Narrow bill would align irrigation district spouse-contract rules with hospital-district exceptions
HB 2223 would allow an irrigation district director’s spouse to contract with the district if the spouse's employment predated the director's election, terms align with pay plans, the director discloses the interest and recuses from relevant votes. Supporters framed it as a narrow cleanup to help recruit volunteers for rural boards.
The full story
House Bill 2223 proposes a narrow exception to the general prohibition on local government officers having beneficial interests in contracts made by their office. Staff explained the bill parallels an existing exception applied to public hospital district commissioners: the spouse must have been employed before the official’s election; contract terms must be comparable to similar employees; the official must disclose the interest before the contract is made and must not vote on the contract.
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