The North Dakota Senate approved House Bill 1521 on Wednesday, April 17.

The bill would implement the state’s new ethics rules established by the voter’s passage of Measure 1 last year.

House Bill 1521 prohibits a lobbyist from giving, offering, soliciting, initiating, or facilitating a gift over $60 to a public official.

A lobbyist will also be required to file a report with the secretary of state if they spend more than $200 on lobbying.

The bill has been returned to the House for consideration before the end of the legislative session on April 26.

North Dakota lawmakers are dealing with dual proposals to create a state ethics commission, as required by the passage of Measure 1 in November.

House Bill 1521 and Senate Bill 2148 have held multiple hearings, and several senators have proposed amendments to alter the definition of a lobbyist, while the House version prohibits public officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists valued at more than $60 per event.

The next hearings will take place on Thursday.

North Dakota Congressman-elect Kelly Armstrong resigned his District 36 seat in the State Senate.

District 36 Republicans will nominate their replacement to finish the remaining two years of Armstrong’s term by November 30, 2018.

Armstrong will replace Kevin Cramer in the U.S. House of Representatives.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum finalized an ethics policy that applies to the governor, lieutenant governor, and employees of the governor’s office.

According to the new policy, lobbyists who request a meeting with the governor’s office will be encouraged to bring a principal of his or her client to the meeting. The policy also addresses conflicts of interests and gifts and honoraria.

No gift of any value may be accepted if offered with the intent to directly or indirectly influence the exercise of official action.

Any gift greater than $50 must be reported to the ethics officer and returned to the donor or given to charity.

After gathering 38,451 signatures, an anti-corruption measure will appear on the November 6 ballot in North Dakota.

If the measure is approved by voters, the ethics commission will be responsible for adopting rules related to elections, lobbying, and for reporting and investigating alleged violations of those rules and related state laws.

Additionally, the measure prohibits gifts from lobbyists, prohibits the delivery of campaign contributions by lobbyists, and creates a revolving door provision banning public officials from becoming lobbyists for two years after leaving office.

This is the first ballot measure to receive enough signatures to appear in front of voters this November.

North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger approved the format of a petition to amend the state constitution to include an independent ethics commission.

If voters approve, the ethics commission would be responsible for adopting rules related to elections, lobbying, and for reporting and investigating alleged violations of those rules and related state laws.

Additionally, the measure prohibits gifts from lobbyists, prohibits the delivery of campaign contributions by lobbyists, restricts lobbying from former public officials, and restricts the use of campaign contributions, among other provisions.

Supporters of the petition have until July 9 to gather nearly 27,000 signatures to place the constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the Legislative Management Committee voted 12-4 in favor of filing a lawsuit in North Dakota’s Supreme Court in response to Gov. Doug Burgum’s vetoes of legislation.

Legislators are upset over the governor’s use of his line-item veto to change parts of several spending bills, arguing that the intent of the legislation was changed by the deletion of the words and phrases.

Lawmakers argue their legislative authority to spend money has been violated, while the executive branch contends its executive authority is being violated by the challenge.

Senate Bill 2343 was signed into law in April to enhance campaign finance reporting requirements and restrict candidates from using campaign funds for personal expenses.

The new law makes changes to the disclosure requirements for PACs and multicandidate political committees, requiring them to file pre-election, supplemental, and annual reports.

Senate Bill 2343 also makes amendments to statements required by measure committees circulating or promoting passage or defeat of initiated or referred measures.

The law becomes effective February 1, 2018, for campaign years beginning after December 31, 2017.

The North Dakota Legislature adjourned its legislative session on April 27.

The session lasted 77 days, ending ahead of the 80-day maximum set by the Constitution.

Lawmakers approved a $13.6 billion budget for the 2017-2019 biennium before adjourning.

A special election for the North Dakota House of Representatives District 15 will take place on November 8, 2016.

The District 15 seat is vacant following Rep. Curt Hofstad’s recent death due to a heart attack.

Candidates for the special election will be nominated by their parties rather than through primaries.

North Dakota lawmakers adjourned a three day special session on Thursday.

The session concluded with the Legislature passing a bill to cover the state’s budget shortfall.

Photo of the North Dakota State Capitol by MatthewUND on Wikimedia Commons.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple called a special session to convene August 2.

The session is needed to address North Dakota’s budget shortfall, and it is expected to last three days.

A special legislative session may be necessary to solve North Dakota’s budget issues.

The Office of Management and Budget says revenue for the state has fallen behind original projections. If the shortfall exceeds $75 million according to the revenue forecast due out in mid-July, a special session could be called.

Earlier this month, the Federal Election Commission dismissed complaints against two North Dakota Republican leaders regarding foreign campaign contributions received from a Canadian businessman.

The Federal Election Campaign Act bars foreign nationals from making financial donations in connection with federal, state or local elections.

The politicians claim they accepted the contributions based on incorrect advice received from the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office. The FEC ultimately dismissed the complaints because the contributions were refunded within the 30-day time period allowed by commission regulations.