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Committee votes to tweak North Dakota lawmaker term limits

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Committee votes to tweak North Dakota lawmaker term limits

By Michael Achterling
Committee votes to tweak North Dakota lawmaker term limits
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Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, speaks about term limits during a committee hearing on Jan. 23, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

A North Dakota legislative committee advanced a bill Thursday that makes a change to lawmaker term limits approved by voters in 2022.

The constitutional measure limits lawmakers to serving no more than eight years in the state House and eight years in the state Senate.

But for lawmakers elected in 2020, the measure effectively limits them to six years after the passage of the ballot measure. If those lawmakers were to run for office in 2028, they would hit the eight-year limit in the middle of the term.

Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, who is among lawmakers elected in 2020, is the chief sponsor of House Bill 1300, which proposes that the clock on term limits doesn’t start until after the November 2022 general election.

North Dakota lawmakers prepare for impact of term limits

The bill would allow lawmakers elected in 2020 to run for election again in 2028 and serve through 2032, for a total of 10 years since the passage of the measure.

Koppelman said the bill is not an attempt to amend the constitution, but aims to clear up uncertainty about when the clock starts on calculating term limits.

During committee discussion, Rep. Vicki Steiner, R-Dickinson, said lawmakers need clarity on whether they are eligible to run for reelection in 2028.

“I think people appreciate that we give direction to it rather than waiting for courts,” Steiner said. 

No one testified in opposition to the bill. Members of the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee gave the bill a unanimous “do pass” recommendation. 

Sixty-three percent of North Dakota voters supported the term limits measure. 

Rep. Jared Hendrix, R-West Fargo, chairman of the sponsoring committee, said he doesn’t support the notion that any lawmaker was disenfranchised by the bill, but realizes there could be an argument on the possible starting point of the term limits.

“I believe it’s fair to discuss it,” Hendrix said. He added he wouldn’t challenge Koppelman’s bill in court, if it should pass.

House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, said he believes the voters spoke clearly in 2022.

Committee votes to tweak North Dakota lawmaker term limits
Rep. Vicki Steiner, R-Dickinson, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 23, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

“I think it’s a little bit of legislative hubris for us to question what those voters put in place,” Ista said. “None of us are irreplaceable or indispensable. If somebody loses out on a couple of years of service based on the term limits, this body is going to do just fine. So, I’m not inclined to support it.”

Rep. Matthew Heilman, R-Bismarck, vice chair of the North Dakota Young Republicans, said he would probably oppose the bill on the House floor.

“I don’t support watering down term limits,” Heilman said. 

Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, chair of the Senate State and Local Government Committee, said some Senate lawmakers are working on a separate bill related to lawmaker term limits. The Senate’s bill deadline is Monday.