North Dakota Governor Declares Kratom Public Health Emergency, Calls Special Session
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued an executive order banning kratom statewide and called a special legislative session for September 2, 2026, to formalize regulation of the substance. Reports converge on the timeline and rationale but differ slightly in emphasis, with some outlets focusing on the immediate emergency ban and others on the legislative history of a failed 2025 ban attempt.
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong called a special session of the state Legislative Assembly, set for September 2, 2026, at the state Capitol, to address regulation of kratom, a plant substance linked to sedative effects and overdoses. The announcement came on or around August 3, 2026, following an executive order Armstrong issued declaring a public health emergency and prohibiting the sale, use, and possession of kratom products statewide, effective 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Attorney General Drew Wrigley displayed kratom-derivative products that remained legally available over the counter in the state at the time of the announcement. The move follows a failed 2025 legislative attempt to ban kratom, which was rejected in the House by a vote of 15-77. Senate Majority Leader David Hogue said Armstrong was intent on calling the special session after meeting with legislative leadership, and Hogue stated the Legislature should not wait months to act. Ten states have already banned kratom, according to multiple reports, and Armstrong said the issue was too urgent to wait for the 2027 regular legislative session. Reports differ on whether Military Gallery funding was formally added to the special session agenda, with one source describing it as a discussion topic alongside kratom rather than a confirmed item. Lawmakers are scheduled to convene September 2, 2026, to consider a statutory framework to regulate or prohibit the creation, manufacture, sale, and possession of kratom and kratom products, which would supersede or codify the governor's emergency order. It remains unresolved what specific legislative language will be proposed, whether the Military Gallery funding shortfall will be formally addressed in the same session, and what the outcome of the vote will be given the previous 2025 rejection. The North Dakota Legislative Branch confirmed the special session date but did not detail additional agenda items beyond the kratom measure.
SOURCE COMPARISON
How the coverage differs
Gov. Armstrong, lawmakers eye special session on kratom ban, Military Gallery funding
North Dakota Republican lawmakers are discussing a possible special session to ban the substance kratom and address a fundraising shortfall for the state Military Gallery, which has paused construction. Senate Majority Leader David Hogue said Governor Kelly Armstrong is intent on calling the special session after meeting with him and his staff.
Read original report ↗North Dakota Legislative Assembly to meet in special session September 2026
The North Dakota Legislative Assembly will meet in a special session on September 2, 2026, by executive order of the Governor to address the kratom ban and other matters. Effective dates of legislation from the 2025 regular session and January 2026 special session are now available on the legislature's website.
Read original report ↗North Dakota Second Special Session Scheduled for September
Gov. Kelly Armstrong issued an executive order convening a special session of the Legislative Assembly on September 2, 2026. Lawmakers considered enacting a statutory framework to regulate or prohibit the creation, manufacture, sale, and possession of kratom and kratom products.
Read original report ↗North Dakota governor calls special session to ban kratom
Gov. Kelly Armstrong called a special session on Aug. 3, 2026, to address kratom regulation, saying the plant is deadly when abused. The North Dakota Legislature previously attempted to ban kratom during the 2025 session but the measure failed 15-77 in the House. Lawmakers will convene Sept. 2 at the state Capitol.
Read original report ↗North Dakota Gov. Armstrong calls Legislature into special session to address kratom
Gov. Kelly Armstrong announced a special session of the North Dakota Legislature in response to concerns over the unregulated substance kratom, after previously issuing an executive order declaring a public health crisis. Attorney General Drew Wrigley displayed kratom-derivative products that remain legally available over the counter in the state.
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Gov. Mark Gordon issued Executive Order 2026-005, authorizing emergency relief permits for vehicles transporting oversize and overweight loads of livestock feed and livestock across Wyoming. The order responds to widespread drought, high temperatures, low humidity, and wildfires that have depleted pasture grass and created a critical livestock feed shortage threatening the state's agricultural sector.
Read original report ↗Wyoming governor OKs emergency relief permits amid livestock feed shortages
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has issued an executive order authorizing emergency relief permits for vehicles transporting oversize and overweight loads of livestock feed and livestock across Wyoming. The order comes in response to widespread drought, high temperatures, low humidity and wildfires across Wyoming this spring and summer.
Read original report ↗Wyoming News Briefs: Gordon issues emergency livestock feed transport order
Gov. Mark Gordon issued an executive order authorizing emergency relief permits for vehicles transporting oversize and overweight loads of livestock feed and livestock across Wyoming amid drought conditions. Gordon said Wyoming drought conditions have substantially impacted producers, including impacts to hay and forage production.
Read original report ↗North Dakota governor calls special session to ban kratom
Gov. Kelly Armstrong called a special session to address kratom, a plant that causes sedative effects in high doses, after a 2025 ban attempt failed in the House 15-77. Ten states have already banned kratom, and legislators will convene Sept. 2 at the state Capitol.
Read original report ↗North Dakota governor calls special session to ban kratom
Gov. Kelly Armstrong called a special legislative session on Aug. 3 to address a ban on kratom, a plant substance linked to overdoses in the state. Ten states have already banned kratom, and Armstrong said the issue is too urgent to wait for the 2027 regular session. Legislators will convene Sept. 2 at the state Capitol to take up the measure.
Read original report ↗North Dakota Governor bans Kratom statewide, declares public health emergency
Armstrong issued an executive order declaring a public health emergency and prohibiting the sale, use and possession of all kratom products in North Dakota, effective 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5. Senate Majority Leader David Hogue said the Legislature should not wait months to act, and North Dakota joins 10 states that have banned kratom.
Read original report ↗Gov. Reeves calls special legislative session
Gov. Tate Reeves issued a call to convene the Mississippi Legislature in special session on July 15, necessitated by the June 30 expiration of statutes relating to the disclosure of youth records and multiple related lawsuits. Reeves expressed optimism that both parties would support the common-sense legislation.
Read original report ↗Gov. Evers signs executive order calling Legislature into special session to ban partisan gerrymandering
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #285 calling a special session of the state Legislature to consider a constitutional ban on partisan gerrymandering. The move follows through on a commitment made during his 2026 State of the State address amid the absence of a permanent independent redistricting process for 2030.
Read original report ↗Governor Cox addresses redistricting decision, Utah Legislature special session
Utah Governor Spencer Cox addressed the state legislature's plan to challenge a district court ruling on congressional redistricting during his monthly press conference. Cox said he agrees with appealing Third District Judge Dianna Gibson's ruling that allowed Plaintiffs' Map 1 to move forward as Utah's congressional map for 2026 and announced he would call a special session.
Read original report ↗