This bill appropriates $75,000 from the general fund to the agriculture commissioner for a one-time study on the potential benefits of expanding irrigation in North Dakota. The funding is designated for the biennium from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, and will be used to contract with a consultant. The study will focus on various aspects, including the economic benefits of increased irrigation, the consequences of not implementing irrigation infrastructure as per the Pick-Sloan Flood Control Act of 1944, and comparisons between irrigated and non-irrigated land, as well as subsurface water management systems.

Additionally, the agriculture commissioner is required to present the findings and recommendations of the study, along with any proposed legislation needed to implement these recommendations, to the legislative management before July 1, 2026. This initiative aims to assess and enhance irrigation practices in the state, potentially leading to improved agricultural productivity and economic growth in rural communities.