Proposed measure seeks changes to North Dakota legislators’ salaries, public records and lobbying

A proposed constitutional measure in North Dakota aims to shake up legislative transparency, ethics, and accountability. If approved, it would make all communications between legislators about public business open records, prevent lawmakers from receiving state employee benefits, and delay pay raises until after an election. It also targets lobbying, barring former legislators from taking lobbying jobs for four years. Supporters must gather over 31,000 signatures to put the measure on the 2026 ballot, setting the stage for a public debate on governance and accountability.