North DakotaState water officials pause drain project economic reviews through July 2027
For two years, state water officials cannot analyze assessment drain projects as lawmakers study the analysis formula and the cost threshold for requiring reviews.
What it does
State water officials may not analyze the economics of assessment drain projects during a temporary pause.
The commission may not require an economic analysis for an assessment drain project expected to cost one million dollars or less.
Lawmakers must study how these project analyses are calculated and the cost level used to require them, then report recommendations to the next Legislative Assembly.
Argument forThe pause could give lawmakers time to review how project costs are analyzed and recommend changes to the formula or cost threshold.
Argument againstThe pause could leave project sponsors without a state economic analysis, including for projects expected to cost more than one million dollars.
More detail
The State Water Commission and Department of Water Resources may not conduct economic analyses for assessment drain projects. This applies to assessment drain projects anywhere in North Dakota. The pause applies from August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2027.
The commission may not require an economic analysis for an assessment drain project expected to cost one million dollars or less. This applies to assessment drain projects expected to cost one million dollars or less.
Legislative Management must study the formula for economic analyses and the cost threshold for requiring them, then report its findings and recommendations. The study concerns economic analyses for assessment drain projects. The study takes place during the 2025–26 interim, and the report goes to the seventieth Legislative Assembly.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 11Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02Latest
- May 2Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 05/01Became Law
- May 1Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 1Signed by Speaker
- Apr 29Signed by President
- Apr 28Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 41 nays 6Major
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1218. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 25Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1218. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 25Second reading, passed, yeas 92 nays 1Major
- Apr 25Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 24Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Apr 11Conference committee appointed Kessel Enget Gerhardt
- Apr 7Conference committee appointed Hagert Novak Dockter
- Apr 7Refused to concur
- Apr 3Returned to House (12)
- Apr 2Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 25 nays 21Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1218. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 31Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Mar 28Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 1 0Minor
- Mar 13Committee Hearing 11:00
- Feb 20Introduced, first reading, referred Energy and Natural Resources CommitteeMinor
- Feb 19Received from House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1218. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 18Second reading, passed, yeas 89 nays 0Passed House
- Feb 17Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 14Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 11 0 2Minor
- Jan 30Committee Hearing 09:00
- Jan 10Introduced, first reading, referred Energy and Natural Resources CommitteeIntroduced
Environment & EnergyGovernment & Ethics