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Message: <blockquote data-quote="guywhofishes" data-source="post: 487157" data-attributes="member: 337">Constitutional Measure No. 1 (SCR 4007) originated in the North Dakota Legislature during the 2025 session as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. It was not a citizen-initiated petition.0Primary Sponsor and Key Backers in the Legislature<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Senate Majority Leader David Hogue (R-Minot) was the main sponsor. He introduced it to prevent “bait-and-switch” tactics in constitutional amendments and make them easier for voters to understand.0</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Co-sponsors included Senators Dick Dever (R) and Jerry Klein (R), plus Representatives Lawrence Klemin (R), Mike Lefor (R), and Robin Weisz (R).35</li> </ul>It passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support (only one “no” vote) and the House 57-36 (more divided, with most Democrats and some Republicans opposing).0Political Backing and OppositionSupport (primarily from Republican legislative leadership):<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Aimed at promoting clarity, transparency, and preventing logrolling in both citizen initiatives and legislative referrals.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">No major external PACs or big-money groups are heavily involved yet (campaign finance reports show minimal to zero spending so far for this low-profile measure).5</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Aligns with broader Republican-led efforts in the 2025 session to reform the ballot initiative process (e.g., alongside the 60% threshold measure).</li> </ul>Opposition (focused on risks to citizen initiatives):<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">League of Women Voters of North Dakota — Strongly against it. They testified in opposition, arguing the vague language could be weaponized against grassroots efforts and add bureaucratic hurdles enforced by the Secretary of State/Attorney General.42</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Democratic lawmakers, such as House Minority Leader Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks), who called it a potential “handcuff” on voter initiatives.20</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Groups like the North Dakota Watchdog Network (Dustin Gawrylow) have criticized it as poorly defined and part of a pattern of legislative restrictions on direct democracy (they also opposed the failed 2024 multi-part measure).65</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Broader concerns from initiative supporters who see it as limiting complex but legitimate reforms (e.g., ethics or multi-faceted policy changes).</li> </ul>This is a lower-turnout primary election measure, which some critics argue favors the status quo/legislative side. No major out-of-state or big-money involvement stands out—it’s largely an inside-the-Capitol fight. For the latest, check the ND Secretary of State’s voter guide or Ballotpedia.</blockquote>

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