25.1285.03000 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly of North Dakota Introduced by Representatives Mitskog, Kempenich, Kiefert, Martinson, Nelson, Stemen Senators Kessel, Weber A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 23.1-07 and a new subsection to section 23.1-07-06 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a wastewater infrastructure grant program and the duties of the department of environmental quality; and to provide an appropriation. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA: SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 23.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows: Wastewater infrastructure grant program. 1.The department shall award wastewater infrastructure grants to eligible entities identified in subsection 2 to upgrade, replace, or construct infrastructure for a wastewater collection system, wastewater disposal system, or wastewater treatment plant. 2.Cities, counties, townships, water resource districts, recreation service districts, and water districts operating wastewater systems in the state may receive a grant under this section for an eligible project, subject to the availability of funds. 3.An eligible wastewater system must be in compliance with current wastewater regulations unless the project will return the system to compliance. Eligible projects may not include operations and maintenance costs. 4.The department may not award a grant in excess of sixty percent of the total cost of a project and shall ensure no community receives a grant for more than one project per biennium. Page No. 1 25.1285.03000 REENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 1577 SECOND ENGROSSMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Sixty-ninth Legislative Assembly SECTION 2. A new subsection to section 23.1-07-06 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows: Administer the wastewater infrastructure grant program. SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS - STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND IMPROVEMENTS FUND - ONE -TIME FUNDING. There is appropriated out of any moneys in the strategic investment and improvements fund in the state treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $25,000,000, or so much of the sum as may be necessary, to the department of environmental quality for the purpose of providing wastewater infrastructure grants, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027. No more than $12,500,000 may be awarded for a project. Of the funding appropriated in this section, at least $12,500,000 must be awarded to cities with a population less than twelve thousand five hundred, based on the most recent federal decennial census. If less than $12,500,000 has been awarded to cities with a population less than twelve thousand five hundred by April 1, 2027, the department may award the remaining funds to other eligible projects. The funding provided in this section is considered a one-time funding item. Page No. 2 25.1285.03000 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16