Bill > SB2059

This bill modifies the hearing and appeals processes for the North Dakota Department of Water Resources across three different sections of state law. The changes primarily streamline notification procedures by requiring certified mail notifications instead of formal service, and clarify the processes for filing comments, requesting hearings, and appealing decisions related to water resource matters. Specifically, the bill updates procedures for submitting comments on water appropriation applications, ensures electronic comments include a valid signature, and standardizes the process for requesting and conducting public hearings and adjudicative proceedings. The bill also modifies the appeals process for board decisions concerning dams, dikes, water conservation devices, and drainage complaints, adding provisions that require the department to notify all parties of record when dismissing a complaint and explicitly outlining the right of aggrieved parties to request a hearing and subsequently appeal to district court. These changes aim to make the department's administrative processes more transparent, accessible, and consistent across different types of water resource and land use disputes.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Energy and Natural Resources (S)

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo2059.html