BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The head of the North Dakota Legislature's research arm says the number of bills filed before the start of the session is below average.
Legislative Council director Jim Smith says there are 260 bills and three resolutions filed ahead of the Legislature's Jan. 3 start.
Smith says the number of pre-filed legislative measures has averaged about 395 since 1981. A total of 254 legislative measures were filed before the start of the 2013 Legislature.
Senate Minority Leader Joan Heckaman says the meager number of measures may be due in part to the big number of new legislators who are still learning the ropes.
Smith says there are 35 new lawmakers, which is about twice the normal average to begin a session and the most since 1991 when there were 51.