A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 54-03.1-02 and 54-03.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the organizational session of the legislative assembly.

HB 1257 amends North Dakota's legislative code to set specific timing, duration, and agenda requirements for the organizational session of the state legislature. It requires all newly elected and continuing legislators to meet in Bismarck during the first two weeks of December in even-numbered years for a session lasting at least five business days. The bill mandates that the organizational session agenda include mandatory items like new legislator orientation, committee reports, party caucus discussions, budget presentations, and procedural reviews. This procedural bill directly affects all North Dakota state legislators by standardizing how the legislature prepares for its annual regular session. The changes aim to ensure the legislature is fully organized and ready to begin substantive work by the start of the regular session.