Senate committee hears bill to clarify oversight and election rules for rural water districts

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee members heard testimony Feb. 7 on Senate Bill 2299, a measure that would add rural water districts to the state auditor's oversight and set petition and election rules for member-run water districts.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Bob Paulson, R‑Minot, would add water districts created under North Dakota Century Code chapter 61‑35 to the list of political subdivisions subject to review by the State Auditor and would establish a petition threshold and procedural requirements for nominations and election administration. Paulson told the committee he prepared an amendment and asked members to consider it during the hearing.

Supporters told the committee they want clearer, uniform recourse when members believe a district is mishandling elections or finances. "We have discovered that water districts exist in a legal gray area," said Crystal Hendrickson, a North Prairie board member, arguing the measure would give rural citizens a way to request audits and protect access to ballots. Dan Cox, director of audit services for the North Dakota State Auditor's Office, said adding water districts to the auditor's statutory list would require district audits to be submitted to…