The bill amends the Drain Code of 1956 by updating sections 135 and 197 to clarify the procedures for adding or removing counties from drainage districts. It specifies that after a drain is constructed, counties may be added to or removed from the drainage district, and outlines the process for initiating such changes through a petition to the drain commissioner. The petition must be signed by a specified number of freeholders or municipalities, and it must detail the counties and lands involved. The bill also mandates that the drain commissioner provide notice of the petition to relevant parties and convene a drainage board meeting to consider the petition.

Additionally, the bill revises the procedures for reviewing drainage district boundaries, including the roles of licensed professionals in surveying and the requirements for notifying affected landowners. It establishes that if the drainage board determines that changes to the district boundaries are necessary, they must file an order detailing the changes and the apportionment of costs among counties. The bill also allows for appeals regarding the addition or removal of counties to an arbitration board, ensuring that the process is transparent and equitable for all stakeholders involved.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 280.135, 280.197