The bill seeks to modernize the governance and operational procedures of water development districts in South Dakota by amending several sections of the existing law. It establishes specific water development districts, including the Central Plains, East Dakota, James River, South Central, West Dakota, West River, and Vermillion Basin districts, each defined by county and township boundaries. The bill outlines the procedures for forming these districts, including petition requirements, voting processes, and the responsibilities of the Board of Water and Natural Resources. Additionally, it details the governance structure, specifying the number of directors based on population size, the election process, and provisions for staggered terms and adjustments as populations change.

Key amendments also focus on financial management, including the ability to levy taxes and special assessments, the establishment of a capital reserve fund, and requirements for conducting audits. The bill clarifies the budget adoption process, requiring boards to submit certified copies of tax levies and budgets to tax collecting officials and the Department of Revenue by October 1st. It also mandates that tax collecting officials extend the levy or special assessments on the tax list and collect these amounts for deposit with the district treasurer. Furthermore, the bill repeals certain sections that are deemed outdated, streamlining financial processes to enhance efficiency and accountability within water development districts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/17/2025: 46A-3A-1, 46A-3A-1.1, 46A-3A-2, 46A-3A-3, 46A-3A-4, 46A-3A-5, 46A-3A-6, 46A-3A-7, 46A-3A-7.1, 46A-3A-8, 46A-3A-9, 46A-3A-10, 46A-3A-11, 46A-3A-12, 46A-3A-13, 46A-3A-14, 46A-3A-15, 46A-3A-16, 46A-3A-17, 46A-3B-1, 46A-3B-2, 46A-3B-2.1, 46A-3B-3, 46A-3B-4, 46A-3B-5, 46A-3B-6, 46A-3B-7, 46A-3B-8, 46A-3B-9, 46A-3B-10, 46A-3B-11, 46A-3B-12, 46A-3C-1, 46A-3C-2, 46A-3C-3, 46A-3C-4, 46A-3C-5, 46A-3C-6, 46A-3D-1, 46A-3D-2, 46A-3D-3, 46A-3D-4, 46A-3D-5, 46A-3D-6, 46A-3D-7, 46A-3D-8, 46A-3D-9, 46A-3D-10, 46A-3D-11, 46A-3D-12, 46A-3E-1, 46A-3E-2, 46A-3E-3, 46A-3E-4, 46A-3E-5, 46A-3E-6, 46A-3E-7, 46A-3E-8, 46A-3E-9, 46A-3E-10, 46A-3E-11, 46A-3E-12, 46A-3E-13, 46A-3E-14, 46A-3B-13, 46A-3D-13, 46A-3E-15
House Engrossed, 01/30/2025: 46A-3A-1, 46A-3A-1.1, 46A-3A-2, 46A-3A-3, 46A-3A-4, 46A-3A-5, 46A-3A-6, 46A-3A-7, 46A-3A-7.1, 46A-3A-8, 46A-3A-9, 46A-3A-10, 46A-3A-11, 46A-3A-12, 46A-3A-13, 46A-3A-14, 46A-3A-15, 46A-3A-16, 46A-3A-17, 46A-3B-1, 46A-3B-2, 46A-3B-2.1, 46A-3B-3, 46A-3B-4, 46A-3B-5, 46A-3B-6, 46A-3B-7, 46A-3B-8, 46A-3B-9, 46A-3B-10, 46A-3B-11, 46A-3B-12, 46A-3C-1, 46A-3C-2, 46A-3C-3, 46A-3C-4, 46A-3C-5, 46A-3C-6, 46A-3D-1, 46A-3D-2, 46A-3D-3, 46A-3D-4, 46A-3D-5, 46A-3D-6, 46A-3D-7, 46A-3D-8, 46A-3D-9, 46A-3D-10, 46A-3D-11, 46A-3D-12, 46A-3D-13, 46A-3E-1, 46A-3E-2, 46A-3E-3, 46A-3E-4, 46A-3E-5, 46A-3E-6, 46A-3E-7, 46A-3E-8, 46A-3E-9, 46A-3E-10, 46A-3E-11, 46A-3E-12, 46A-3E-13, 46A-3E-14, 46A-3B-13, 46A-3E-15
Enrolled, 02/18/2025: 46A-3A-1, 46A-3A-1.1, 46A-3A-2, 46A-3A-3, 46A-3A-4, 46A-3A-5, 46A-3A-6, 46A-3A-7, 46A-3A-7.1, 46A-3A-8, 46A-3A-9, 46A-3A-10, 46A-3A-11, 46A-3A-12, 46A-3A-13, 46A-3A-14, 46A-3A-15, 46A-3A-16, 46A-3A-17, 46A-3B-1, 46A-3B-2, 46A-3B-2.1, 46A-3B-3, 46A-3B-4, 46A-3B-5, 46A-3B-6, 46A-3B-7, 46A-3B-8, 46A-3B-9, 46A-3B-10, 46A-3B-11, 46A-3B-12, 46A-3C-1, 46A-3C-2, 46A-3C-3, 46A-3C-4, 46A-3C-5, 46A-3C-6, 46A-3D-1, 46A-3D-2, 46A-3D-3, 46A-3D-4, 46A-3D-5, 46A-3D-6, 46A-3D-7, 46A-3D-8, 46A-3D-9, 46A-3D-10, 46A-3D-11, 46A-3D-12, 46A-3D-13, 46A-3E-1, 46A-3E-2, 46A-3E-3, 46A-3E-4, 46A-3E-5, 46A-3E-6, 46A-3E-7, 46A-3E-8, 46A-3E-9, 46A-3E-10, 46A-3E-11, 46A-3E-12, 46A-3E-13, 46A-3E-14, 46A-3B-13, 46A-3E-15