The 2026 International Legislators’ Forum was held September 21–23, 2026, at the Jasper Hotel in Fargo, North Dakota. Lawmakers from Manitoba, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota met for three days of candid conversation about two issues shaping the region’s future: data centers and water.

Across the region, data center proposals raise questions about energy demand, land use, and economic development. Water ties the region together through shared rivers, supply and quality concerns, and competing demands. Delegates talked through how states and provinces can plan for both.

Consensus Council has convened the ILF since 2001. The Forum isn’t a place for speeches or votes. It gives legislators a trusted setting to build the working relationships that make regional cooperation possible.

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