Bismarck’s 72-Hour Sprint: Navigating North Dakota’s Special Session

Governor Kelly Armstrong gaveled lawmakers into a focused three-day special session yesterday morning, with the goal of wrapping up business and heading home tomorrow afternoon. Special sessions are built for speed and precision. When the Legislature reconvenes to tackle unfinished business, it provides an incredible opportunity for grassroots voices to champion the North Dakota way: advancing personal freedom, protecting taxpayers, and ensuring our government remains accountable, transparent, and grounded in common sense.

As committees meet and floor debates unfold across the hall, lawmakers are working through key priorities that touch everything from consumer freedom to major state projects.

One of the most consequential discussions happening right now centers on finding the right balance between public safety and personal choice. Following discussions this summer around synthetic derivatives, lawmakers are weighing two distinct approaches to kratom.

Senate Bill 2408, carried by Senator Michelle Axtman, takes a heavy statutory approach by classifying all kratom products as Schedule I controlled substances, attaching tiered criminal penalties. We certainly appreciate the desire to keep our communities safe and families protected. At the same time, sound policy means avoiding unnecessary criminalization for everyday adults and preventing unintended burdens on our law enforcement and legal systems.

Representative Pat Heinert offers a thoughtful, free-market alternative with House Bill 1628. Rather than broad prohibition, his measure focuses on practical consumer transparency: establishing 21-plus age limits, requiring accurate product labeling, and ensuring third-party testing overseen by the Attorney General. When lawmakers empower adults to make their own informed wellness decisions while setting clear rules for good actors in the marketplace, everyone wins.

Lawmakers are also taking a close look at how to responsibly steward public funds on key capital investments. Under Senate Bill 2407, carried by Senator David Hogue, the Legislature is considering a $35 million line of credit through the Bank of North Dakota to restart construction on the North Dakota Military Gallery at the Capitol Heritage Center.

Honoring our military veterans is something every single North Dakotan stands behind, and celebrating their service is a cause worthy of pride. The challenge for lawmakers is ensuring our deep appreciation for service members goes hand in hand with sound fiscal stewardship. When capital projects hit unexpected financial hurdles, the best path forward is transparent oversight, clear benchmarks, and fiscal discipline that respects both our veterans and the taxpayers funding state endeavors.

Transparency is also front and center in the debate surrounding Senate Bill 2406, introduced by Senator Tim Mathern. The bill addresses economic development agreements, proposing to restrict government bodies from entering into nondisclosure agreements with commercial developers of large industrial projects and data centers.

North Dakota is an incredible place to build a business, innovate, and create jobs. The strongest economic climate is one built on openness and fair competition. Protecting legitimate proprietary business information is important, but making sure public processes remain accessible ensures community trust stays rock-solid as our state economy grows.

Finally, lawmakers are working to smooth out our property tax mechanics. A clean-up bill is making its way through the chambers to ensure the Primary Residence Credit interacts seamlessly with North Dakota’s popular 5% early-payment property tax discount. It is encouraging to see lawmakers actively working to protect local property owners from administrative confusion and ensure tax relief delivers exactly as intended.

With the final day of session tomorrow, there is a real opportunity for our leaders to finish strong. When Bismarck focuses on empowering individuals, stewarding tax dollars carefully, and keeping government transparent, North Dakota remains the best place in the country to live, work, and raise a family. We will be watching the final votes closely as the session crosses the finish line.