North Dakota’s 1977 Legislature is probably most notable for its evenly divided House of Representatives and a dispute over the lieutenant governor’s veto power in the Senate, an issue that wasn’t resolved until voters had their say a year later.
It wasn’t an easy legislative session. On this date in 1977, the Senate met in the morning for end-of-session ceremonies, eagerly watching for the House vote on a Republican proposal of a 70-cent per ton coal severance tax. The tax rate was a major fight between the two chambers, with the Senate a majority of Republicans and the House a 50-50 split between the two parties. Senate Republicans talked of a potential special session in June or continuing the current session another three days if the House rejected the tax rate.
Amid the coal tax deadlock were key votes on public television funding and school aid, plus an 18.5 million dollar building bill.
After lengthy discussion and compromises, the last day of the session adjourned around 7 a.m. on Friday, completing a 20-hour marathon. The lawmakers had crafted the state’s first two-year budget of more than $1 billion, and passed North Dakota’s first charitable gaming law.
North Dakota lawmakers have 80 days every two years to write new laws and budgets. In 1977 the Senate used 67 days and the House 66. In 2013, they used them all!
Dakota Datebook by Jack Dura
Sources:
The Bismarck Tribune, 1977, April 2.
The Bismarck Tribune, 1977, April 6.
The Bismarck Tribune, 1977, April 8.
https://www.legis.nd.gov/files/resource/committee-memorandum/21.9055.01000.pdf
https://www.legis.nd.gov/files/resource/library/lsdcass.pdf
