HB 6318 Summary

• Establishes a new water management program process requiring water management boards to prepare and approve a water management plan with public notice and comment periods of at least 30 days, with posting requirements on county websites or drain commissioner websites.

• Creates a review and apportionment process for multi-county water management districts, allowing drain commissioners to request board of review for fairness determinations, replacing the previous commission-based apportionment system.

• Authorizes water management boards to enter water management program orders describing activities to be performed, acquire necessary lands through negotiation or condemnation, and levy assessments for operation and maintenance costs.

• Modifies bond issuance authority to allow water management districts to issue bonds payable from special assessments with principal maturities not exceeding 2.5 years after the final installment due date and not more than 30 installments.

• Allows county boards of commissioners to pledge limited tax full faith and credit for bond and note payments, and allows relinquishment of jurisdiction over water management program activities to counties, municipalities, or state agencies with board approval and public consent.