Senate Majority Leader Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot, speaks during a meeting of Legislative Management on Jan. 20, 2026, ahead of a special session of the Legislature. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A proposal to save a community hospital is among seven bills North Dakota legislative leaders advanced Tuesday for consideration during a special session.
Although the session that starts Wednesday is focused on federal Rural Health Transformation Program money, legislative leaders discussed 19 additional bill drafts.
Legislative leaders rejected a majority of the proposals, but voted unanimously to advance a bill drafted in response to the financial woes of Jacobson Memorial Hospital, the critical access hospital in Elgin.
The facility, which serves surrounding southwest North Dakota communities, is in danger of closing its doors, said Sen. Donald Schaible, R-Mott, the primary bill sponsor.
“We normally could wait for a regular session to introduce such a bill. But unfortunately, the Jacobson Memorial Hospital may not be able to survive until a regular session,” Schaible said. “They truly need our help.”
The bill would appropriate $10 million for emergency low-interest operating loans, to be administered by the Bank of North Dakota under an existing program, to hospitals in danger of shutting down in the state.
The bill was assigned to the Joint Appropriations Committee for the three-day special session that will begin Wednesday.
The committee also advanced two bills that relate to free school meals, proposals that are in response to a proposed constitutional ballot measure that’s circulating.
Property taxes
Lawmakers will consider a property tax bill that sponsor Rep. Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, says will clarify how the primary residence tax credit is applied.
Under legislation approved last year, homeowners are eligible for a property tax credit of up to $1,600 per year.
Headland’s bill would change how counties apply a 5% discount to homeowners who pay property taxes early. Currently, the 5% discount is applied after the primary residence credit, which could hamper a homeowner’s opportunity to collect the full credit.
Headland, who chaired the House Finance and Taxation Committee last session, said his bill is to make it clear that the Legislature intended for homeowners to receive the full $1,600 a year in property tax relief.
The fiscal impact of the bill was not immediately clear. Counties can factor in the early pay discount into their yearly budgets, ultimately assessing that discount back to the taxpayers.
Other approved bill drafts
Lawmakers approved a proposal from Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, to set aside $325,000 for litigation funding for the Public Service Commission and $1.5 million for North Dakota Information Technology to bring state websites and other digital content into compliance with American Disability Act requirements.
The committee also voted to forward a bill brought by Rep. Mark Sanford and Sen. Jonathan Sickler, both Republicans from Grand Forks, to authorize the University of North Dakota to use money from a land sale for construction projects at the Ray Richards golf course or to support the school’s varsity golf teams.
The committee also advanced a resolution brought by Rep. Glenn Bosch, R-Bismarck, celebrating the 175th anniversary of the YMCA.
The legislative committee rejected proposals that relate to redistricting, funding for Highway Patrol firearms and firefighter benefits.
The special session is scheduled to last three days but could last longer if lawmakers choose.
Lawmakers during a special session generally only consider bills related to the reason the session was called, though it’s up to the discretion of Legislative Management, a committee of legislative leaders, to accept additional proposals.
Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, said during Tuesday’s Legislative Management meeting he has concerns that approving bills that fall outside the original purpose of the session will set a precedent.
“I frequently hear, ‘Well, you did it for them, now do it for me,’ and I don’t know how we stop that train,” he said.
Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, said the shorter timeline of special sessions means there’s a risk that legislation will not be reviewed with the same rigor as regular sessions.
“We are kind of rushing,” Klein said.
Each bill will receive a public hearing, but the public will have a short window to provide comment. A hearing schedule and links to submit written testimony are available on the Legislature’s website.
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