC §54‑35‑10; Legislative Council pays per diem and travel for legislative members.
- Legislative Council will provide staffing and administrative services through July 31, 2031.
Who is affected / potential impact
- Executive branch agencies, boards, commissions, and the Supreme Court (subject to review and testimony requests).
- State employees serving on the task force (compensation and travel handled as provided).
- Legislators serving on the task force (per diem and travel reimbursed).
- Potential statewide fiscal impact: identification of program consolidations, regulatory changes, or efficiencies that could reduce costs or reallocate resources; actual savings depend on subsequent implementation of recommendations and legislation.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Appointments occur via Legislative Management and legislative leaders; members serve two‑year terms (biennial cycle).
- Task force authority and Legislative Council staffing terminate July 31, 2031 (statutory sunset).
- Emergency designation makes the Act effective immediately upon enactment.
