Delivering Results: Governor Armstrong's First Year in Office
Dear Friend,
As I complete my first year in office, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together for North Dakota. The results we’ve delivered didn’t happen by accident—they came from hard work, strong partnerships, and a clear focus on putting the people of our state first.
In just one year, we worked side-by-side with legislators, community leaders, and stakeholders to deliver real results. We advanced meaningful property tax relief and reform, enforced phone-free learning environments in our schools, supported our military, first responders, and disaster-impacted communities, and made targeted investments in mental health, recovery, and reentry services. We also moved major economic development projects forward, supported agriculture and energy, and strengthened partnerships with our Tribal Nations.
This first year laid a strong foundation for a safer, stronger, and more prosperous North Dakota—but there is more work ahead. Thank you for standing with me as we continue building a state where families can thrive and opportunities are strong. Together, we’re ensuring North Dakota remains the best place to work, live, and raise a family.
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Armstrong Promised Property Tax Relief — And We Got It Done.
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Governor Kelly Armstrong signed the largest property tax relief package in North Dakota history.
Thanks to strong leadership, the new law triples the primary residence tax credit from $500 to $1,600 a year — putting real money back in the pockets of North Dakota homeowners.
This reform delivers more than just relief. It also includes:
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A 3% cap on local property tax growth to encourage smart, responsible budgeting.
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Roughly 50,000 households - nearly 30% of those eligible for the increased credit - will pay no property tax on their primary residence for 2025.
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A sustainable funding model using earnings from the Legacy Fund — investing back into our people.
Governor Armstrong promised results, and he’s delivering. This package is working it reflects exactly what North Dakotans asked for — real, meaningful relief, not more empty promises.
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Protecting Classrooms. Prioritizing Learning.
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Governor Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Governor Michelle Strinden delivered another major win for North Dakota students, parents, and teachers.
All K-12 public schools in North Dakota implemented bell-to-bell phone-free classrooms—a powerful step to reduce distractions and refocus our schools on learning.
"This was one of the most impactful bills of last session. It’s about protecting classroom time, improving student mental health, and helping teachers do what they do best—teach," said Governor Armstrong.
It’s another example of common-sense leadership delivering real results for North Dakota families.
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Real Economic Opportunities
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Armstrong carried out bold, strategic investments in two of North Dakota’s critical industries: agriculture and energy.
To strengthen energy security and drive continued growth in the Bakken, we continued investing in the infrastructure that powers our economy. The state’s commitment to WBI’s Bakken East natural gas pipeline project will support long-term growth in our communities and keep North Dakota energy moving safely and efficiently.
In addition, Armstrong landed one of the largest ag processing projects in recent state history. Bringing Belgium-based potato processor Agristo to Grand Forks will add value to a key crop, create hundreds of jobs and reinforce North Dakota’s role as a global food producer.
Governor Armstrong is making sure North Dakota doesn’t just produce energy and ag products—we lead the way in adding value, creating jobs, and building a future of generational wealth for North Dakotans to come.
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Cutting Waste. Streamlining Government.
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Governor Armstrong is keeping his promise to make North Dakota’s government leaner, more efficient, and more accountable to taxpayers.
Last session, Armstrong championed the elimination of sixteen unnecessary boards and commissions and created a task force to review all 150+ state-level committees, councils, task forces, and commissions for duplication and inefficiency.
In addition, we created a DOGE task force, that will conduct an review of wasteful spending and identify ways to improve operations across all areas of state government in the interim.
With these reforms, Governor Armstrong is leading the charge for smarter, more focused government that respects your tax dollars.
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Tribal Engagement and Relationships
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In Armstrong's first year as governor, he kept his commitment to visit all five Tribal Nations and meeting directly with tribal leaders, elders, and community members. These conversations were about more than listening—they were about understanding priorities, identifying challenges, and working together on ideas that move our state forward.
These visits were productive conversations focused on real issues like housing, workforce development, public safety, health care, education, and infrastructure. We brought leaders from across state government to the table to break down silos, build relationships, and identify concrete opportunities for partnership.
Strong partnerships are built on mutual respect, trust, and consistent communication. By showing up, listening first, and staying engaged, we are laying the foundation for lasting progress and better outcomes for every North Dakotan.
This work doesn’t stop after year one—but it starts with leadership that shows up, builds trust, and moves forward together.
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Standing with Our Heroes: Military & First Responders
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Governor Armstrong delivered real results for those who serve—from National Guard members to the dispatchers who answer the call in every emergency.
This year, Armstrong signed key legislation to strengthen support for the North Dakota National Guard, including increasing the death benefit for fallen service members and expanding medical coverage for Guard members called to state active duty. He also championed major military infrastructure investments, including funding for a military gallery expansion at the North Dakota Heritage Center, new Guard readiness center in Williston, base improvements statewide, and funding for the Fargo National Cemetery.
Governor Armstrong also ensured that our first responders get the recognition and support they deserve— North Dakota officially recognizes dispatchers as first responders, granting them access to mental health benefits and the state’s Public Safety retirement plan.
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Investing in Safety, Second Chances, and Solutions
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Governor Armstrong achieved smart, conservative solutions to strengthen public safety, reduce recidivism, and expand access to critical behavioral health care across North Dakota.
He signed a trop of reentry-focused bills aimed at breaking the cycle of crime through recovery, accountability, and successful reintegration for those leaving prison or jail.
To support these efforts, lawmakers fully funded Free Through Recovery and Community Connect, two high-impact programs that help people get back on their feet and stay out of the justice system.
Armstrong also led efforts to relieve pressure on crowded facilities by partnering with Burleigh-Morton Detention Center to utilize existing jail space, launching a new reentry center in western North Dakota, and securing over $35 million to complete the Heart River Correctional Center for women in Mandan.
This is real leadership: investing in people, strengthening systems, and building safer, healthier communities across our state.
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Supporting North Dakotans During a Crisis
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In 2025, North Dakota faced major natural disasters and the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history—leaving many families uncertain through no fault of their own. My administration acted.
We moved quickly to support furloughed federal employees, service members, and their families by launching the Furloughed Federal Employee Relief Program through the Bank of North Dakota, providing short-term financial relief to cover essential expenses. We also protected access to food assistance by directing $915,000 in state funds to the Great Plains Food Bank to ensure families didn’t fall through the cracks.
In June, severe storms damaged critical agricultural infrastructure across our state. I declared a disaster and launched the Grain Storage & Facility Rebuilder Program, making nearly $37 million available in low-interest financing to help farmers and ranchers rebuild and keep harvest on track.
North Dakota didn’t cause these crises—but we took responsibility for standing with our people and delivering real help when it mattered most.
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A Few Highlights to Recap Year One
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Governor Armstrong’s leadership this year has laid the groundwork for a safer, more prosperous future—but we can’t keep up the fight without you.
Will you contribute today to support Governor Armstrong’s vision and ensure we continue making progress?
Donate now and stand with us as we build on this momentum.
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