Bismarck, ND – Some ND legislators have proposed HCR 3019 in an attempt to eliminate term limits for the legislature and governor, which were just passed by a wide margin by the people of North Dakota in November 2022.
The term limits measure included language that specifically prohibits the legislature from altering or abolishing them. Article XV, Section 4 of the North Dakota state constitution reads that “…the legislative assembly shall not have authority to propose an amendment to this constitution to alter or repeal the term limitations established in section 1 of this article.”
Jared Hendrix, Chairperson of the 2022 ballot measure, released the following statement:
“Legislators take an oath to the North Dakota constitution and, unfortunately, this resolution is both unconstitutional and in flagrant disregard of the will of the voters. You don’t have to agree with term limits – that’s why we have campaigns. But the people decided this issue, period. Term limits passed by a wide margin in every single legislative district. Over 46,000 North Dakotans signed petitions to place term limits on the ballot, and over 150,000 voters supported them in the November 2022 election.”
HCR 3019 will be heard Wednesday, March 8th at 8am before the House Industry, Business & Labor committee at the State Capitol in room 327C. You can read the resolution here:
https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/68-2023/regular/bill-index/bi3019.html?bill_year=2023&bill_number=3019
Term Limits supporters are encouraged to contact their legislators and ask them to oppose this unconstitutional resolution.