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.

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.

The North Dakota Legislature is set to reconvene for a special session on June 16, 2015. The House and Senate failed to reach an agreement during the regular session on a budget bill for the public employee retirement system and the state retirement and investment office.

Only two days remain of the 80 legislative days allowed every two years, but leaders of both chambers are confident a compromise will be reached in time.

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

The Legislature adjourned sine die on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, with the possibility of a special session to resolve differences in the budget bill for the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS).

If NDPERS is not able to operate through the 2015-17 biennium on a continuing appropriation, a special session will be necessary.

By adjourning on 78th day of the session, lawmakers allowed for a two-day special session without exceeding the 80-day limit.

Lawmakers have passed a bill requiring a special election to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy. House Bill 1181 requires the governor to call a special election within 95 days of a Senate seat vacancy, unless the vacancy occurs within 95 days of the end of the Senate term, in which case the seat will be filled at the next regular election.

Democrats believe the bill is an attempt to discourage U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp from running for governor in 2016 since she would not be able to appoint her replacement.

The bill now goes to Gov. Jack Dalrymple for his signature.

A House committee has failed to pass a resolution proposing to let voters decide whether to create a state ethics commission. House Concurrent Resolution 3060 would amend the state Constitution to provide for a commission with the authority to address unethical behavior of officials and to oversee campaign finance and lobbying activities.

The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee heard testimony before a 10-4 vote against the resolution.

North Dakota is one of eight states without an ethics commission. The other seven are Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.

Photo of the North Dakota Capitol by MatthewUND in Wikimedia Commons.

Bills have been filed in both chambers of the North Dakota Legislature advocating for annual legislative sessions.

Senate Bill 2247 would permit a 50-day session in odd-numbered years and mandate a 30-day session in even-numbered years. House Bill 1342 would permit a 60-day session in odd-numbered years, followed by a recess and a 20-day remainder session in the following year.

Currently, sessions begin in January of every odd-numbered year and are limited to 80 days.

The Legislature adjourned sine die early Saturday, May 4, 2013. During this longest-ever legislative session, Governor Jack Dalrymple signed two campaign finance bills to establish registration and reporting requirements for independent expenditures.

Senate Bill 2255 and Senate Bill 2299 expand definitions and reporting requirements for campaign entities making independent expenditures in North Dakota elections. Federal PACs making independent expenditures in excess of $200 in state races will be required to file a copy of the federal report detailing the expenditures.

The bills become effective August 1, 2013.

Photo of the North Dakota State Capitol by Bobak Ha’Eri in Wikipedia.

The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee held hearings on February 14, 2013, regarding the establishment of an ethics commission to investigate alleged acts of wrongdoing by elected officials and lobbyists.

House Bill 1442 would create an ethics commission consisting of nine members. Four members are to be appointed by legislators and the remaining five would be appointed by the governor.

North Dakota is currently one of nine states without an ethics commission.

A federal court’s preliminary injunction has found the state’s 100-year ban on election-day campaigning to be an unreasonable restraint on free speech. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Competitive Politics, a pro-free speech group. The Center represents Gary Emineth, who wishes to post yard signs on his property, distribute fliers, and discuss the upcoming election with his neighbors.

The North Dakota statute bans any person, on election day, from trying to induce or persuade others to support or oppose any candidate or ballot measure.

The court’s ruling also orders state officials to refrain from prosecuting any person for a violation of N.D.C.C. §16.1-10-06 for the pendency of the case.

North Dakota lawmakers wrapped up a special session on Friday after providing millions of dollars in additional disaster relief and repealing a law requiring the University of North Dakota to keep its Fighting Sioux nickname.

The five-day special session also produced a new redistricting map and items related to the Environmental Protection Agency in an attempt to defend hydraulic fracturing in the state.

The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion on November 1 suggesting a special legislative session may be necessary to remedy an accidental retroactive effective date of Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 2. The measure, which would eliminate property taxes, is scheduled to appear on the June 12, 2012 primary election ballot.

State Representative Dan Ruby argued that the intention was to have an effective date of January 1 following the passage of the measure, despite the clear and unambiguous effective date listed in the text of the measure: January 1, 2012.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem noted the possible difficulties for political subdivisions that rely on property taxes but declined to ignore the plain language of the measure. A special session could address the need for replacement revenues if the measure passes.