North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong intended to veto just a couple of line items in a budget bill passed by the legislature. Instead, he mistakenly axed the entire $35 million housing budget.

The error, confirmed Monday, has left the state scrambling to figure out how to respond. “I have no recollection of anything like this happening in the 37 years I’ve been here,” said John Bjornson, director of the legislative council. “So, yeah, I’d say it’s a little extraordinary.”

The misstep happened with Senate Bill 2014, and Armstrong’s team quickly labeled it a markup error. In a statement, the governor’s office called it an honest mistake and said it would be corrected. Staff met with legislative officials Thursday morning to discuss potential fixes.

Armstrong, a Republican elected in 2024 after serving three terms in Congress, had intended to veto a much smaller portion of the budget: a $150,000 grant that would fund a Native American homelessness liaison position. The broader housing budget veto is now scheduled to take effect July 1 unless reversed.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.

This week also saw Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen fumble a veto. On Wednesday, Pillen announced he was cutting $47 million in budget items, including $12 million for the state Supreme Court. But by Thursday, Nebraska legislative leaders responded that he had missed the 5-day filing deadline and that those items are now law. Pillen’s office claimed it followed the correct procedure and would consult with the state attorney general.

Back in North Dakota, the path forward remains murky. According to Bjornson, the next step is largely up to the governor. Armstrong may need to call a special session of the legislature to correct the mistake—something his office said they want to avoid to save taxpayer money.

If the legislature opts to override the veto, that would reinstate not only the $35 million housing budget but also the $150,000 grant Armstrong wanted to cut. Should lawmakers prefer to fund only the housing budget, they may need to pass a fresh bill, a process Bjornson says could take three days.

The legislature still has six days left within its 80-day session limit, which means a special session remains a viable—if politically sensitive—option. It could also open the door for lawmakers to challenge other vetoes. Armstrong has already vetoed all or part of four bills during his first legislative session as governor.