Senate Bill No. 2199 Summary

• Increases maximum annual special assessment levies for drainage project maintenance from one dollar to two dollars per acre on agricultural lands and from one dollar to two dollars per five hundred dollars of taxable valuation on nonagricultural property.

• Adds definition of "costs of the frivolous complaint" to include all reasonable construction, legal, engineering, inspection, and hearing-related costs associated with proceedings to remove drain obstructions, noncomplying dikes or dams, or close noncomplying drains.

• Authorizes water resource boards to assess costs of frivolous complaints against complainants in proceedings involving obstruction removal, noncomplying dikes or dams, and drain closure disputes.

• Clarifies that water resource boards may assess costs against responsible landowners regardless of whether the board performs removal work or a party complies with a board order.

• Applies changes to assessment levels and frivolous complaint provisions across multiple sections of North Dakota drainage and water resource district law.