BISMARCK (KCND) – The North Dakota House has killed a bill that would have allowed the Legislature to meet in a short session in the even-numbered years. As the Senate amended the bill, it would try a one-time short session to see if it would work.
Supporters say it was partially the result of frustration with the Legislature not having much of a say in how federal CARES Act money was spent. That decision was in the hands of the state’s Emergency Commission and the Legislature’s Budget Section.
Fargo Republican Representative Jim Kasper, the chairman of the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, said his committee is working on amendments to another bill, that would require a special session to deal with special funding from the federal government.
Kasper says that after a certain amount of spending, the governor would have to call lawmakers into session to spend any more money.
Senate Bill 2218 failed 68 to 25.
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