The bill amends the Drain Code of 1956 by updating the procedures for filing petitions to locate, establish, and construct drains within drainage districts. Key changes include the requirement that petitions must be signed by a sufficient number of freeholders whose lands would be liable for assessments, specifically half the number of freeholders whose lands would be traversed by the proposed drain. Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions that allow individuals soliciting signatures to provide freeholders with detailed information about the proposed drain, including funding details and instructions on how to withdraw their signatures.

Furthermore, the bill allows municipalities to sign petitions independently, provided they are authorized by their governing bodies and will be liable for a portion of the costs associated with the proposed drain. This change aims to streamline the process and reduce the reliance on individual freeholder signatures. The bill also clarifies the eligibility criteria for signers and the process for determining ownership of the lands involved, ensuring that only those freeholders with no unpaid taxes or assessments are counted in the petition process.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 280.71, 280.121