Water Topics Overview Committee
Number Of Members:
No committee meetings have been scheduled. Please check back at a later time.
Duties and Studies
Legislative overview of water-related topics and related matters and any necessary discussions with adjacent states on water-related topics. (NDCC § 54-35-02.7)
Legislative overview of the Garrison Diversion Project. (NDCC § 54-35-02.7)
Report on the committee's project prioritization process, provide updates on allocated program expenditures, and report on the fund balances of projects, grants, and contracts. (NDCC § 54-35-02.7)
(1020 § 19) Consider studying funding for storm water projects in the state, including current funding sources, related statutes, and the policies of the State Water Commission. The study must include information regarding recently completed storm water projects and funding needs for future storm water projects in the state.
(1577 § 3) Study the feasibility and desirability of establishing a wastewater project fund to provide grants for upgrading, constructing, or replacing wastewater infrastructure. The study must include input from cities, counties, townships, and water resource districts.
(2210 § 1) Study the feasibility and desirability of assigning management authority for the waters of the state to the area located in the naturally occurring watershed, rather than assigning management authority based on political subdivision boundaries. The study must review the approaches used for managing water in surrounding states; the powers, duties, and organizational structure of watershed boards; dispute resolution procedures afforded to individuals residing within the boundaries of a watershed district; the mechanism to initiate, implement, and improve works projects within a watershed district; and the role of the Department of Water Resources in mapping and establishing watershed boundaries.
Reports
Receive a report from the Department of Water Resources regarding the status of and any recommendations from Phase 2 of the Missouri River intake sites study. (2025 House Bill No. 1020 § 20)
Receive a draft report from the State Water Commission by March 31, 2026, regarding the results of and recommendations from the regional water systems governance and finance study. (2025 House Bill No. 1020 § 21)
Receive a draft report from the State Water Commission by March 31, 2026, regarding the results of and any recommendations from the commission's cost-share policy study. (2025 House Bill No. 1020 § 22)
Receive a report from the Department of Environmental Quality before August 1, 2026, regarding the use of one-time funding for regulation of onsite wastewater treatment systems. (2025 Senate Bill No. 2267 § 5)
Receive a report before May 31 of each even numbered year on any request anticipated to be submitted to the State Water Commission or to the next Legislative Assembly for which the state cost-share is estimated to be $10 million or more. (NDCC § 54-35-02.7)
Receive quarterly reports from the State Water Commission on each project the State Water Commission has designated as a carryover project that has had a cost-share agreement in place for at least 4 years, the amount of funds still committed for each carryover project included in the report, the total amount of funds reallocated or made available from carryover projects included in a previous report to other projects since the commission's preceding report, and the status of each carryover project for which the committee has made a recommendation to terminate since the commission's preceding report. The committee may make a recommendation to the State Water Commission that a carryover project included in a report be terminated under Section 61-02-14.3 and any funds remaining for the carryover project be reallocated and made available for projects with the same general purpose as the carryover project. (NDCC § 61-02-14.4)