North Dakota lawmakers are considering a significant change to the process for amending the state constitution, as discussed during a recent Senate State and Local Government meeting. House Concurrent Resolution 3,003 proposes to raise the threshold for passing constitutional amendments from a simple majority of 50% to a supermajority of 60%.

Representative Robin Wise, who introduced the resolution, emphasized the importance of making constitutional changes more challenging. He argued that the constitution should serve as a protective framework for individual rights and liberties, and should not be easily altered by transient public opinion. Wise pointed out that many other states have stricter requirements for constitutional amendments, highlighting that only 17 states allow citizen-led amendments and that most require a higher legislative vote to place such measures on the ballot.

Support for the resolution was echoed by Eric Spencer, president and CEO of the Greater North Dakota Chamber, who noted that North Dakota's constitution has been amended 67 times, compared to just 27 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. He argued that the state constitution should be viewed as a sacred document, deserving of a higher threshold for changes.

While the proposal received support, some lawmakers expressed concerns about the irony of asking voters to approve a higher threshold for amendments, given that the current process allows for changes with a simple majority. Senator Bromberger raised this point, questioning the implications of requiring a 60% vote for future amendments while only needing a simple majority to pass this resolution.

The committee ultimately closed the hearing on the resolution, which is set to be placed on the general election ballot for voter consideration. If approved, this change could reshape the landscape of constitutional amendments in North Dakota, making it more difficult for future measures to gain approval. As discussions continue, the implications of this resolution will be closely watched by both lawmakers and the public.