A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 61-16.1-45 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to maintenance of drainage projects.

This bill would limit annual maintenance fees for drainage systems to $4 per acre on farmland, with two calculation methods: either based on historical benefit levels or uniform assessment across all farmland. Non-farm property would be charged up to $2 for every $500 in taxable value. It also allows drainage districts to accumulate funds over six years if annual fees don’t cover repair costs, and requires landowner approval via recorded vote for costs exceeding that six-year limit. The bill directly affects agricultural and non-agricultural landowners in North Dakota drainage districts.