This bill amends the North Dakota Century Code to modernize the state's coordinate systems by introducing the North Dakota statewide coordinate system of 2022 and the North Dakota low-distortion coordinate system of 2022. It establishes a single statewide zone for the new coordinate system and creates sixteen low-distortion projection zones linked to specific counties. The bill updates definitions and descriptions of the coordinate systems, including the origins and projections for the previous systems from 1927 and 1983, ensuring precise geographic positioning across the state.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that all maps, reports, or documents using the North Dakota coordinate systems must comply with accuracy standards set by the national ocean survey/national geodetic survey. It requires that coordinates defining land boundaries be connected to the national spatial reference system and certified by a registered professional land surveyor, thereby enhancing the reliability and consistency of public records and land descriptions. The bill effectively removes references to the outdated 1927 and 1983 coordinate systems, streamlining the legal framework governing geographic coordinates in North Dakota.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 47-20.2-01, 47-20.2-02, 47-20.2-05, 47-20.2-06