Committee recommends ‘do not pass’ on bill that would require non‑interest campaign accounts

House Bill 1157, which would add the phrase "non interest bearing" to statutory requirements for campaign accounts, drew sustained questions from lawmakers and opposition from at least one party official before the committee approved a motion to recommend the bill "do not pass." Secretary of State Michael Howe told the committee his office supports the bill as a clarification to campaign finance law.

"For the record, Michael Howe, North Dakota secretary of state, and we are in support of house bill 1157. This is a minor change. It's a clarification change," Howe said, explaining his office had received repeated inquiries from candidates and staff about whether campaign funds could be placed in interest‑bearing accounts and how any interest should be reported.

The bill's stated effect is to require that campaign contributions be deposited in a non‑interest bearing bank account. "You must put your campaign finance, contributions into a non interest bearing bank account," Howe said. He and other witnesses said the change is meant to resolve…