Committee approves staff expansion progress, launches online resource portal and continues intern and routine programs

Legislative Council staff updated the committee on a multi‑year staffing plan intended to address expected turnover tied to term limits. John said the office has hired a policy division director, multiple policy analysts and program evaluators, and is continuing recruitment for remaining open positions; he described an ongoing program‑evaluation project on child care and said updated office space will house much of the expanded staff.

Emily demonstrated a new public policy resource page on the Legislative Council website: an indexed memo library organized by topic with background memos, quick guides and visual aids intended to help both legislators and the public find historical memos and short primers on policy areas. Emily said the resource is live and will expand as new policy analysts add summaries and visualizations.

The committee considered a Legislative Assembly internship pilot intended to fill procedural, technical and quality‑assurance clerk roles that are hard to staff each session. After discussion Representative LaFore moved to continue the internship program for the 2027 session with a stipend equal to law student interns ($4,000 per month); the motion carried on roll call. The committee also voted to continue the North Dakota Medical Association’s doctor‑of‑the‑day program, the tour guide program and the chaplaincy program for the 2027 session. Finally, members approved a request from the North Dakota Supreme Court to use the House Chamber for a new‑lawyers admission ceremony on Sept. 25, 2026.

Committee members and staff discussed adding targeted sessions to organizational session orientation (budget basics, mock committee/floor work, how to use Legislative Council resources) and asked staff to prepare materials for the next meeting.