Letter: Delivering results for North Dakota

The 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly focused on delivering real results for the people of our state. From historic tax relief and reform to education and rural infrastructure investment, we made decisions that will strengthen communities today and protect the state’s financial health for the future.

Historic tax relief

This session, we delivered the largest property tax relief package in state history. House Bill 1176 more than tripled the Primary Residence Property Tax Credit—from $500 to up to $1,600 per household—providing over $400 million in direct relief to North Dakota residents. We also expanded support for renters and disabled veterans. Just as importantly, we capped local government property tax levy increases at 3% (unless voters approve a larger increase), adding accountability to protect taxpayers long term.

All of this was done responsibly. Instead of raising taxes, we will use earnings from the Legacy Fund—not its principal—through a newly established Legacy Earnings Fund that supports both tax relief and infrastructure investment.

Strengthening rural communities and ag

We made meaningful investments in rural North Dakota. HB 1235 expanded eligibility for agriculture infrastructure grants to towns under 1,500 residents, supporting essential road and bridge improvements. SB 2177 ensures counties that support livestock operations receive a portion of sales tax revenue—returning resources to the communities that power our ag economy.

To grow value-added agriculture, HB 1332 provides up to $30 million for new processing facilities, and SB 2342 helps launch a major dairy processing plant—critical steps to revitalize local dairies and expand in-state production.

Investing in education and workforce

We increased teacher pay and per-pupil funding, while also expanding early learning and academic opportunities. HB 1497 allows early preschool enrollment based on readiness, and SB 2275 supports foreign language programs in early grades. We passed HB 1533 , which requires financial literacy education to graduate, equipping students with real-world skills in budgeting and investing.

We also prioritized school safety and learning environments by funding full-time counselors, establishing safety plans for sexual assault survivors, and restricting cell phone use during class time.

To support educators, we introduced signing bonuses for new teachers (HB 1498) and modernized the process for earning a lifetime teaching license (HB 1238).

Healthcare and public safety

We invested $300 million to replace the 140-year-old State Hospital in Jamestown, and expanded behavioral health bed capacity across the state. We also took action to address the crisis of missing Indigenous persons by establishing a Feather Alert system and a dedicated task force (HB 1199).

Transparency and good governance

We passed legislation to create a public website to disclose Legacy Fund investments (HB 1319) and created a new Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency (HB 1442) to review programs and identify cost-saving reforms. A new Cash Management Board will improve how we handle state funds and agency budgets.

This session was about results, not rhetoric. We passed smart, responsible policies that make life better for North Dakotans today—and lay the foundation for long-term success.

House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, and Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot