Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota
In Regular Session Commencing Tuesday, January 7, 2025
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4024
(Senators Mathern, Hogue, Bekkedahl)
(Representatives Koppelman, Lefor)
A concurrent resolution directing the Legislative Management to consider studying using dedicated
funds in the Capitol building fund to build a legislative office building.
WHEREAS, the Capitol building fund was created at statehood through a grant of 50,000 acres of
land to the state for the purpose of financing construction of public buildings for legislative, executive,
and judicial use and, in 1957, Congress expanded the purpose of the fund to allow the fund to be used
for construction, renovation, and other improvements of public buildings at the Capitol; and
WHEREAS, the 1967 Legislative Assembly considered the need to improve legislative committee
rooms and provide office space for committee chairmen, legislative study lounges, and Legislative
Council offices; and
WHEREAS, the 1967 Legislative Assembly adopted legislation directing the Capitol building fund
be dedicated and reserved for the exclusive purpose of the construction of an addition to the legislative
wing; and
WHEREAS, since 1967, money in the Capitol building fund has been used for a variety of
purposes including the payment of special assessments and the construction and maintenance of the
Governor's residence; and
WHEREAS, a significant portion of the land granted to the state and the assets of the fund
continue to contribute to the balance of the Capitol building fund, which is in excess of $5,000,000,
despite appropriations from the fund for other purposes totaling nearly $13,000,000 over the last
3 bienniums; and
WHEREAS, many legislative meeting rooms are too small to accommodate the public, lack
secondary or emergency exits, and are not designed to function with today's technology; and
WHEREAS, the legislative parking lot frequently is in need of repair, and during legislative
sessions often is covered with snow and ice causing unsafe conditions; and
WHEREAS, our Capitol is one of the few in the country in which legislators have no dedicated
place to work or private space to meet with constituents; and
WHEREAS, long-term Capitol facility plans have explored the option of building a parking structure
on the west side of the legislative wing rather than continuing to repair the legislative parking lot; and
WHEREAS, construction of a parking structure also would present an opportunity to include above
the parking structure space for modern committee rooms, legislative offices and meeting space, and
office space for legislative staff; and
WHEREAS, construction of a legislative office building would allow executive branch agencies that
are leasing office space off the Capitol grounds to move into the Capitol, saving money on leased space
and providing greater access to the public; and
WHEREAS, as the Capitol approaches its 100
th
anniversary, it is vital for the Legislative Assembly
to address the future needs of the legislative branch and provide future legislators with the tools
necessary to retain the Legislative Assembly's constitutional role as a coequal branch of government;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN: S.C.R. NO. 4024 - PAGE 2
That the Legislative Management consider studying using dedicated funds in the Capitol building
fund to build a legislative office building; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , that the Legislative Management report its finding and
recommendations, together with any legislation required to implement the recommendations to the
Seventieth Legislative Assembly. S.C.R. NO. 4024 - PAGE 3
____________________________ ____________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
____________________________ ____________________________
Secretary of the Senate Chief Clerk of the House
Filed in this office this ___________day of _______________________________________, 2025,
at ________ o’clock ________M.
____________________________
Secretary of State