This bill amends existing laws related to irrigation projects in Wyoming, specifically allowing irrigation districts, watershed improvement districts, and water conservancy districts to allocate a portion of their annual funding for major maintenance projects. The amendments to W.S. 41-3-771, 41-7-402(a), and 41-8-121(a) introduce provisions that permit up to ten percent (10%) of the annual funds raised to be directed towards major maintenance for critical aging irrigation infrastructure projects identified by the Wyoming water development office. Additionally, all funds allocated for these major maintenance projects must be held in a separate major maintenance account, which can be invested in the local government investment pool as per existing regulations.

The bill also outlines the procedural requirements for the assessment and collection of taxes to support these initiatives, ensuring that the assessments for major maintenance projects are treated distinctly from general county levies. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2026, allowing districts time to prepare for the implementation of these new funding provisions.

Statutes affected:
26LSO-0188 v0.4: 41-3-771, 41-7-402, 41-8-121