This bill seeks to strengthen regulations regarding well drilling and the installation of water well pumps, pitless units, and monitoring wells in North Dakota. It mandates compliance with standards set by the Department of Environmental Quality for all related construction and installation activities. A new water well contractors advisory board will be established to oversee the certification and regulation of water well contractors, ensuring that only certified professionals can conduct these operations, with specific reporting requirements for well completion. Additionally, the bill introduces a task force to evaluate the efficiency of various boards and commissions, aiming to streamline government operations, with a report due by October 1, 2026.

The bill also amends several sections of the North Dakota Century Code, including changes to the health information technology planning loan fund, which will now operate without the health information technology advisory committee. It modifies the duties of the health information technology office and establishes a poet laureate program. Furthermore, it redefines the "board" to the "board of water resources" in the context of weather modification operations, clarifying the powers and duties of the department overseeing these activities. The bill includes provisions for financial responsibility for permit holders and mandates public advertisement for contracts exceeding $10,000, while also repealing outdated laws to modernize the regulatory framework.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 6-09-43, 15.1-01-04, 15.1-02-04, 15.1-07-33, 23-35-02.2, 34-16-01, 34-16-02, 38-14.1-02, 38-14.1-14, 50-06-01.4, 52-02-02, 52-02-08, 54-07-01.2, 54-54-05, 54-59-26, 54-59-27, 54-59-39, 61-03-01.3, 61-04.1-03, 61-04.1-09, 61-04.1-12, 61-04.1-14, 61-04.1-15, 61-04.1-16, 61-04.1-17, 61-04.1-18, 61-04.1-19, 61-04.1-20, 61-04.1-21, 61-04.1-33, 61-04.1-34, 61-04.1-37, 61-04.1-38, 61-04.1-39, 65-02-03.1
Adopted by the Senate State and Local Government Committee: 6-09-43, 15.1-01-04, 15.1-07-33, 23-35-02.2, 50-06-01.4, 52-02-02, 52-02-08, 54-07-01.2, 54-54-05, 54-59-26, 54-59-27, 54-59-34, 54-59-36, 54-59-37, 54-59-39, 61-03-01.3, 61-04.1-03, 61-04.1-08, 61-04.1-09, 61-04.1-12, 61-04.1-14, 61-04.1-15, 61-04.1-16, 61-04.1-17, 61-04.1-18, 61-04.1-19, 61-04.1-20, 61-04.1-21, 61-04.1-33, 61-04.1-34, 61-04.1-37, 61-04.1-38, 61-04.1-39, 65-02-03.1
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 6-09-43, 15.1-01-04, 15.1-07-33, 23-35-02.2, 50-06-01.4, 52-02-02, 52-02-08, 54-07-01.2, 54-54-05, 54-59-26, 54-59-27, 54-59-34, 54-59-36, 54-59-37, 54-59-39, 61-03-01.3, 61-04.1-03, 61-04.1-08, 61-04.1-09, 61-04.1-12, 61-04.1-14, 61-04.1-15, 61-04.1-16, 61-04.1-17, 61-04.1-18, 61-04.1-19, 61-04.1-20, 61-04.1-21, 61-04.1-33, 61-04.1-34, 61-04.1-37, 61-04.1-38, 61-04.1-39, 65-02-03.1
Adopted by the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee: 6-09-43, 15.1-01-04, 15.1-07-33, 23-35-02.2, 50-06-01.4, 52-02-02, 52-02-08, 54-07-01.2, 54-54-05, 54-59-26, 54-59-27, 54-59-34, 54-59-36, 54-59-37, 54-59-39, 61-03-01.3, 61-04.1-03, 61-04.1-08, 61-04.1-09, 61-04.1-12, 61-04.1-14, 61-04.1-15, 61-04.1-16, 61-04.1-17, 61-04.1-18, 61-04.1-19, 61-04.1-20, 61-04.1-21, 61-04.1-33, 61-04.1-34, 61-04.1-37, 61-04.1-38, 61-04.1-39, 65-02-03.1
Adopted by the Conference Committee: 6-09-43, 15.1-01-04, 15.1-07-33, 23-35-02.2, 50-06-01.4, 52-02-02, 52-02-08, 54-07-01.2, 54-54-05, 54-59-26, 54-59-27, 54-59-34, 54-59-36, 54-59-37, 54-59-39, 61-03-01.3, 61-04.1-03, 61-04.1-08, 61-04.1-09, 61-04.1-12, 61-04.1-14, 61-04.1-15, 61-04.1-16, 61-04.1-17, 61-04.1-18, 61-04.1-19, 61-04.1-20, 61-04.1-21, 61-04.1-33, 61-04.1-34, 61-04.1-37, 61-04.1-38, 61-04.1-39, 65-02-03.1
Enrollment: 6-09-43, 15.1-01-04, 15.1-07-33, 23-35-02.2, 50-06-01.4, 52-02-02, 52-02-08, 54-07-01.2, 54-54-05, 54-59-26, 54-59-27, 54-59-34, 54-59-36, 54-59-37, 54-59-39, 61-03-01.3, 61-04.1-03, 61-04.1-08, 61-04.1-09, 61-04.1-12, 61-04.1-14, 61-04.1-15, 61-04.1-16, 61-04.1-17, 61-04.1-18, 61-04.1-19, 61-04.1-20, 61-04.1-21, 61-04.1-33, 61-04.1-34, 61-04.1-37, 61-04.1-38, 61-04.1-39, 65-02-03.1