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HB 1218

Discrimination; anti-Semitism; certain definition; purposes; construing provisions; effective date; emergency.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Avery Frix and 1 co-sponsor

The bill pauses economic analyses for assessment drain projects from Aug 1, 2025 to Jul 31, 2027 and directs a study to adjust the analysis formula and thresholds.

Emergency added
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Bill Summary · HB 1218

Summary — HB 1218 (North Dakota, 69th Legislative Assembly)

Status: Enacted and filed with the Secretary of State on May 2, 2025 (introduced Nov 12, 2024).

Purpose

HB 1218 temporarily pauses the State Water Commission’s (and Department of Water Resources’) use of economic analyses for “assessment drain” projects while directing a study of the economic-analysis formula and the cost threshold that triggers such analyses. It also revises certain provisions of the commission’s comprehensive water development planning statute.

Key provisions

  • Amendment to NDCC § 61‑02‑01.3 (Comprehensive water development plan)

    • Requires the commission to maintain a biennial, river‑basin‑organized comprehensive water development plan including an inventory of future projects for budgeting and planning.
    • Directs the commission to develop policies/procedures (including for commissioner‑hosted basin meetings) to facilitate local project sponsor participation and prioritization and to assist education on life‑cycle and economic analyses for larger projects (those expected to cost more than $1,000,000).
    • Prohibits the commission from requiring an economic analysis for an assessment drain project expected to cost $1,000,000 or less.

  • New moratorium section (new section to chapter 61‑02)

    • Between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027, the State Water Commission and the Department of Water Resources are prohibited from conducting economic analyses for assessment drain projects anywhere in the state.

  • Legislative Management study/report

    • During the 2025–26 interim the Legislative Management is charged to study:
    • the formula used to conduct economic analyses on assessment drain projects; and
    • the projected cost threshold that should trigger an economic analysis.
    • The Legislative Management must report findings and recommendations, including any draft legislation, to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.

  • Expiration

    • The moratorium provision is expressly effective only through July 31, 2027.

Who is affected

  • State Water Commission and Department of Water Resources (procedures and analyses).
  • Local project sponsors and drainage/assessment districts whose projects would otherwise be subject to economic analyses.
  • Landowners, local governments, and taxpayers in areas considering assessment drain projects (potential delays in project review/assessment decisions).
  • Legislative Management (tasked with study and reporting).

Timing / Procedural notes

  • Moratorium window: Aug 1, 2025 – Jul 31, 2027.
  • Interim study period: 2025–26 interim with a report to the Seventieth Legislative Assembly.
  • The $1,000,000 cost threshold for requiring economic analyses and the moratorium are the principal immediate operational changes.

Potential impacts (practical)

  • Short‑term: pauses formal economic review of assessment drain projects, which may delay project advancement, local assessments, or state cost/benefit determinations.
  • Medium‑term: could change how economic value and cost‑sharing for drains are calculated if the study leads to revised formulas or thresholds.
  • Fiscal: no detailed fiscal note in the bill text; primary effects are procedural and regulatory.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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