North Dakota HB1544: A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 61-32-03 and 61-32-03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to drainage permits.

What the bill says

A bill for an Act to amend and reenact sections 61-32-03 and 61-32-03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to drainage permits.

From the introduced text, January 20, 2025:

A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 61-32-03 and 61-32-03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to drainage permits. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 61-32-03 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and reenacted as follows: 61-32-03. Permit to drain waters required - Penalty. 1. Any person, before draining a pond, slough, lake, or sheetwater, or any series thereof, which has a watershed area comprising eighty acres [32.37 hectares] or more, shall first secure a drainage permit to do so. Any person, before draining a pond, slough, lake, or sheetwater, which has a watershed area comprising less than eighty acres [32.37 hectares] but from which the drainage flows directly onto the property of another landowner without first obtaining prior written consent from the downstream landowner, shall first secure a drainage permit. 2. The permit application must be submitted to the department of water resources. The department shall refer the application to the water resource district or districts within which is found a majority of the watershed or drainage area of the pond, slough, lake, or sheetwater for consideration and approval, but the department may require applications proposing drainage of statewide or interdistrict significance be returned to the department for final approval. 3. A permit may not …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Daniel Johnston (R, 24) · primary sponsor
• Matthew Heilman (R, 7)
• Jared Hendrix (R, 10)
• Ben Koppelman (R, 16)
• Dennis Nehring (R, 23)
• Lori VanWinkle (R, 3)
• Michael Wobbema (R, 24)

Latest actions

1. February 17, 2025: Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 27 nays 63
2. February 13, 2025: Reported back, do not pass, placed on calendar 7 5 2
3. January 31, 2025: Committee Hearing 08:30
4. January 20, 2025: Introduced, first reading, referred Agriculture Committee

Votes

• Final Passage (February 17, 2025): 27 yea, 63 nay, failed

Common questions

What is HB1544?

HB1544 is a bill in the North Dakota Legislature (69th Legislative Assembly): A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 61-32-03 and 61-32-03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to drainage permits.

What does HB1544 do?

In its own words: A bill for an Act to amend and reenact sections 61-32-03 and 61-32-03.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to drainage permits.

What is the status of HB1544?

Failed as of February 17, 2025. Latest action: Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 27 nays 63 (February 17, 2025).

Who sponsored HB1544?

Daniel Johnston (R, 24), with 6 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB1544?

On the North Dakota Legislature website: https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1544.html