The proposed bill amends existing law regarding comprehensive water development plans in North Dakota by creating a new section that establishes a temporary moratorium on conducting economic analyses for assessment drain projects. Specifically, the bill prohibits the state water commission or the department of water resources from conducting such analyses between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027. Additionally, it allows for the commission to refrain from requiring life cycle analyses for municipal water supply projects or economic analyses for flood control and water conveyance projects if the costs are below $750,000.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that during the 2025-26 interim, the state water commission must study its formula for economic analyses related to assessment drain projects and report its findings and recommendations to the legislative management by August 1, 2026. The bill includes provisions for periodic updates to the legislative management and specifies that the new section will expire on July 31, 2027.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 61-02-01.3
Adopted by the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee: 61-02-01.3
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 61-02-01.3