federal policies on health care and trade are likely to continue to color North Dakota’s biggest government stories in 2026. Congress and the Trump administration are spending money in an attempt to help the rural health care system and farm economy to offset cuts to Medicaid and declining ag commodity prices.
It’s also an election year, featuring ballot measures and a U.S. house race in North Dakota. And the Theodore Roosevelt presidential library plans its grand opening in conjunction with the nation’s milestone 250th anniversary.
Special session
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Gov. Kelly Armstrong has set Jan. 21 as the date for a special legislative session to allocate federal rural health funding that was part of what Republicans called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025.
North Dakota was awarded $199 million after applying for its share of the federal funding. One North Dakota policy change prompted by the competition for federal funding was prohibiting the use of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to buy candy and junk food. The new restrictions are expected to be implemented by September 2026.
North Dakota receives $199 million in federal grant for rural health care
North Dakota’s request for funds from the Rural Health Conversion Program focused on four areas: workforce; preventive care and healthy eating; bringing high-quality health care closer to home; and improving health care technology.
Once lawmakers gather at the Capitol, they could propose bills addressing other issues. But legislative leaders have said they plan to limit the scope of the session, and rules require that a two-thirds majority in each chamber must agree that the topic should be considered.
Election
North Dakota’s only U.S. House seat and a potential statewide vote on making school meals free for students are likely to be the top races in 2026, but there are many more. More than half of the Legislature’s seats are up for election, and there are local races for seats on school boards, judgeships and other positions.
U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, a Republican in her first term, plans to run for reelection and has already received President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Republican Alex Balazs, w
North Dakota News in Brief: Library Opening & Energy Outlook
North Dakota is preparing to open a new library and museum dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt in Medora.The library will house a collection of Roosevelt’s writings and historical documents. Library Foundation board member, Goodwin, plans to attend the opening, along with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who supported the project while governor.
The state hopes the museum will attract more tourists to Medora, a town with fewer than 200 people. The museum celebrates Roosevelt’s time ranching in the Badlands and his legacy as a president.
energy
North dakota is the third-largest oil-producing state and gets over half of its income from oil and gas taxes. Oil production has remained fairly steady, but oil prices are having trouble staying at the level the state predicted.
North Dakota oil production resilient even as prices have declined
Experts are watching two carbon dioxide gas storage projects: Minnkota Power’s Project Tundra and the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. These projects involve storing carbon dioxide underground to reduce greenhouse gases.
sequestration is the permanent storage of greenhouse gases underground.