North Dakota Governor to Unveil Budget Guidelines

Armstrong to present 2027-29 biennium directives to state agencies this week

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:33pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a state capitol building in warm, golden light, conveying the solemn and deliberative nature of the budget process.The release of the governor's budget guidelines kicks off North Dakota's annual fiscal planning process, setting the stage for negotiations over the state's next two-year spending plan.Bismarck Today

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong is set to release his budget guidelines for the upcoming 2027-2029 biennium this week. On Wednesday morning, he will present the executive budget directives to state agency leaders, which will inform their budget proposals that will then be used by Armstrong to craft his final executive budget recommendations to state legislators in December.

Why it matters

The release of the governor's budget guidelines kicks off the state's annual budget process, providing the first look at the administration's fiscal priorities and setting the stage for negotiations with the legislature over the next two-year spending plan.

The details

Armstrong will present the budget guidelines to North Dakota state agency leaders on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The guidelines will outline the administration's expectations and parameters for agency budget proposals, which will then be used by the governor to craft his final executive budget recommendations that he will present to state legislators in December.

  • Governor Armstrong will release the budget guidelines on Wednesday, April 9, 2026 at 11 a.m.
  • Agency budget proposals developed under the guidelines will be presented to the governor in the fall.
  • Armstrong will present his final executive budget recommendations to state legislators in December 2026.

The players

Governor Kelly Armstrong

The current Governor of North Dakota, responsible for releasing the budget guidelines and crafting the executive budget proposal.

North Dakota State Agencies

The state government departments and organizations that will use the governor's budget guidelines to develop their own budget proposals.

North Dakota State Legislature

The legislative body that will review and negotiate the final state budget based on the governor's executive recommendations.

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What’s next

After the budget guidelines are released, state agencies will have several months to craft their budget proposals using the governor's directives. The governor will then present his final executive budget recommendations to the state legislature in December 2026, kicking off the legislative budget process.

The takeaway

The release of the governor's budget guidelines marks the start of North Dakota's annual budget cycle, providing the first glimpse into the administration's fiscal priorities and setting the stage for negotiations with the legislature over the next two-year spending plan.