The bill amends section 61-05-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, which pertains to the formation of irrigation districts. It requires the Department of Water Resources to examine petitions, maps, and other relevant documents related to proposed irrigation districts, and to establish a time and place for a public hearing on the petition. The bill mandates that a notice of the hearing be filed with the county auditor and published in local newspapers for two consecutive weeks, with the hearing date set at least twenty days after the first publication.

Significantly, the bill introduces the requirement for the Department to assess the "probable cost" of the proposed irrigation works and to prepare a report that outlines the feasibility and practicability of the irrigation plan suggested by the petitioners. The previous requirement for a summary report showing the probable cost has been deleted. Additionally, the report must be filed with the county auditor and made available for public inspection, and it must be submitted to the electors of the proposed district at the hearing meeting.

Statutes affected:
PREFILED: 61-05-10
Enrollment: 61-05-10
INTRODUCED: 61-05-10