House raises thresholds for local recall petitions, approves recall-election changes 56-32

The North Dakota House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 22-69 on April 1, 2025, changing the rules that govern recall petitions and recall elections for members of city governing bodies, park districts and school boards. The final roll-call vote was 56 in favor and 32 opposed.

Senate Bill 22-69 increases the number of signatures required to trigger a recall from 25% to 35% of the voters who participated in the most recent election in which the targeted official appeared on the ballot. The bill also raises the number of required petition sponsors in municipalities from five to 15 when the city population exceeds 250 or when a school district's full enrollment exceeds 250. Sponsors told the House these adjustments were designed to curb frequent or low-turnout recalls in small communities.

Representative Longmire, the bill carrier and Political Subdivisions Committee member, said the changes were a response to experience in smaller communities where low turnout made the required signature counts disproportionately small. “The recall elections are not inexpensive,” Longmire said, noting a city estimated it spent more than $25,000 on two recall elections. The bill also contains a provision that a special recall election must be canceled if no candidate files to run by the filing deadline; the filing officer would declare the petition ineffective and the incumbent would remain in office.

Representative Hoverson sought clarification on whether officials could still be recalled under the new rules and was told the recall process would remain available but with heightened signature thresholds. Representative Schatz said he intended to vote no, arguing the bill would make recalls too difficult.

Outcome: The House passed SB 22-69, 56-32. The measure moves to the Senate (or back to the enrolling process as the next step per legislative procedure).