North Dakota House of Representatives
General Information
Party control:	Republican
Session start:	January 7, 2025
Session end:	May 3, 2025
Term length:	4 years
Term limits:	2 terms (8 years)
Redistricting:	Legislature-dominant
Salary:	$592/month + per diem
Members
Total:	94
Democrats:	11
Republicans:	82
Other:	0
Vacancies:	1
Leadership
Speaker:	Robin Weisz (R)
Maj. Leader:	Mike Lefor (R)
Min. Leader:	Zac Ista (D)
Elections
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Next election:	November 3, 2026

TheNorth Dakota House of Representatives is thelower chamber of theNorth Dakota Legislative Assembly. Alongside theNorth Dakota State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the North Dakota state government and works alongside thegovernor of North Dakota to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the North Dakota House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The North Dakota House of Representatives meets in the state capitol building inBismarck, North Dakota.

This page contains the following information on the North Dakota House of Representatives.

• Which partycontrols the chamber
• The chamber'scurrent membership
• Partisan control of the chamberover time
• Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
• Adistrict map
• Howredistricting works in the state
• Legislation currently under consideration
• Legislative session dates
• Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
• A list ofcommittees

Party control

Current partisan control

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the North Dakota House of Representatives as of November 2025:

Members

Leadership

The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.

Leadership and members

• Speaker of the House:Robin Weisz (R)
• Majority leader:Mike Lefor (R)
• Minority leader:Zac Ista (D)

Salaries

See also:Comparison of state legislative salaries

Swearing in dates

See also:When state legislators assume office after a general election

North Dakota legislators assume office on December 1.^[2]

Membership qualifications

See also:State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 4, Section 5 of theNorth Dakota Constitution states:^[3]

Historical party control

Republicans won control of the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1984. In2024, they won an 83-11 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the North Dakota House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin'sParty Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Trifecta history

Astate government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, North Dakota was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: None
• Republican trifecta: 1995-2023
• Divided government: 1992-1994

Elections

Elections by year

North Dakota state representatives serve staggered,four-year terms, with half of the chamber's seats up for election every two years. North Dakota holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also:North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2026

Elections for theNorth Dakota House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is onNovember 3, 2026.

2024

See also:North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2024

Elections for theNorth Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was onNovember 5, 2024. The primary wasJune 11, 2024. The filing deadline wasApril 8, 2024.

2022

See also:North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2022

Elections for theNorth Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 14, 2022. The filing deadline was April 11, 2022.

The Republican Party expanded its majority by two seats in the 2022 general election, from 80-14 to 82-12.

2020

See also:North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2020

Elections for the office ofNorth Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline was April 6, 2020.

In the 2020 elections, the Republican majority in the North Dakota House of Representatives increased from 79-15 to 80-14.

2018

See also:North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2018

Elections for theNorth Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2018. Anopen primary election took place on June 12, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline wasApril 9, 2018.^[5]

In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the North Dakota House of Representatives was reduced from 80-13 to 79-15.

2016

See also:North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for theNorth Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 11, 2016. A total of47 seats out of the 94 seats in theNorth Dakota House of Representatives were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 71-23 majority. Republicans gained 10 seats in the election, giving them a 81-13 majority.

Term limits

See also:State legislatures with term limits

TheNorth Dakota Legislative Assembly is one of16 state legislatures with term limits. It has been a term-limited state legislature since North Dakota voters approvedConstitutional Measure 1 in 2022, as aninitiated constitutional amendment. The first year that theterm limits enacted in 2022 will impact the ability of incumbents to run for office is 2030. Under North Dakota's term limits, state representatives can serve no more than two four-year terms.

Vacancies

See also:How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in theNorth Dakota State Legislature, the vacancy is filled by the district committee of the political party that holds the seat. A replacement must be named within 21 days of the vacancy. The appointed person shall serve until the next general election which is scheduled for at least 94 days after the vacancy occurs. Qualified electors in a district where a vacancy exists can also petition for a special election to be called by the governor to fill the remaining term.^[13]

See sources:North Dakota Cent. Code §44-02-03.1

District map

See also:North Dakota state legislative districts

The state of North Dakota has 47 state House districts. Each district elects two representatives.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Redistricting

See also:Redistricting in North Dakota

Because North Dakota has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. Thestate legislature draws state legislative district boundaries. State legislative district lines are subject to veto by thegovernor.^[14]

TheNorth Dakota Constitution requires that state legislative districts be "compact and contiguous."^[14][15]

2020

See also:Redistricting in North Dakota after the 2020 census

On May 14, 2025, a federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that struck down the state's 2021 legislative maps. On January 8, 2024, theU.S. District Court of North Dakota had ordered the state to adopt a remedial legislative map proposed by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake Tribe. In the order, JudgePeter Welte said that the new map "requires changes to only three districts ... and is the least intrusive option that complies with the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution."^[16][17]

The U.S. District Court of North Dakota struck down the state's legislative map on November 17, 2023, saying in its ruling in the caseTurtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. the Secretary of State of North Dakota, "The Secretary is permanently enjoined from administering, enforcing, preparing for, or in any way permitting the nomination or election of members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly from districts 9 and 15 and subdistrict 9A and 9B. The Secretary and Legislative Assembly shall have until December 22, 2023, to adopt a plan to remedy the violation of Section 2."^[18] North Dakota Gov.Doug Burgum (R) signed legislation enacting the state's legislative map on November 11, 2021.

Reactions to 2024 state legislative maps

On January 9, 2024, the Secretary of State’s Office filed an appeal with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of the U.S. District Court of North Dakota's order in theTurtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. the Secretary of State of North Dakota case.^[19]

The Secretary of State’s Office also released a statement saying, “Any action taken by the appeals court would not impact the maps used for the 2024 election cycle. ... Secretary of State Michael Howe will be moving forward for the 2024 election with Judge Welte’s court-imposed map.”^[19]

District map after 2020 redistricting

Below is the state House map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for North Dakota’s 2024 state legislative elections.

This map took effect for North Dakota's 2022 legislative elections.

2010

See also:Redistricting in North Dakota after the 2010 census

North Dakota received its local census data on March 15, 2011. The state's population grew by approximately 5 percent to 672,591, but more rural districts lost population to more urban districts. The legislature held a special session in November 2011 after preliminary approval by the Interim Legislative Redistricting Committee and passed the proposed plan on November 8. The plan cut two rural districts, added districts in Fargo and Bismarck, and paired over a dozen incumbents. Gov.Jack Dalrymple (R) signed the plan into law on November 9.

Sessions

Legislation

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the North Dakota House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the House to the Senate and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated byBillTrack50.

Dates of legislative sessions in North Dakota by year

2025

See also:2025 North Dakota legislative session andDates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 7, 2025, and adjourn on May 3, 2025.

About legislative sessions in North Dakota

TheTenth Amendment of theU.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.^[26] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions,legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Article IV of the North Dakota Constitution establishes when theNorth Dakota Legislative Assembly, of which the House is a part, is to be in session. Section 7 of Article IV states that the Assembly is to convene in regular session every January after a legislative election. This means that the Assembly convenes in January of every odd-numbered year. Section 7 specifies that the convening date is to be the first Tuesday after the third day in January, unless this date is changed by law. Section 7 limits the length of regular sessions to no more than eighty days every two years.

Legislative roles and procedures

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includesveto overrides,the role of the legislature in the state budget, andprocedures for filling membership vacancies.

Veto overrides

See also:Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in North Dakota are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.

Authority:Article V, Section 9 of theNorth Dakota Constitution.

Role in state budget

See also:North Dakota state budget and finances

North Dakotaon

Check outBallotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets •Civil liberties •Education •Elections •Energy •Environment •Healthcare •Pensions

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[27]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies betweenApril and May of the year preceding the start of the new biennium.
2. State agencies submit their budget requests to thegovernor betweenJuly and October.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to thestate legislature inDecember.
4. The legislature typically adopts a budget inApril. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The new biennium begins inJuly.

North Dakota is one of 44 states in which the governor hasline item veto authority.^[27][28]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the state legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.^[27]

Committees

See also:List of committees in North Dakota state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

• Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
• Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
• Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The North Dakota House of Representatives has 14 standing committees:

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process forreferring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states,initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are alsomany other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the North Dakota Constitution can be amended:

See also:Article III andSection 16, Article IV, of the North Dakota Constitution andLaws governing ballot measures in North Dakota

TheNorth Dakota Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. North Dakota requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Initiative

See also:Initiated constitutional amendment

Aninitiated constitutional amendment is acitizen-initiated ballot measure that amends astate's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In North Dakota, thenumber of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 4% of the state's population reported by the last decennial census. Each initiative has its own unique deadline of one year after it was approved to circulate. The completed petition must be submitted at least 120 days prior to the election.

Legislature

See also:Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for theNorth Dakota State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 48 votes in theNorth Dakota House of Representatives and 24 votes in theNorth Dakota State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also:Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According toSection 1 of Article III of theNorth Dakota Constitution, thestate's initiative petition process is used to call aconstitutional convention.

See also

Elections	North Dakota State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2024 North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2022 North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2020 North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2018	North Dakota Legislative Assembly North Dakota State Senate Governor of North Dakota North Dakota Supreme Court	State legislative elections, 2025 State legislative elections, 2024 State legislative elections, 2023 State legislative elections, 2022 State legislative elections, 2021 State legislative elections, 2020 State legislative elections, 2019	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links

• North Dakota Legislative Branch

Footnotes

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