The Emergency Commission addresses state agency funding issues outside of legislative sessions where agency spending authority is granted (NDCC ch. 54-16). The members of the commission review and may grant approval for requests for unanticipated expenses or unforeseen circumstances that occur between legislative sessions. The Secretary of State serves as the secretary of the Emergency Commission, and is responsible for receiving requests, tracking and communicating the status of requests, and posting the meeting minutes.
The Emergency Commission reviews requests and approves or denies:
- Transfers between funds or line items in agency budgets
- Funds paid from a contingency fund appropriated by the legislature
- Action when there is an imminent threat to the safety of people due to disaster or an imminent financial loss to the state
- Acceptance and disbursement of federal funds or other funds not appropriated by the legislative assembly and which the legislative assembly has not indicated an intent to reject
Submit a Request
Requests may be submitted to the Emergency Commission by elected or appointed officers, boards, commissions, directors, or state employees having the authority to transfer or expend any money appropriated by the legislative assembly. Requests can be made at any point throughout the year and will be considered at the next scheduled meeting.
Agencies and institutions must submit their requests prior to accepting or obligating funds associated with the requests.
Submit requests through PeopleSoft GT eforms using the button below.
Refer to the Emergency Commission Request Guide for step-by-step instructions explaining how to submit an Emergency Commission Request via the PeopleSoft Finance eForms portal. It covers the process of entering required funding details, specifying budget line items, and finalizing your request submission.
The North Dakota Office of Management and Budget (OMB) coordinates with the Emergency Commission to review, analyze, and investigate all requests prior to making a recommendation for approval or disapproval to the commission.
Based on the action from the Emergency Commission and Legislative Budget Section, the Office of the Secretary of State communicates and updates the status of requests via PeopleSoft
Status emails are sent informing the requestor of the status of the request. Upon approval the request automatically flows to OMB to complete the technical piece of the process for the transfer of funds, change in appropriation authority, etc. requestors need to work with OMB to ensure changes and reports reflect the action as the commission intended.
Requests denied by the Emergency Commission can be brought forward during a regular legislative session by the requesting agency for consideration within their budget request.
Scheduled Meetings and Meeting Minutes
Emergency Commission Meeting
- Meeting Date: Monday, November 30, 2026
- Meeting Time: 2:00 p.m.
- Meeting Location: Governor's Conference Room (600 E Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck, ND)
- Link to Join Meeting Virtually: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/237700105168038?p=EWXx3PBv1rMS6kGTV4
- Public Meeting Notice Posting: View notice for Nov. 30, 2026 Emergency Commission Meeting
2026
- September 23, 2026 - Meeting Minutes
- June 15, 2026 - Meeting Minutes
- February 26, 2026 - Meeting Minutes
2025
- December 2, 2025 - Meeting Minutes
- September 10, 2025 - Meeting Minutes
- June 16, 2025 - Meeting Minutes
2024
- November 25, 2024 - Meeting Minutes
- September 9, 2024 - Meeting Minutes
- June 6, 2024 - Meeting Minutes
- March 11, 2024 - Meeting Minutes
2023
- November 28, 2023 - Meeting Minutes
- September 7, 2023 - Meeting Minutes
- June 20, 2023 - Meeting Minutes
2022
Additional Emergency Commission Information
By law, certain decisions made by the Emergency Commission also need the approval of the Legislative Budget Section Committee. Due to this requirement, meetings of the Emergency Commission are usually scheduled 7 to 14 days before meetings of the Legislative Budget Section Committee, which usually meets 4 times a year. The Governor can also call special meetings of the Emergency Commission, if needed. The Office of Management and Budget makes spending authority changes as directed by the Emergency Commission and the Legislative Budget Section Committee.
Members of the Emergency Commission are as follows:
Governor Kelly Armstrong
Chairman
Secretary of State Michael Howe
Secretary
Senator David Hogue
Majority Leader, Senate
District 38, Minot
Representative Mike Lefor
Majority Leader, House of Representatives
District 37, Dickinson
Senator Brad Bekkedahl
Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
District 1, Williston
Representative Don Vigesaa
Chairman, House Appropriations Committee
District 29, Cooperstown