Employee Benefits Committee adopts interim rules, sets process for mandate rule change

The Employee Benefits Program Committee adopted its procedural operations for the 2025–27 biennium by voice vote on Oct. 7, 2025, after a brief discussion about filing deadlines and late legislative requests. Senator David Davidson moved to adopt the rules and Senator Jeff Bechtel seconded the motion; the chair announced the motion adopted by voice vote.

The committee’s supplementary rules supplement provisions in the North Dakota Century Code and defer to Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure where the rules are silent. Staff explained that the April 1 submission deadline historically gives PERS, TFFR and legislative staff enough time to request and receive actuarial reports and provide the committee time for two reviews of measures that affect retirement or benefit programs.

Members debated whether the April 1 date should be relaxed because peers and agencies occasionally submit bill drafts later in the interim, creating pressure to convene the committee during the legislative session for last‑minute actuarial work. Supporters of the deadline said it helps ensure the committee can consider measures as a whole rather than rely solely on the chair and vice chair to evaluate late amendments during session.

The committee also directed Legislative Council to prepare a draft amendment to Joint Rule 2‑11 so the rule better aligns with changes made in 2023 and 2025 to the statutory process for health insurance mandates. The motion to request a draft was adopted by voice vote; staff will circulate the proposed rule language before the next meeting.

Committee members said the suggested rule change is intended to reconcile the timing of cost‑benefit analyses and to recognize the employee benefits committee's role in receiving actuarial reports and issuing recommendations before a mandate advances to the Legislative Assembly.