Conference committee weighs water funding plan, $200 million line of credit and new attorney role after SB 2276

A legislative conference committee meeting on water resources discussed how to implement Senate Bill 2276, proposed staffing and funding changes for the State Water Commission and a cash strategy for the Resources Trust Fund.

Chairman Swiatek opened the discussion by describing provisions in Senate Bill 2276 that would let a joint water resources board request assistance from North Dakota Mediation Services when the joint board cannot agree on the necessity of a project. He and Senator Sorvaug said they had discussed the bill and related resource needs with the governor and agreed the changes increase the likely workload for the water resources staff.

Committee members raised three interrelated implementation issues: adding an attorney position focused on water matters, funding for Bismarck flood protection, and a proposed $200 million line of credit to backstop the Resources Trust Fund.

Senator Sorvaug and other members said the bill and recent requests by the State Water Commission point to a need for an additional full‑time attorney dedicated to water matters. The committee said the position had been in the commission’s original budget request but was…