Senate Bill 2139 Summary

• Increases state water commission cost-share eligibility for water supply projects to up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs.

• Prohibits the commission from using population growth or affordability factors to determine project eligibility, though these factors may be used for project prioritization.

• Expands the state water commission from seven to eight appointed members and adds the Little Missouri River, upper Heart River, and upper Cannonball River basin as a major drainage basin requiring representation.

• Excludes operations expenses and regular maintenance costs (including removal of vegetative materials and sediment) for water conveyance projects and assessment drains from state cost-share funding, with snagging and clearing of watercourses specified as not regular maintenance.

• Requires water project sponsors receiving state funding for extraordinary maintenance to establish a capital improvement fund from customer rates for future extraordinary maintenance projects.