North Dakota AG Opinions, 2025

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneygeneral.nd.gov (701) 328-2210 LETTER OPINION 2025-L-03 The Honorable Michael Howe Secretary of State 600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 108 Bismarck, ND 58505-0500 Dear Secretary of State Howe: Thank you for your letter raising several questions about how the powers granted to the Secretary of State through the Constitution ofNorth Dakota and applicable state statutes, particularly those related to elections and campaign finance, interact with advisory opinions and administrative rules i

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneygeneral.nd.gov (701) 328-2210 Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-23 DATE ISSUED: December 5, 2025 ISSUED TO: Retirement and Investment Office CITIZEN’S REQUEST FOR OPINION Masaki Ova, a reporter for the Jamestown Sun, requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Retirement and Investment Office (RIO) violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by failing to provide a record. FACTS PRESENTED On November 18, 2024, Mr. Ova requested the video of the State Investment

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneygeneral.nd.gov (701) 328-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-O-22 December 5, 2025 Retirement and Investment Office CITIZEN’S REQUEST FOR OPINION Tory Jackson requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Retirement and Investment Office (RIO) violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by improperly responding to a request for records. FACTS PRESENTED On January 15, 2024, Mr. Jackson requested records regarding Legacy Fund investment

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DA TE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www. attorneygenera I. nd. gov (701) 328-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-21 December 5, 2025 North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Michelle Kommer requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by refusing to provide records pertaining to a water main break. FACTS PRESENTED On February 7, 2023, a wa

Drew H. Wrigley AT TORNEY GENERAL DA TE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www .a t t o rne y gen era l.n d .go v (70 1) 328 - 2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-20 December 5, 2025 Ward County Sheriffs Department CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Leon Brown IV requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Ward County Sheriff's Department violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by denying a request to release records, claiming an exemption under N.D.C.C.

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneygeneral.nd.gov (701) 3228-2210 Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-O0-19 DATE ISSUED: December 5, 2025 ISSUED TO: Burleigh County Commission CITIZEN’S REQUEST FOR OPINION Barb Knutson requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Burleigh County Commission violated N.D.C.C. §§ 44-04-19 and 44-04-20 by holding a meeting not preceded by public notice. FACTS PRESENTED The Burleigh County Commission (Commission) held a regular meeting on December 5, 2022.'

Drew H. Wrigley AT TOR NEY GEN ER AL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ww w. atto r n ey g e n e r a l . nd . go v (7 01 ) 328 - 221 0 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-18 December 5, 2025 Williston Council for the Aging, Inc. CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Edward Ennis requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Williston Council for the Aging, Inc. violated the open meetings and open records laws by failing to notice meetings, failing to provid

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www . attorneygeneral.nd . gov (701) 328-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-17 December 5, 2025 City of Parshall CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Jeff McDougald requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the City of Parshall violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by charging a fee and requiring payment prior to providing requested records, by unreasonably delaying without providing a denial or reason fo

Drew H. Wrigley AT TO RNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA O FFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL w w w.attorneygen e ral. n d go v ( 7 0 1) 328-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-16 December 2, 2025 West Fargo Police Department CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Levi Mayo requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the West Fargo Police Depaiiment violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by providing an excessive cost estimate of compliance with an open records request. FACTS PRESENTED On December

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneygeneral.nd.gov (701) 328-2210 Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-O-15 DATE ISSUED: December 2, 2025 ISSUED TO: Cass County Sheriff's Office CITIZEN’S REQUEST FOR OPINION Benjamin Longlet requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Cass County Sheriff's Office violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by asking him to identify himself as the individual who submitted an anonymous open records request. FACTS PRESENTED On September 22, 2022, a request for records wa

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED : ISSUED TO: STA TE O F NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www. atto rneygene r a I . nd. gov (701) 328-221 0 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-14 September 25, 2025 City of Parshall CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Toefishing@hotmail.com requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the City of Parshall violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18(2) by not responding to a request for records. FACTS PRESENTED On February 2, 2024, an email was sent to cityauditor@r

Drew H. Wrigley AT TORN EY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www . a tt o rne y g e ne r al.nd g ov ( 70 1) 328-221 0 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-13 September 10, 2025 Mandan Public School District CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Karen Jordan requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether Harlow's School Bus Service violated N.D.C. C. § 44-04-18 by refusing to release school bus routes associated with their contract with the Mandan Public

Drew H. Wri g ley ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneygene1·al.nd.gov (701) 328-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-12 September 10, 2025 Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Dr. Alan Lindemann requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center violated the open meetings laws by refusing public access to its May 31, 2022, and June 28, 2022, meetings. FACTS PRESENTED The Board of Directors ("Board") of the

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO : STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneygeneral . nd gov (701) 328 - 22 10 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-11 August 11, 2025 Pembina County Commission CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Robe1i Flemming requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Pembina County Commission violated N .D .C.C. §§ 44-04-20 and 44-04-19.1 by failing to properly notice an executive session and subsequently holding an unauthorized executive session

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.a tt o rne yg eneral .n d.g ov ( 701 ) 328 -2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-10 July 9, 2025 City of New Town CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Jacquelyn Halonen requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the City of New Town violated N.D.C. C. § 44-04-19 by asking city employees to leave during a meeting. FACTS PRESENTED The New Town City Council (City Council) held a regular m

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL Governor Kelly Armstrong Office of the Governor 600 East Boulevard Ave Bismarck, ND 58505-0100 Dear Governor Annstrong: www. atto rn eyg e ne ra I. n d. gov (701) 328-2210 LETTER OPINION 2025-L-02 Thank you for your email requesting my opinion regarding your item veto within Section 7 of Senate Bill 2014. 1 You asked whether the legally operative scope of your veto was constituted by the May 19, 2025, detailed, written statement of your objections to the

Drew H. Wrigley A TT ORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO : STATE OF N O RTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ww w .a t to rn ey g e ner a l . nd.go v ( 7 0 1) 32 8-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-09 June 10, 2025 Tioga Airport Authority CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Kathleen Neset requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Tioga Airport Authority violated N.D.C.C. §§ 44-04-20 and 44-04-18 by not properly noticing its August 19, 2024, special meeting and by

Drew H . Wr igley ATT O R..l'l"EY GEN ER AL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STA TE O F N O RTH DAKO TA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.atto r neygeneral . nd.gov (70 1) 328-22 10 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-08 March 7, 2025 City of Mandan CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION S. Paul Jordan requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C. C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the City of Mandan (City) violated N.D.C. C. § 44-04-18 by failing to respond to a records request within a reasonable time. FACTS PRESENTED On October

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORN EY GENE RAL DA TE ISSUED : ISSUED TO : STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www. atto rn eyg e ne ra I. nd .gov (701) 328-22 10 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025- 0-07 March 7, 2025 Milnor Public School District No. 2 CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Dr. Andrew Hennessey requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04- 21. l asking whether the Milnor Public School District No. 2 violated N.D.C.C . § 44-04- 18 by charging fees for copies of requested records not allowed by

Drew H. Wrigley ATTO RN EY GENER AL DA TE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF N O RTH DA KOT A OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www . at to rn eyge n e ra I . nd . gov (7 01 ) 328-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0 -06 March 7, 2025 Apple Creek Township CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Jamie Jacobson requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Apple Creek Township violated the open records and meetings laws by failing to properly notice a meeting and by failing to provide open records within

Drew H. Wrigley AT T ORN EY GENER AL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: ST A TE O F N OR T H D AK OT A OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www. a tt o rneyge ne ra I . nd .g ov (701) 328-22 10 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-05 March 7, 2025 Stanley Rural Ambulance District CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Ken Rensch requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Stanley Rural Ambulance District violated N.D.C.C. §§ 44-04-20, 44-04-19.2, and 44-04-19 by failing to properly notice an executive session, failing to pr

Drew H. Wrigley ATTO RNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF N ORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www. attorn eyge n era I. nd. gov (701) 328 -2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-04 March 6, 2025 HaITison Township CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Ron Loctao requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C. C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Harrison Township violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-18 by failing to properly respond to a request for records within a reasonable time. FACTS PRESENTED Ron Loctao sent an email to Harrison Tow

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DA TE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE O F N ORT H DAKOT A OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www. atto rneyg ene ra I. nd . go v (701) 328-2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025- 0-03 March 6, 2025 City of Great Bend CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Guy Otto requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the City of Great Bend violated N .D.C.C. § 44-04-20 by failing to properly notice city council meetings. FACTS PRESENTED The Great Bend City Council (City Council) is composed

S TATE OF N OR TH D AKO TA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL Drew H. Wrigley A TT OR N EY GENERAL The Honorable Todd Porter State Representative District 34 4604 Borden Harbor Drive SE Mandan, ND 58554-7961 Dear Representative Poiter: www. a tt o r n eyg e n er a I. n d . g ov (7 01) 328 - 2210 LETTER OPINION 2025-L-01 Thank you for your letter requesting my opinion about the reporting requirements of a political conunittee making expenditures for political purposes in the state ofN01th Dakota. Specifically, you asked whether a polit

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL DATE ISSUED: ISSUED TO: STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www.attorneyg e n era I. nd .gov (701) 328 - 2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-02 January 10, 2025 Metro Flood Diversion Authority Board CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Ingrid Harbo, with Forum Communications Company, requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Technical Dispute Review Board is subject to open meeting laws. FACTS PRESENTED On June 16, 2016, the cities of Fargo, North

Drew H. Wrigley ATTORNEY GENERAL STA TE O F N O RTH D AK O TA OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL www. attorneyg ene ra I. nd . gov (701) 328 - 2210 OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2025-0-01 DATE ISSUED: January 2, 2025 Lincoln City Council ISSUED TO: CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION Kathy Schneibel requested an opinion from this office under N.D.C. C. § 44-04-21.1 asking whether the Lincoln City Council violated N.D .C. C. §§ 44-04-20, 44-04-19.2, and 44-04-19.1 by failing to properly notice an executive session, failing to properly anno