BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO/PRAIRIE PUBLIC) – The North Dakota Legislature’s Management Committee will meet Friday to look at some of the bills that could come to next week’s special session that are over and above the 14 bills the Committee has approved for introduction.
Those 14 are to take care of the amendments to SB 2015, the Office of Management and Budget bill, that was the last bill passed in the 2023 regular session.
The OMB bill traditionally has become a “Christmas Tree” bill, but the state Supreme Court has ruled the measure violated the “one subject per bill” clause in the state Constitution.
The Committee will also be looking at other proposals for potential introduction.
“I think a lot of people are keeping their cards close to their chest, but there are discussions now, especially since the governor has said that he wants to have a conversation about investing the $300 million extra than what we forecasted in the last budget,” Fargo Democratic Rep. and committee member Josh Boschee said. “So, a lot of us are starting to think about, ‘well, if we’re going to have a conversation about how to invest that, what are some of the priorities that should be discussed?’ I know there’s discussion about looking at childcare, roads, investments in tax relief.”
Boschee said a top priority is to make sure the OMB staff get paid.
