Photos: North Dakota Legislature works marathon final day
House Speaker Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, shakes hands will colleagues as the Legislature adjourns early May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
The North Dakota Legislature gaveled in at 8 a.m. Friday and didn't adjourn about 4 a.m. Saturday to close out the 69th Legislative Assembly.
Lawmakers used 74 of 80 available legislative days, though that does not include days when committees met and the full House and Senate did not convene.
Legislators introduced 1,089 bills and resolutions, the highest number since 2009, according to Legislative Council.
More than 615 bills passed both chambers, with final figures not immediately available.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, Gov. Kelly Armstrong had signed 536 bills and issued four vetoes, all of which were sustained by the Legislature.
Armstrong has 15 business days to sign all remaining bills.
In the final hours, legislators approved major budget bills and compromised on a historic property tax package. They worked through the night, at times socializing or saying goodbyes to colleagues while waiting on conference committees to complete their work or amendments to be drafted by legislative staff.
'Democracy is messy, but it is the best form of government there is,' Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, said as the Senate adjourned sine die.
Rep. Austen Schauer, from left, Sen. Kathy Hogan and Rep. Mike Lefor pose for a selfie May 3, 2025, before the legislative session adjourns. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
House Majority Leader Mike Lefor listens in the Senate chamber during the final hours of the 2025 legislative session. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo, talks to colleagues in the House chamber while waiting for the 2025 legislative session to conclude. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Lawmakers worked through the night at the state Capitol on May 2, 2025, to close out the legislative session. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Sen. Ron Sorvaag, R-Fargo, describes the Department of Water Resources budget bill as the Senate floor session stretches past midnight on May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, talks to colleagues May 2, 2025, in the Senate chamber. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Reps. Ben Koppelman, left, and Don Vigesaa visit in the hall of the Capitol on May 2, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Democrats in the House and others play a game while waiting for the floor session to reconvene in the early morning hours of May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Sen. Josh Boschee and Rep. Jayme Davis pass time in the House chamber while waiting for floor sessions to reconvene early May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Rep. Cynthia Schreiber-Beck, from left, talks to Rep. Bob Martinson and Rep. Karen Karls on May 2, 2025, while waiting for the House to reconvene. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Rep. Craig Headland, R-Montpelier, takes a break at his desk in the early morning hours of May 3, 2025, while waiting for the House to reconvene. Lawmakers adjourned after 4 a.m. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
The North Dakota Senate voted on its last bill of the 2025 session shortly before 4 a.m. May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Sen. Mike Dwyer, R-Bismarck, takes a break at the Capitol while waiting for the Senate to reconvene in the early morning hours of May 3, 2025. Lawmakers worked until after 4 a.m. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Rep. Jeremy Olson, left, and Sen. Randy Burckhard visit in the hallway of the Capitol while waiting for floor sessions to reconvene on May 2, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan gives closing remarks May 3, 2025, as the legislative session adjourns. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Sens. Dale Patten, center, and Kristin Roers, left, join other members of the Senate as they applaud for Legislative Council staff. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Sen. Steve Swiontek, right, says goodbye to Rep. David Richter early May 3, 2025, before the Legislature adjourned. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
Sen. Judy Lee, R-West Fargo, hugs Gov. Kelly Armstrong as the Legislature adjourns early May 3, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
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