BISMARCK – A sponsoring committee proposing a constitutional measure related to public records, conflicts of interest, legislative salaries and lobbying has withdrawn its initiative.

The proposed initiative was submitted to the North Dakota Secretary of State Friday and withdrawn on Monday.

A proposed statutory measure also was submitted to the Secretary of State on Thursday that would allow tinted windows in vehicles. The sponsor is Jeremy-Isaac Schaeffer of Fargo. Court records show Schaeffer was fined for three tinted windows offenses in East Central District Court during 2023-24.

The Secretary of State and Attorney General have five to seven business days to draft petition titles for the proposed statutory initiative. Statutory measures require 15,582 signatures. Sponsors have a year to collect the signatures to get on the 2026 June primary ballot.

The proposed constitutional measure provided that lawmakers who fail to disclose conflicts of interest before voting on legislation could be prosecuted for misconduct and, if convicted, would not be eligible to serve in the Legislature. If convicted in civil court, other penalties could apply.

The North Dakota Legislature is debating a bill introduced by House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson that would give lawmakers immunity from criminal prosecution related to conflicts of interest if they disclose conflicts and follow legislative ethics rules. The bill also allows lawmakers who follow written guidance of the Ethics Commission to use that as a defense if they are prosecuted.

The bill’s introduction follows the misdemeanor conviction last year of Rep. Jason Dockter, R-Bismarck, who voted on budget bills that included building rent. Dockter was part owner of a building with space leased by two state agencies.

The proposed initiative also dealt with making communications between legislators public records, prohibiting legislators from benefiting from salary or per diem increases if enacted during their current terms, eliminating legislator eligibility for employment-related benefits such as health care and prohibiting a former legislator from lobbying on legislative matters until one full four-year term has elapsed since leaving office.

Jerol Gohrick, McGregor, is the chairperson of the sponsoring committee for the proposal that was withdrawn.