Sine Die or the Final Gavel of Session

Cue the music... "Closing time, open all the doors and let you out into the world, Closing time, turn all of the lights on over every boy and every girl."

After 74 days of policy-making, negotiating, amending, and plenty of floor speeches, the 2025 North Dakota Legislative Session has officially adjourned sine die—Latin for “without another day.” That means lawmakers are done… for now.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
Every bill has either crossed the finish line—or hasn’t. Here's how it plays out:

If a Bill Was Defeated

• If a bill failed in either the House or the Senate, its journey is over. It won’t go to the Governor, and it won’t become law. Done and dusted.

If a Bill Passed Both Chambers
These are the bills headed to the Governor's desk. Over 600 bills are or have headed that way, and we expect the Governor to sign off on close to 550 of them. But signing isn’t the only option:

• Sign it: Becomes law.
• Veto it: It dies. Since the Legislature has adjourned, there’s no chance to override unless they're called back (see below).
• Do nothing: If the Governor doesn’t act within 15 days (excluding Sundays), the bill automatically becomes law—even without a signature.

Could Lawmakers Be Called Back?
Yes—though it’s rare. Legislative leadership intentionally saved six days of their constitutionally allotted 80-day session. These are reserved for special circumstances only—things like emergency funding, federal stimulus, or judicial decisions (think: redistricting or budget rulings).

If the legislative leaders call them back in, any use of those days would eat into that saved time. If the Governor calls them back, they would not use their saved days. 

What’s Next for GNDC?
We’re not done just because the gavels are down. Now comes the deep dive: We’ll be analyzing every bill that made it—and those that didn’t. We’ll review voting records and identify which legislators stood strong for business. We’ll highlight key wins for North Dakota’s business climate and flag missed opportunities. Yes, there were successes. But opportunities were also left on the table—notably in housing solutions and apprenticeship program support. Those conversations aren’t over; they’ll be top of mind heading into the interim and next session.

📅 Save the Date – June 5: GNDC Legislative Report
Join us for our member-exclusive Legislative Report event where we’ll unpack:

• What new laws mean for your business
• What’s coming next
• And who earned the title of Chamber Champion

This is the post-session playbook your business needs. 10 - 11 AM CDT - Registration is open for member. 

So, after 74 days of lawmaking, the ball is in the Governor’s court. We’ll be watching—and keeping you informed—every step of the way.