This bill seeks to improve floodplain management in North Dakota by introducing new definitions and responsibilities for local governing bodies, including county commissioners, city governing bodies, and township supervisors. It establishes the terms "floodplain management" and "floodplain management ordinance," and mandates that these ordinances apply to all individuals and properties within the jurisdictions, with certain exceptions. Additionally, any enacted ordinances must be submitted to the Department of Water Resources for inclusion in a central repository, ensuring that floodplain management practices are documented and accessible.

The legislation also amends existing laws to integrate floodplain management into emergency management frameworks and allows townships to exercise floodplain management authority through written resolutions. Townships can relinquish this authority back to the county if desired, and they must defend the county against claims related to their noncompliance with flood management laws. The bill further requires township clerks to certify floodplain management activities annually and establishes a publicly accessible electronic repository for local ordinances and agreements, promoting transparency and accountability in flood management efforts across the state.

Statutes affected:
PREFILED: 11-33-03, 40-05-01, 40-47-03, 58-03-12, 61-16.2-02
Adopted by the Senate State and Local Government Committee: 11-33-03, 40-05-01, 40-47-03, 58-03-12, 61-16.2-02
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 11-33-03, 40-05-01, 40-47-03, 58-03-12, 61-16.2-02
Enrollment: 11-33-03, 40-05-01, 40-47-03, 58-03-12, 61-16.2-02
INTRODUCED: 11-33-03, 40-05-01, 40-47-03, 58-03-12, 61-16.2-02