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House rejects resolution to clear way for term-limit changes, 46-43
Summary
The North Dakota House voted 46-43 on April 1, 2025, to reject Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008, a proposal to permit the legislature to place changes to the state's term limits before voters. The vote followed extended debate over whether the change would override a citizen-initiated constitutional provision.
The North Dakota House of Representatives voted 46-43 on April 1, 2025, in Bismarck to reject Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008, a measure that would have allowed the legislature to place proposed changes to the state's term limits before voters.
Supporters of SCR 4008 said the proposal would resolve legal uncertainty about whether the legislature may act on term limits set by a citizen initiative. Representative Van Winkle, carrying the measure, said the question is whether the legislature should ask voters to reconsider an initiative, and argued it was appropriate to place the question before the public. Representative Van Winkle said the provision in the constitution that bars legislative alteration of the term-limit provision “is reserved to the powers of the people in the initiative process.”
Opponents warned the resolution would effectively overturn a citizen-approved constitutional restriction. Representative Van Winkle, speaking in opposition within committee remarks, said the initiative had passed “by 63%,” and warned that passing SCR 4008 would be an attempt to “overrun the will of the people.” Representative Casper urged the chamber to “let the people decide,” calling for the issue to be put to voters if the House believed change was warranted.
The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee had recommended a do-not-pass position on the resolution. Committee discussion, floor debate and multiple questions ranged from constitutional authority under Article 4 and Article 15 of the North Dakota Constitution to practical concerns about whether the initiative had been widely or accurately advertised when signatures were gathered.
Outcome and legislative next steps: The motion to adopt SCR 4008 failed 46-43; the resolution therefore did not advance. Members who pressed for the change said the dispute could be resolved in court or by submitting a similar proposal to voters in the future; opponents said any change should proceed only via the citizen initiative process.
Ending: The House moved on to other calendar items after the roll call. The chamber adjourned to reconvene at 1 p.m. on April 2, 2025.
