Photos: North Dakota Legislature works marathon final day

The North Dakota Legislature gaveled in at 8 a.m. Friday and didn’t adjourn about 4 a.m. Saturday to close out the 69th Legislative Assembly.

Lawmakers used 74 of 80 available legislative days, though that does not include days when committees met and the full House and Senate did not convene.

Legislators introduced 1,089 bills and resolutions, the highest number since 2009, according to Legislative Council.

More than 615 bills passed both chambers, with final figures not immediately available.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, Gov. Kelly Armstrong had signed 536 bills and issued four vetoes, all of which were sustained by the Legislature.

Armstrong has 15 business days to sign all remaining bills.

In the final hours, legislators approved major budget bills and compromised on a historic property tax package. They worked through the night, at times socializing or saying goodbyes to colleagues while waiting on conference committees to complete their work or amendments to be drafted by legislative staff.

“Democracy is messy, but it is the best form of government there is,” Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, said as the Senate adjourned sine die.