Appropriations committee advances three budgets after votes on amendments to ethics commission funding and processes

The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved three budget bills that the panel’s members said are needed to run the legislative branch and several education programs. Lawmakers voted to advance the budget for the North Dakota Ethics Commission (Senate Bill 2004) after adopting policy changes and restoring a $50,000 one‑time case‑management allocation; they also approved the Department of Career and Technical Education budget (Senate Bill 2019) and the Legislative Council and Assembly budget (Senate Bill 2001).

Ethics commission budget (SB2004): Representative Lausser, presenting the committee’s amendment, said the measure reflects the panel’s effort to balance the commission’s need to process a rising number of complaints with concerns about agency scope and constitutional limits. The amendment adds an automatic‑closure mechanism that requires each complaint be closed within 180 days of receipt unless the commission has taken further action; expands when an accused individual may speak publicly about an allegation; requires an annual public report on complaints and outcomes; and updates immunity and conflict‑of‑interest language for legislators.

Supporters said the changes are intended to…