This bill establishes a new wastewater infrastructure grant program under the North Dakota Century Code, specifically creating a section in chapter 23.1-07. The program will allow the Department of Environmental Quality to award grants to eligible entities, such as cities, counties, and water districts, for upgrading, replacing, or constructing wastewater infrastructure. The bill prioritizes entities that have experienced reductions in federal funding and are ready to commence projects. It also stipulates that grants cannot exceed 60% of the total project cost and limits communities to one grant per biennium. Additionally, a new subsection is added to section 23.1-07-06 to outline the department's responsibility to administer this grant program.

The bill includes provisions for a legislative management study during the 2025-26 interim to assess the feasibility of establishing a wastewater project fund for future grants. It authorizes the Department of Environmental Quality to borrow up to $9.7 million from the Bank of North Dakota to fund the grants, with specific allocations of $7.8 million and $1.9 million designated for eligible projects. The bill also requires entities receiving federal funding for the same projects to remit those funds for repaying the line of credit. Lastly, the bill is declared an emergency measure, indicating its immediate importance.