Legislative & Regulatory Update with Taylor

​ND advocacy is ramping up, with a special session underway, interim policy work continuing and the 2027 legislative session approaching. DakCU is monitoring developments and engaging early.

By Taylor Stricklin, DakCU Director of Political & Grassroots Affairs

A Busy Fall for North Dakota Advocacy
The calendar may say September, but there is plenty happening in and around the Capitol. With the North Dakota Legislature set to convene for a special session this week and the 2027 regular session already on the horizon, now is an important time to be paying attention.

Special Session Begins September 2
The North Dakota Legislature will convene for a special session on September 2. The session was called by Gov. Kelly Armstrong to address the state's regulation of kratom and kratom products, including establishing a statutory framework and enforcement provisions.

While the special session is narrowly focused, it is another reminder that the legislative process can move quickly. Your Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) will be monitoring the session and any additional issues that may emerge.
 
2027 Is Getting Closer
The 2025–26 interim continues to provide an early look at issues that could develop into legislation next year. Property taxes remain an area worth watching, with the Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee continuing its work on property tax reform and relief.

Other interim committees are examining issues ranging from government finance to artificial intelligence and data centers. These may not all have an immediate impact on credit unions, but they are areas where policy decisions could eventually affect our members, communities, and the business environment in which credit unions operate.

And the 2027 legislative calendar is already taking shape. Legislators will begin their organizational session December 1–3, with the regular session beginning January 5, 2027. The deadline for legislators to prefile bills is December 18.
 
In other words, the runway to 2027 is getting shorter.
 
Looking Ahead
The next few months will be an important period for DakCU's advocacy efforts. Between the special session, interim committee work, the approaching 2027 bill-prefiling deadline and continued federal activity, there will be no shortage of issues to watch.

My goal is to make sure we're identifying those issues early, understanding how they could affect North Dakota credit unions and, most importantly, making sure the credit union perspective is part of the conversation.

Stay Connected
If your credit union is seeing an issue that you believe policymakers should understand, I want to hear about it. The experiences of credit unions and their members are what help shape our advocacy efforts and ensure we are focused on the issues that matter most.