CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURE 1 – SCR 4001
Put forth by the state Legislature, this measure updates terminology used in the state constitution to describe several state institutions.
It would change the “school for the deaf and dumb of North Dakota” to the “school for the deaf and hard of hearing,” the “state hospital for the insane” to the “state hospital for the care of individuals with mental illness” and “an institution for the feebleminded” to “a facility for individuals with developmental disabilities.”
A YES vote will make these changes to the titles of these institutions in the constitution.
A NO vote will leave the current titles in the constitution.
CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURE 2 – SCR 4013
This measure establishes a single-subject rule for initiated measures in North Dakota, which would require ballot measures to address a single subject, as determined by the secretary of state. It would also increase the number of signatures required for a constitutional ballot measure from 4% to 5% of the resident population. Lastly, this measure would require the approval of voters in two elections for it to become effective. A measure would first appear on the June primary election ballot and, if approved by voters, subsequently placed on the November general election ballot.
It was put forth by the Legislature.
A YES vote will establish a single-subject rule, increase the signatures needed for constitutional initiatives and require measures to be approved twice before establishment.
A NO vote opposes these constitutional changes.
CONSTITUTIONAL MEASURE 3 – HCR 3033
This measure, also put forth by the Legislature, would decrease the amount of principal available for spending each biennium and would clarify the distributions from the legacy fund.
The legacy fund receives 30% of oil and gas tax revenue in the state and is used as a cushion for the state if the energy economy fails. Every two years, the earnings of the legacy fund are transferred to the general fund and used for state operations. This measure lowers the percentage of the fund’s principal that may be expended during a biennium from 15% to 5%, and legacy fund earnings would no longer be transferred to the general fund, but distributions could instead be made into a legacy earnings fund.
A YES vote supports these changes to decrease the amount of legacy fund principal available for general fund expenditures each biennium and utilize a legacy earnings fund over a general fund transfer.
A NO vote opposes these changes and maintains the current legacy fund distribution structure.
INITIATED MEASURE 4
This measure would eliminate property taxes in the state and prohibit all political subdivisions, including cities, counties, townships and schools, from levying any tax on real property based on assessed value. It was put on the ballot through a citizen-led initiative, which would change the state constitution.
Property taxes are collected by local government to fund essential local public services, including schools (which receive the largest share of property tax funds), police, sheriff, fire, corrections, road maintenance, snow removal, street cleaning, water and waste management, public parks, pools, recreation facilities and libraries.
The measure requires the state to provide annual payments to political subdivisions to replace the lost local revenue from property taxes, but only in the amount of property taxes levied in 2024. The fiscal impact is estimated to be a loss of $1.329 billion per year, according to figures prepared by the N.D. Legislative Council. It will be up to the Legislature to determine how to make up the replacement revenue, by cutting programs, jobs or other general fund expenditures. It will be up to local political subdivisions to figure out new fees and taxes on local citizens to fund essential local public services beyond or above 2024 levels, perhaps when needed to build a new school, buy a new firetruck, fix a road, improve a water system or adjust for inflation.
A YES vote would eliminate property taxes on assessed value, and leave it up to the state to devise a plan for providing annual property tax replacement payments.
A NO vote opposes these changes and preserves the ability of local governments to levy property taxes to fund essential local services.
INITIATED MEASURE 5
This measure, also placed on the ballot through a citizen-led initative, would legalize cannabis (marijuana) for recreational use by adults 21 and older, sets parameters for that use and establishes related regulations. It also directs the state to regulate and register adult-use cannabis production businesses, dispensaries and their agents, provides penalties for violations of the law, preserves certain employer rights regarding cannabis use and establishes Oct. 1, 2025, as the deadline for which the state’s adult-use cannabis program must be authorized.
A YES vote legalizes cannabis for recreational use by adults 21 and older.
A NO vote opposes legalizing recreational cannabis use.
