Lawmakers receive committee assignments for 2025 legislative session

State Capitol in Bismarck (Tasha Carvell, KFGO News)

By: Michael Achterling

BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – Members of the North Dakota Legislature received their committee assignments as part of the organizational session last week.

During a pre-session meeting, Rep. Don Vigesaa, R-Cooperstown, a member of the legislative Committee on Committees, told members of the Republican caucus Wednesday that the approaching term-limit turnover in 2028 factored into the committee assignments.

“We felt we had to start positioning people in spots where they will be here for enough time to gain some experience in these various committees,” Vigesaa said.

He said even though lawmakers may not have received their top picks for committee assignments, he believes the legislators will be actively engaged and embrace their new roles.

“I don’t expect any different from this body of legislators,” Vigesaa said.

All committee leadership positions are held by Republicans in the Republican supermajority Legislature. The Democratic-NPL Party hasn’t held a majority in either legislative chamber since 1993, which is the last time the party held a committee chairmanship outside of the interim.

Chairs and vice chairs for the standing committees of the 2025 legislative session are:

Appropriations 

• Senate: Brad Bekkedahl, chair / Robert Erbele, vice chair
• House: Don Vigesaa, chair / Keith Kempenich, vice chair

Appropriations – Education and Environment

• Senate: Ronald Sorvaag, chair
• House: Mike Nathe, chair / Steve Swiontek, vice chair

Appropriations – Government Operations

• Senate: Terry Wanzek, chair
• House: David Monson, chair / Mike Brandenburg, vice chair

Appropriations – Human Resources

• Senate: Dick Dever, chair
• House: Jon O. Nelson, chair / Gregory Stemen, vice chair

Education

• Senate: Todd Beard, chair / Randy Lemm, vice chair
• House: Pat Heinert, chair / Cynthia Schreiber-Beck, vice chair

Taxation

• Senate: Mark Weber, chair / Dean Rummel, vice chair
• House: Craig Headland, chair / Jared Hagert, vice chair

Industry, Business and Labor

• Senate: Jeff Barta, chair / Keith Boehm, vice chair
• House: Jonathan Warrey, chair / Mitch Ostlie, vice chair

Judiciary

• Senate: Diane Larson, chair / Bob Paulson, vice chair
• House: Lawrence Klemin, chair / Karen Karls, vice chair

Human Services

• Senate: Judy Lee, chair / Kent Weston, vice chair
• House: Matt Ruby, chair / Kathy Frelich, vice chair

Energy and Natural Resources

• Senate: Dale Patten, chair / Greg Kessel, vice chair
• House: Todd Porter, chair / Dick Anderson, vice chair / Anna Novak, vice chair

Transportation

• Senate: David Clemens, chair / Claire Cory, vice chair
• House: Dan Ruby, chair / Jim Grueneich, vice chair

State and Local Government

• Senate: Kristin Roers, chair, Jose Castaneda, vice chair

Workforce Development

• Senate: Mike Wobbema, chair / Michelle Axtman, vice chair

Agriculture and Veterans Affairs

• Senate: Larry Luick, chair / Janne Myrdal, vice chair

Agriculture

• House: Mike Beltz, chair / Dori Hauck, vice chair

Government and Veterans Affairs

• House: Austen Schauer, chair / Bernie Satrom, vice chair

Political Subdivisions

• House: Donald Longmuir, chair / Clayton Fegley, vice chair / Jim Jonas, vice chair