Committee opens review of legislator security, address privacy and possible supports

The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee opened a multi‑part review of legislator security and the availability of personal information after recent incidents elsewhere sparked concern. Committee members and staff discussed whether legislators’ home addresses should remain available on public web pages, whether legislators should be allowed or encouraged to use PO boxes for official mail, and whether the assembly should consider funding options such as stipends to harden home security systems. Director John Bjornson and legislative counsel Emily Thompson noted that other states have adopted a range of responses, from enhanced capitol security to stipends for home security upgrades, and that rural response times and local law enforcement capacity affect what is practical in North Dakota. Thompson said the committee will convene presentations from the Highway Patrol on best practices, coordinate with the Secretary of State’s office on open‑records implications (chapter 44‑04), and survey options used by other legislatures, including how some states handle confidential records for judges and law enforcement. Bjornson said the office has already removed some residential addresses from public pages as an interim measure and described an informal process for connecting legislators who receive threats with capitol security and highway patrol resources. Members stressed practical considerations for rural legislators — several said their home addresses remain easy to find locally — and asked staff to include candidate protections and resources for prospective officeholders. The committee asked staff to return with a fuller slate of options, including the feasibility of a stipend, PO‑box alternatives, integrated alarm notification, and training or distributed informational materials for members and candidates.