The North Dakota House of Representatives narrowly rejected a bill that would have raised the interstate speed limit to 80 mph across the state. House Bill 1298 failed Thursday by just two votes, falling short of the 48 votes needed for passage.
The legislation had initially passed the House in its original form, which focused primarily on increasing the maximum speed limit. However, subsequent amendments to the bill ultimately led to its defeat when brought back for a final vote.
Bill Modifications Led to Rejection
After its initial approval in the House, lawmakers made significant changes to House Bill 1298. The amended version included provisions to increase speeding fines and other modifications that apparently altered the bill’s appeal to legislators.
These changes proved controversial enough to shift the balance of support, resulting in the bill failing to secure the required 48-vote threshold for passage. The final tally showed the legislation falling just two votes short of approval.
Impact on North Dakota Drivers
Had the bill passed, North Dakota would have joined a small group of states with speed limits of 80 mph or higher on interstate highways. Currently, the state maintains a 75 mph limit on interstate highways, which will now remain unchanged.
The proposed speed limit increase would have affected drivers across the state’s interstate highway system, potentially reducing travel times but raising questions about:
- Highway safety concerns
- Fuel consumption impacts
- Infrastructure maintenance requirements
Legislative Process and Next Steps
The bill’s journey through the North Dakota legislature highlights the complex nature of traffic law changes. Initially passing the House, the legislation underwent amendments that ultimately proved fatal to its chances.
The increased speeding fines included in the amended version likely played a role in changing some lawmakers’ positions on the bill. These fines would have created stronger penalties for drivers exceeding the new higher speed limit.
Supporters of higher speed limits may attempt to reintroduce similar legislation in future sessions, potentially with different approaches to address concerns that led to this bill’s defeat.
For now, North Dakota drivers will continue to observe the current 75 mph interstate speed limit, as the state’s lawmakers have effectively maintained the status quo through their rejection of House Bill 1298.
The narrow margin of defeat suggests that the issue of interstate speed limits remains contentious in North Dakota, with substantial support existing for both maintaining current limits and increasing them to match neighboring states with higher limits.
