Senate Bill 17-026 Summary

• Restructures the State Engineer's office by requiring it to be located within the state Capitol Complex and ensuring the position receives adequate operating budget and resources.

• Increases the fee for rating pipes, ditches, canals, and reservoir inlets/outlets from $25 per day to $75 per day for water infrastructure rating services.

• Updates language throughout water resources statutes to modernize terminology (e.g., changing "shall" to "may," using gender-neutral pronouns, updating references to entities and individuals).

• Authorizes the State Engineer to adopt new monitoring technology for satellite or telemetry-based systems if it accomplishes the same functions and is more cost-effective than existing systems.

• Repeals an obsolete statute requiring the State Engineer to survey and locate a ditch or canal on the Arkansas River under the direction of the Department of Corrections.