Has North Dakota scheduled its regular legislative sessions every other year since statehood in 1889?
Yes. North Dakota has scheduled its regular legislative sessions biennially since statehood. The North Dakota News Cooperative is partnering with Gigafact to produce timely Fact Briefs, which are quick, evidence-based fact checks about trending claims relevant to North Dakota. The Constitution adopted in 1889 stated that sessions of the
North Dakota News Cooperative · Sabrina Halvorson · September 3, 2026
Yes. North Dakota has scheduled its regular legislative sessions biennially since statehood. The North Dakota News Cooperative is partnering with Gigafact to produce timely Fact Briefs, which are quick, evidence-based fact checks about trending claims relevant to North Dakota. The Constitution adopted in 1889 stated that sessions of the Legislative Assembly “shall be biennial” and directed lawmakers to meet after legislative elections. The first state Legislative Assembly convened on Nov. 19, 1889, shortly after North Dakota entered the Union, and adjourned on March 18, 1890. The second assembly convened on Jan. 6, 1891. The Legislative Council’s chronology shows regular sessions convening in every successive odd-numbered year since then. Today, North Dakota remains one of four states whose legislatures meet biennially in odd-numbered years (alongside Montana, Nevada, and Texas). The Legislature also holds a three-day organizational session in December before each regular session, and governors may call special sessions. These additional meetings, along with interim committee work, do not alter the every-other-year schedule for regular legislative sessions. This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
About Fact Briefs:
Fact Briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact Briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network. Each brief is limited to 150 words or fewer and is not intended to provide an in-depth analysis, but rather to deliver concise, definitive answers grounded in verified information.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch: 1889 Journal of the Constitutional Convention North Dakota Legislative Council: Legislative sessions — Dates of convening and adjourning since statehood North Dakota Legislative Branch: Legislative branch function and process North Dakota Legislative Branch: Special sessions of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly
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