State proposes expanding executive steering committees for major IT projects from five to seven members

The State and Local Government Committee heard from the North Dakota Information Technology Department on Senate Bill 2049, which would amend the statute governing executive steering committees (ESCs) for major information technology projects.

Greg Hoffman, deputy CIO at NDIT, described SB 2049 as “an agency cleanup bill” and said the proposal would increase the number of voting ESC members from five to seven. Hoffman said the current five‑member structure (CIO or designee, agency head or designee, Office of Management and Budget director or designee, the project sponsor and the NDIT project management oversight representative) sometimes creates quorum and scheduling problems for otherwise operational conversations.

Hoffman told the committee that adding two voting members—typically an agency subject‑matter expert and an additional NDIT resource such as an enterprise architect—would preserve a four‑member voting quorum while making it less likely routine operational discussions accidentally trigger a public ESC meeting requirement. He said the ESC’s duties include monitoring project status, reviewing contract decisions, approving budgets, schedules and scope changes and that those actions are taken by formal vote when the ESC convenes.

Committee members asked about alignment with related large‑project provisions elsewhere in statute; Hoffman said the department plans to work with OMB, the governor's office and other agencies on amendments so the change fits the broader project governance framework. The committee took no formal vote on SB 2049 at the hearing.