Lawmakers Gather in Bismarck Ahead of Session

Legislative committees reported interim findings at the state capitol as the January session approaches.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Legislative Policy

Wide photograph of a state capitol tower rising above flat prairie grassland under a clear pale sky in North Dakota. — North Dakota lawmakers gathered in Bismarck for Legislative Management Committee work, with energy committees reporting interim findings ahead of the January session. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Legislators met at the North Dakota state capitol in Bismarck for a Legislative Management Committee meeting, where committees reported on information gathered during the interim. The Energy Development and Transmission committee presented its findings from field trips and industry discussions.

Why it matters

Interim meetings give committees direction and help align lawmakers' priorities with state needs before the legislative session begins. For North Dakota residents, the work shapes which issues reach the floor when lawmakers convene in January.

Oil industry revenue accounts for over half of North Dakota's state revenue, according to figures cited at the meeting. The Energy Development and Transmission committee has not yet produced any bills, and individual members have said they plan to introduce their own energy legislation.

The players

Legislative Management Committee

The Legislative Management Committee is the body that oversees interim work and coordinates the activities of North Dakota's legislative committees between sessions.

Rep. Anna Novak

Anna Novak is a North Dakota state representative from Hazen who was quoted at the meeting.

The details

Committee members took several field trips during the interim to view energy projects and talked with industry professionals about energy's role in the state's economy. Newly elected lawmakers attended the Bismarck meeting, and lawmakers pressed committees with questions on their findings.

Interim period between sessions: committee field trips and industry discussions on energy.
November 12, 2026: Legislative Management Committee meeting at the state capitol in Bismarck.
January 2027: The legislative session begins.

Political Context

North Dakota's interim committee system lets lawmakers study issues between sessions rather than only during them. Energy policy remains central to this work because the oil industry accounts for over half of state revenue.

Energy policy decided in the coming session could affect state revenue and the industries that depend on it. Residents who follow energy-related rules should watch for bills introduced when lawmakers convene in January.

The takeaway

Interim committee work is where many state policies take shape before they reach a vote. Readers following North Dakota energy policy should track which member-sponsored bills advance once the session starts.

What happens next

The Legislative Management Committee's work continues through the interim, and the legislative session opens in January 2027, when individual members are expected to introduce energy bills.