BISMARCK, N.D. (AP Dec 3, 2012) – The North Dakota Legislature is preparing this week for the start of the 2013 session in January.

The organizational session started Monday. It ends Wednesday after Gov. Jack Dalrymple gives his budget recommendations to lawmakers.

Dalrymple says his budget will have a number of sweeping proposals. He says they’ll be in line with the agenda he talked about during his election campaign.

Lawmakers took their oaths of office Monday, and they picked out the desks they’ll use for the next five months.

Finley Rep. Bill Devlin was elected as the new speaker of the House, and Jamestown Sen. Terry Wanzek is the Senate’s new president pro tempore.

 

The biggest job for legislative leaders is to choose members for the committees that will review bills.