North Dakota law funds lawmakers and staff through 2027

The law provides funding for the legislative branch’s expenses. The appropriation covers the legislative assemblies, Legislative Management, and Legislative Council. The money comes from available general fund money and the insurance regulatory trust fund. The appropriation covers the period from the law’s effective date through June 30, 2027.

The Legislative Council may transfer money from a staffing pool to cover certain salary and wage costs, and must report on the pool’s use. These rules apply to the Legislative Council’s new and vacant position funding pool. The council may use the pool to fund a new position from its hire date through the end of the budget period, or to cover pay needs when savings from vacancies and staff turnover are lower than estimated. If the pool cannot cover needed salary costs, the council may ask the next legislative assembly for additional funding. The pool and reporting rules apply during the budget period covered by the appropriation.

The Office of Management and Budget must make certain requested transfers between legislative budget lines and agencies, and cancel certain unspent appropriations when directed. The rules cover specified budget lines for Legislative Management, Legislative Council, and the legislative assemblies. For transfers under section 4, the Legislative Management chair or Legislative Council director must find that the transfer is needed to carry out legislative work. The cancellation rule covers unspent legislative assembly and council appropriations enacted before the 2023–25 budget period. The cancellation rule applies to appropriations enacted before the 2023–25 budget period.

The Legislative Council must authorize use of certain Capitol spaces during the break between sessions. The rule applies to covered Capitol spaces during the break between legislative sessions. The restriction covers committee rooms, halls, passageways, and other Capitol spaces used by the legislative assembly. The fifteenth floor is reserved for the Legislative Council. The restriction applies during the break between legislative sessions.