ND SB2372

All water districts within the Red River, James River, Mouse River, Missouri River, and Devils Lake drainage basins must form and remain members of joint water resource boards organized by drainage basin, with agreements filed with the department of water resources.

County commissioners in these drainage basins may approve a tax levy not exceeding two mills on real property valuation within each joint board's respective drainage basin.

Water resource boards may create project assessment districts and levy special assessments when at least 50 percent of project construction costs are paid by federal or state agencies, with streamlined procedures replacing certain hearing requirements.

Districts from two or more counties may jointly construct projects or assign benefits and assessments by creating a joint board before constructing projects that span multiple counties.

Upon successful assessment votes, the joint board shall construct, own, operate, maintain, and administer the project and its corresponding assessment district according to state law.