North Dakota lawmakers return to Bismarck for special legislative session

October 23, 2023

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota lawmakers are scheduled to be back in Bismarck today to begin a special session to fix a budget mess after the state Supreme Court struck down a major funding bill last month.

The North Dakota Supreme Court struck down a major budget bill as unconstitutional. The bill was mainly intended to fund the state Office of Management and Budget but has typically been used in the past as a catchall or cleanup bill passed at the end of the biennial legislative session.

The surprising decision came as a result of a lawsuit brought by the board overseeing the state’s government retirement plans.

Governor Doug Burgum has expressed confidence in the Legislature righting the situation by Nov. 1, the next payroll date for state employees.