House defeats constitutional measure to allow longer or annual legislative sessions

Bismarck — The North Dakota House on March 17 rejected House Concurrent Resolution 3036, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed the Legislative Assembly to meet up to 100 days and given Legislative Management authority to choose annual or biennial sessions. The measure failed on a recorded vote and was declared defeated on the floor.

The resolution, carried on the floor by Representative Casper and introduced earlier as a matter to be placed before voters, prompted debate about whether expanding session days would make the legislature more effective or would instead increase costs and put more pressure on citizen-legislators. "More time will allow legislators and agencies to bring more bills," Representative Wolff said during debate, warning that "more time, while attempting to solve a problem, could and probably will actually make it worse." Representative Casper replied that the resolution would simply "allow the legislative assembly to meet up to 100 days. It does not require" the assembly to use the full allotment and that Legislative Management would decide timing and length.

Supporters on the floor argued the option would reduce administrative startup and lag time if lawmakers moved to annual sessions, while opponents said the change would raise costs for per diem, mileage and housing and make service burdensome for working citizens. Representative Schauer, chairman of the Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, noted the committee recommended a "do not pass" after weighing those costs and the potential for more bills.

The House recorded the final vote after floor debate; the clerk announced the result and the measure was declared failed.

The House moved on to other business after the vote, including consideration of other resolutions and bills on the calendar.