Legislature rejects Dem-led attempts to add childcare, data center moratorium for special session
North Dakota Democratic lawmakers attempted to introduce a bill for a temporary moratorium on data center permitting during a special legislative session. The proposal, which called for a pause until June 2027, was rejected by the Republican-led House and blocked in the Senate. Lawmakers cited the need for further discussion on both benefits and concerns related to data centers.
North Dakota Democratic lawmakers' efforts to introduce a temporary moratorium on data center permitting were rejected by the state's Republican-led Legislature during a special session. House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, and Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, advocated for the introduction of bills, including one for a data center moratorium and another for childcare funding.
Rep. Gretchen Dobervich, D-Fargo, specifically attempted to introduce a data center permitting moratorium bill, which would have paused permitting until June 2027. She stated that "Data centers are not a black and white issue" and acknowledged both benefits and legitimate concerns across North Dakota. A similar attempt by Sen. Ryan Braunberger, D-Fargo, in the Senate was blocked by Majority Leader Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot.
The House rejected the moratorium bill motion on a 68-25 vote. House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, and Rep. Matthew Ruby, R-Minot, indicated that there wasn't enough time to delve into such complex issues during the short special session, suggesting that other legislative committees were already studying related matters. Sen. Jamie Selzler, D-Fargo, expressed disappointment, stating that Republicans were "not listening" by refusing to even discuss these bills.