A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 61-16.1-38, subsection 1 of section 61-16.1-53.1, section 61-32-03, and subsection 1 of section 61-32-08 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to deadlines for permits issued by the department of water resources.

HB 1385 sets specific deadlines for processing water resource permits in North Dakota. It requires the Department of Water Resources to make a final decision on permit applications (for dams, dikes, or drainage projects) within 120 days, and if they miss this deadline, the permit is automatically approved. For appeals of local board decisions, the department must decide within 120 days, and failure to act results in the appeal being denied. This affects developers, landowners, and water management entities seeking permits for projects requiring state approval under North Dakota's water resource laws.