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House passes water department budget with $260 million for Red River project and funding to accelerate large water projects
Summary
Lawmakers approved House Bill 10‑20, the Department of Water Resources budget, which shifts funding sources and authorizes bonding and transfers to speed major projects including Red River Water Supply and flood control work in Minot and Bismarck.
The House approved House Bill 10‑20 Friday, the Department of Water Resources’ budget, which increases funding for large water‑infrastructure projects and adjusts how the state finances major water construction.
Why it matters: The bill retools funding to accelerate two multi‑year projects — the Red River Water Supply and Mouse River/Minot flood control — and includes bonding authority and transfers that supporters say will reduce project timelines and limit inflationary construction cost increases.
Representative Swan Tech, presenting the bill, said the committee developed a 14‑year strategic plan to prioritize projects and accelerate funding for large projects so smaller rural and municipal projects could access revolving loan funds sooner.
Representative Swan Tech (first reference at 00:07:12): “The bill before you, House Bill 10‑20, is the water budget… we developed a 14 year strategic plan… roughly about $5,100,000,000 worth of water needs out there.”
Major provisions and amounts described on the floor include:
- Red River Water Supply: Increase to $260 million to be used over two years to support the project and drought resilience measures affecting about half the state’s population in the Red River basin.
- Mouse River (Minot) flood control: Increased from $76 million to $125 million to speed work on the Mouse River flood control project.
- Bismarck flood control: A $20 million allocation in this biennium with a potential maximum of $76 million over the next two bienniums to address an area affecting roughly 1,000 properties.
- Rural and municipal buckets: Rural water funding raised to $80 million (up from the governor’s request) and municipal funding increased to $25 million.
- Revolving loan trust fund relief: $10 million in SIF funds to reduce principal on outstanding obligations in the revolving loan trust so municipalities can access low‑interest loans again.
- Southwest Pipeline: A $100 million bond tied to a scheduled $14 million per biennium payment from the pipeline enterprise; appropriation authority is structured so this bond does not use the general fund.
The committee also recommended funding six FTEs for the Department of Water Resources, equipment purchases (pumps and excavators) including $1.7 million for pumps at Devils Lake, and requested a deputy director position to assist the state engineer with permit and engineering oversight.
Motion and vote. After a voice vote on a rules suspension to place the bill on the calendar, the House took final consideration. Representative Bosch moved to excuse a member from voting and the final roll call showed the bill passed 89‑0 with the emergency clause carrying.
Representative Burt flagged a personal financial interest: his firm has performed competitively bid work for the agency and could be covered under the budget; the House recorded his disclosure on the floor.
Representative Swan Tech: “We increased spending where it helps accelerate large projects and reduce inflationary pressures; if one project uses less than allocated, agencies may reallocate funds within water project buckets.”
Ending: With House approval, HB 10‑20 moves to the Senate. The bill authorizes bonding and set‑aside transfers designed to speed construction; final project timelines will depend on matching local and federal dollars and on subsequent procurement and permitting steps.
