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Committee selects Gardy Consulting to lead term‑limits impact study after competing proposals
Summary
After hearing two competing proposals for a legislatively funded study of the effects of recently enacted term limits, the committee voted to recommend Gardy Consulting to Legislative Management to execute a mixed‑methods study including public polling, stakeholder engagement and recommendations to mitigate institutional‑knowledge loss.
The Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee voted Sept. 20 to recommend awarding the term‑limits impact study contract to Gardy Consulting.
The committee received two proposals in response to a July request for proposals: one from the Challey Institute (in partnership with the Greater North Dakota Chamber Foundation) and one from Gardy Consulting (which proposed using DFM Research for public‑opinion work). Presenters from both teams described a mixed‑methods approach: a literature review, a survey of legislators and staff, a statewide public poll and town halls or focus groups. The proposals emphasized different priorities — Challey focused on university‑led analysis paired with chamber outreach while Gardy emphasized experience with North Dakota polling and stakeholder engagement.
Committee members voiced differing priorities. Some members pressed for more attention to internal legislative education and the operational needs of Legislative Council; others emphasized the value of public‑opinion work to build buy‑in for potential structural changes (for example, staff increases or more frequent sessions) to mitigate term limits’ effects. Gardy’s team emphasized a public‑opinion module that would produce demographic crosstabs to inform policymaking and stakeholder engagement.
Representative Buscay moved to award the study to Gardy Consulting, citing the team’s North Dakota polling experience and legislative familiarity; the motion was seconded and the committee approved recommending Gardy to the chairman of Legislative Management to enter a contract. The committee directed staff to work with the selected proposer on study scope and to provide further guidance and oversight as the work proceeds.
Next steps: Legislative Council will forward the recommendation to the chairman of Legislative Management to execute a contract with Gardy Consulting; the consultant will coordinate with the committee and report interim findings to the committee per the RFP timeline.
