The bill amends various sections of the North Dakota Century Code related to school district debt limit elections, municipal bond elections, and ballot content. It empowers school district boards to place questions about increasing the district's limit of indebtedness on the ballot during regular or special elections, either through a resolution or in response to a petition from qualified electors. Key changes include the removal of certain language regarding election notice requirements and the introduction of provisions mandating municipalities to publish initial resolutions for bond issuance in official newspapers. Additionally, the bill establishes new requirements for written protests against bond resolutions, specifying that if protests are signed by property owners representing five percent or more of the assessed valuation, further proceedings on the resolution are prohibited.

Moreover, the bill allows cities with populations of 25,000 or more to utilize specific provisions for funding the construction and improvement of bypass routes and interchanges on federal or state highways outside their corporate limits. It also enables municipalities affected by disasters to issue general obligation bonds without an election for emergency costs and allows for tax levies for bond retirement without legal limitations. The process for calling elections regarding general obligation bonds is clarified, requiring that these elections coincide with statewide primary or general elections, and it outlines the notification requirements for the county auditor. The bill also specifies that ballots for bond elections must be separate from other ballots, while removing the provision that spoiled or blank ballots would not be counted.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 21-03-04, 21-03-07
Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Representative Wagner: 15.1-07-03, 15.1-07-04, 21-03-04, 21-03-07, 21-03-11, 21-03-13
Enrollment: 15.1-07-03, 15.1-07-04, 21-03-04, 21-03-07, 21-03-11, 21-03-13