Committee approves expanded 14-year water plan, endorses $200M line-of-credit model to accelerate projects

The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division voted 7‑0 to advance House Bill 1020, the water budget, as amended, endorsing a multi‑biennial plan that emphasizes accelerating large regional water projects while retaining the current revenue share into the resources trust fund.

Representative Swantek, sponsor of the water budget, told the committee the mission of the Department of Water Resources is "to improve resiliency and protect North Dakota citizens and economy from negative water related impacts," and framed the proposal as a 14‑year funding plan intended to prioritize large regional projects such as the Mouse River and Red River efforts.

Rhys Haas, Director of the Department of Water Resources, described how prior practice left the department with committed cash on hand that was slowly drawn down over long construction timelines. Haas recommended a new financing model that includes a strategic $200,000,000 line of credit as an overdraft backstop and targeted bonding for the Southwest Pipeline. "The department has had…