February 7, 2025

Armstrong testifies in support of bill to review boards and commissions, shrink government

Gov. Kelly Armstrong testified Thursday, Feb. 6, in support of legislation that would create a task force to review all state boards and commissions to determine which ones can be combined or dissolved, in keeping with his goal of shrinking government and making it more efficient.

“Today the Governor’s Office oversees more than 150 boards and commissions in state government. That’s too many,” Armstrong said, noting every board carries a cost – even those with volunteer members. “When government stays in silos, it leads to duplicative work. Our goal for the task force is to create efficiencies and make sure each board’s mission is still relevant today.”

Senate Bill 2308 was introduced by Sen. Kristin Roers and co-sponsored by House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, Senate Majority Leader David Hogue and Rep. Scott Louser. The bill proposes creating a task force to review the more than 150 boards and commissions in state government and report back to the 2027 Legislature with recommendations on which boards can be combined or dissolved and which ones are essential to the core functions of government.

Armstrong first voiced support for SB 2308 during his State of the State address on Jan. 7, saying that making government services more efficient and user-friendly will be a focus of his administration. To kickstart the effort, he signed an executive order dissolving five groups that hadn’t met in over a calendar year. As currently written, SB 2308 would dissolve 18 existing boards, with state agencies absorbing the boards’ duties and scope in some cases.

“I look forward to continuing to work on this bill with all of you to reduce the footprint of government and save North Dakota taxpayers money,” he said to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.

Governor receives Report to the State from Northern Lights Council of Scouting America 

Scouting America members delivered the Northern Lights Council's annual Report to the State to Gov. Armstrong on Wednesday, Feb. 6, in Bismarck. 

Nearly 5,200 members of Scouting America – which changed its name this week from Boy Scouts of America – were registered in Scouting programs in 243 units in the Northern Lights Council in 2024. Among their achievements: 

• 1,367 ranks earned by Cub Scouts
• 4,082 merit badges earned by Scouts
• Over 15,000 pounds of food collected and donated to local food pantries
• Over 50,000 community service hours reported.

Armstrong congratulated the Scouts for their accomplishments and thanked them for their contributions to their communities and the state. He also thanked the Scouting volunteers for committing their time and resources to developing strong leaders and good citizens.

North Dakota Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Capitol in Bismarck.

Lt. Gov. Strinden testifies in support of bills to support recovery and reentry, reduce recidivism

Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden testified before a legislative committee in support of three bills designed to support recovery and reentry of incarcerated individuals and reduce recidivism rates.

Strinden testified Feb. 5 before the House Judiciary Committee in support of House Bills 1425, 1417 and 1549. During the 2023-2025 interim, Strinden participated in a Reentry Study Work Group with legislators, leaders from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Department of Health and Human Services, court system officials, county jail experts and community reentry partners. The group examined data from the state’s criminal justice system to lay the groundwork for the legislation.

Strinden noted the study followed years of progress North Dakota has made in criminal justice reform, becoming a national leader in recovery and reentry to ensure people leave the criminal justice system better than when they arrived. The work group’s report found that drug and alcohol offenses and revocations are the primary drivers in an increase in prison admissions in North Dakota.

“The recommendations across these three bills support local law enforcement and prosecutors in using deflection and diversion practices – effectively interrupting misconduct early and intervening with treatment resources in cases where addiction and mental illness are the root cause,” Strinden said. “Provisions in these bills will also reduce barriers to reentry faced by people on community supervision; promote culturally responsive programming for people moving through the justice system; and support cross-agency collaboration to help justice-involved people secure medical coverage and state identification. The bottom line is we want to prepare those leaving the justice system to be ready to join our workforce, become our neighbors, attend our churches, and make our state better.”

Levi Bachmeier (left) and Patrick Sogard

Armstrong appoints Levi Bachmeier, Patrick Sogard to North Dakota Board of Higher Education

Gov. Kelly Armstrong appointed Levi Bachmeier of West Fargo and Patrick Sogard of Williston to four-year terms on the State Board of Higher Education starting July 1.

“Levi and Pat bring valuable experience in education policy, finance and operations to the State Board of Higher Education as our colleges and universities are being challenged by changing demographics and learning models. Our University System is still the best workforce recruiting tool we have, and we need our campuses to align their offerings with workforce needs, adapt to trend and thrive, not just survive,” Armstrong said. “We’re thankful for their willingness to serve and the passion for higher education shared by all the candidates.”

Bachmeier has served as business manager of the West Fargo School District since 2019. From 2016 to 2019 he served as an education policy adviser and policy director for then-North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Bachmeier previously taught social studies for two years with Teach for America and spent a summer as a policy analyst fellow at the U.S. Department of Education. A native of West Fargo, Bachmeier earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and currently serves on the North Dakota Board of Public School Education and North Dakota Career and Technical Education Board.

Sogard has chaired the board of American State Bank & Trust Co. in Williston since 2003, also serving as a trust officer from 2000 to 2005. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice from 1986 to 2000. A native of Alamo, N.D., Sogard studied at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned his bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and his law degree from the UND School of Law. He is a past board member of Mercy Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Elementary School, both in Williston, and currently serves on the board of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation.

Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

Armstrong: Senate confirmation of Burgum as Interior Secretary is good for ND and the nation

Gov. Armstrong released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm former Gov. Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior, making him the second North Dakotan to hold the position. Armstrong reached out to Burgum to congratulate him on his confirmation.

“The strong support Governor Burgum received throughout the confirmation process speaks volumes about his unique qualifications to serve as Secretary of the Interior,” Armstrong said. “His background in energy, tribal relations, national parks and other public lands makes him the right person at the right time to lead the Department of the Interior, which touches every aspect of our lives in North Dakota. Doug understands that safe, responsible development of our nation’s abundant natural resources is key to curbing inflation, growing the economy and paying down our national debt for future generations. He will be an incredible asset to the Trump administration and, as chair of the National Energy Council, will help usher in a new era of U.S. energy dominance that benefits all Americans with reliable, affordable power.”

Burgum is the first native North Dakotan to lead a U.S. Cabinet agency since former Gov. Ed Schafer led the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2008-2009 and the second North Dakotan to serve as Interior Secretary. Kintyre, N.D., native Tom Kleppe served as Interior Secretary in 1975. 

Governor, First Lady present 2025 North Dakota Governor's Awards for the Arts

Gov. Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong presented the 2025 North Dakota Governor's Awards for the Arts on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the North Dakota Heritage Center and Museum. 

For information about this year's award recipients, click the link below. 

IN OTHER NEWS

Gov. Armstrong highlighted the importance of oil and gas tax revenues to the state during a press conference highlighting a report by the Western Dakota Energy Association and North Dakota Petroleum Foundation.  Read the report

The governor had the chance to spend time with career and technical education (CTE) students at the Capitol, including testing a virtual reality welding machine. He noted the 21st century learning environments for CTE have a massive impact on students and help to develop the state's workforce.

Lt. Gov. Strinden toured the new State Laboratory under construction in the northeast corner of the Capitol grounds. Strinden chairs the Capitol Grounds Planning Commission. When completed next year, the state-of-the-art lab will house about 50 staff members from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services  and the Department of Environmental Quality.

On Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol, Armstrong noted North Dakota has a history of policy supporting people with disabilities living their lives independently, and the highest ratio of disabled employment to population in the U.S. at 51%.

Gov. Armstrong shared the story of how former Gov. Ed Schafer's old desk ended up back in the Governor's Office. Check it out on Armstrong's Facebook page. Read the story