North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong inadvertently vetoed a crucial $35 million housing budget while attempting to veto specific line items in an agency budget bill. This unexpected mistake has put the state in a unique situation, as it’s reportedly the first time such an error has occurred in Armstrong’s 37 years of experience in state government, according to legislative council director John Bjornson.
Armstrong’s staff referred to the veto as a markup error and the governor expressed an intention to rectify the situation. He originally aimed to veto a $150,000 grant intended for a Native American homelessness liaison position. The budget veto is expected to take effect on July 1. Following the incident, Armstrong’s office stated they would explore options to resolve the matter, with the possibility of calling a special legislative session if necessary.
This mix-up is not isolated; Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen also faced a potential issue with his line-item vetoes when he missed the five-day deadline to file them correctly. The Nebraska Legislature’s Speaker, John Arch, informed Pillen that the vetoed items now stand as law.
In North Dakota, the next steps depend largely on the governor. If the legislature opts to override Armstrong’s veto, it would also reinstate the funding for the grant he intended to cut. Alternatively, if the aim is simply to fund the housing budget, legislators may need to draft and pass a new bill, a process that could take around three days. The North Dakota Legislature still has six days remaining in its 80-day session, and a special session might provide an avenue to address other vetoes made by Armstrong.
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