Senate rejects state working group for Theodore Roosevelt National Park horses; lawmakers pass separate resolution urging federal protections

A proposal to create a state working group to advise Theodore Roosevelt National Park on management of its wild horse herd failed in the North Dakota Senate on a 14-33 vote Tuesday.

The measure, Senate Bill 23-31, would have established a working group of North Dakota stakeholders to provide advice to the park superintendent and requested an appropriation of $49,500. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended a do-not-pass on a 4-2 vote, calling the herd management a federal responsibility because the animals live on land managed by the National Park Service.

“Given the some of the concerns with how the breeding was gonna be handled and how this herd would be able to continue on was a good part of the discussion,” said Senator Bridal, the bill carrier, describing the public interest and the committee’s deliberations. Bridal noted substantial public outreach and an appropriation request tied to the working group.

Senator Baucher, speaking in favor on the floor, said the herd is a “living connection to the past” and argued local expertise could fill gaps caused by limited park staffing. “The park also lacks dedicated staff with equine knowledge. This advisory committee would allow us to put the knowledge that we have within our state to help support the park,” Baucher said.

Opponents emphasized that the park is federally managed and that a state advisory group could not compel federal action. “We could create this work group, and we could meet, and we could create all the recommendations in the world, but we cannot force them to sit down with us,” Senator Rohrs said, urging colleagues to vote no.

After the roll call, the secretary reported a final tally of 14 ayes and 33 nays and declared the bill lost.

Separately, the Senate approved a concurrent resolution urging Congress to establish federal protections for the same herd. Senate Concurrent Resolution 4,006 passed on the floor after committee consideration; the bill carrier described it as a nonbinding appeal to the state’s congressional delegation and to federal agencies to consider statutory protections and improved management practices for the herd.

The debate reflected a split among senators over whether state involvement could be helpful in practice or whether it risked duplicating or conflicting with federal authority. The Senate action leaves federal policy and park management unchanged but records formal legislative concern and a recommendation to Congress.