ND Gov. Dalrymple Calls Special Session; Minnesota Finalizing Special Session Plans

Gov. Dalrymple has called a special session of the North Dakota Legislature.

New revenue forecasts show tax collections continuing to decline thanks to depressed oil and farm commodity prices.

The special session will begin August 2nd and will run at least three days.

The governor’s action is just the fifteenth time a special session has been called since statehood.

In February, the governor ordered state agencies to make immediate cuts and raided the rainy day fund to make up for $1.1 billion in shortfalls.

Tax collections since then are down another $100 million.

 
MINNESOTA–Minnesota leaders will meet tomorrow to firm up plans for another special session.
 
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says he thinks he has an agreement in principle with Gov. Dayton and House Speaker Daudt.

Lawmakers didn’t finish session work on a $1 billion public construction package and a $260 million tax relief bill.

Bakk believes a special session likely would not happen until mid-August because of the upcoming political conventions.