Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that will give counties and municipalities greater flexibility in addressing obstructions and flood-related hazards in our local waterways. Until our watersheds and streams can be stabilized, the need for addressing stream channel instabilities and resulting maintenance issues must be more flexible and adaptive.
 
As a result, I will be introducing the following bills:
 
The first bill, which mirrors House Bill 2404 introduced during the 2021-2022 session, will allow for local government organizations to apply for a permit for continuing maintenance for a period of at least 10 years for the streams within their jurisdiction. This permit will grant an affirmative duty to the local government entity to properly maintain the streams and will not require the local government to get pre-approval for maintenance projects.
 
The second bill, which mirrors House Bill 2405 introduced during the 2021-2022 session, will create a program that allows counties to opt in to address hazards within their streams by allowing for emergency maintenance permits in consultation with their county conservation district.
 
Optimal stream channel restoration and stream bank stabilization play an enormous role in improving our water quality by reducing erosion. But more importantly, it prevents flooding and flood-related damage to infrastructure in critical areas. These bills are proactive measures that will work to enhance the safety of our residents, protect our local communities and the environment. 
 
I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring these bills.