Governor Kelly Armstrong mistakenly cuts $35 million in housing budget

In North Dakota, a significant budgetary error arose when Governor Kelly Armstrong accidentally vetoed $35 million from the state's housing budget on May 19, 2025. This mistake occurred as the governor aimed to reject only specific line items in Senate Bill 2014, particularly a $150,000 grant intended for a Native American homelessness liaison position. However, due to a staff markup error, the entire housing budget allocation was vetoed unintentionally, leading to widespread concern regarding the funding of housing programs and projects in the state. The implications of this veto could have far-reaching consequences for housing initiatives aimed at combating homelessness and developing housing solutions across North Dakota. Once the veto was realized, Armstrong emphasized that this was an honest mistake, expressing determination to correct the error promptly. A meeting was held between the governor's staff and the Legislative Council to discuss options to rectify the situation, indicating the need for a potential legislative response. Discussions around addressing the unintended veto highlighted the complexity of the legislative process, especially considering the governor's first term in office following his election in 2024. Legislative Council director John Bjornson noted that he had not witnessed a similar occurrence in his 37 years of service, marking the incident as extraordinary within North Dakota's political landscape. The state's legislature may have to return to Bismarck for a special session to amend the situation and ensure funding remains available for critical housing-related efforts. Governor Armstrong's office mentioned the hope of avoiding a special session, given its associated costs, but acknowledged that it might be necessary to restore the housing budget. If the legislature decides to act, it can override the veto, which would include the original intention of including funds for the Native American organization aimed at assisting the homeless. Given the limited days remaining in the legislative session, the urgency of correcting this mistake remains a pressing matter for both the governor's office and state legislators.