ND HB1140

Amends section 54-12-08.1 of the North Dakota Century Code to increase the threshold for attorney general approval from $150,000 to $1 million for civil cases involving special assistant attorneys general compensated by contingent fee arrangements.

Requires emergency commission approval for any contingent fee arrangement in civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $1 million.

Mandates that state governmental entities seeking to contract for legal services with contingent fee compensation must receive an appointment from the attorney general for a special assistant attorney general for each case.

Protects proceedings and information reviewed by the emergency commission from public disclosure under open records laws, unless the commission orders otherwise.

Passed with strong bipartisan support: House vote 88-6, Senate vote 46-0 (with 1 absent).