FINAL BILL REPORT
EHB 2302
C 117 L 94
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Modifying provisions relating to sale or lease of irrigation district real and personal property.
Representatives Rayburn, Foreman, Hansen and Bray.
House Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development
Senate Committee on Agriculture
Background: A provision of the state's irrigation district laws establishes procedures that apply to the lease or sale of district-owned properties. The provision does not apply to the properties irrigation districts have obtained through foreclosure proceedings for delinquent district assessments. A statute governing the lease and sale of district properties obtained in this manner was repealed in a bill which re-wrote the rules for such delinquency and foreclosure. The repealed authority may have been replaced by implied authorities to sell and lease such properties. However, as a result of the repealer, the rules that apply to such sales or leases are unclear.
Current law governing the lease or sale of irrigation district property requires the district to publish in a local newspaper a notice of the district's intent to sell or lease the property. The notice must identify the time and location at which the district will consider bid proposals. The property must be sold or leased to the highest and best bidder and, except for property dedicated to certain highway or utility easements, must not be less than the reasonable market value of the property.
Summary: The procedures established by statute for leasing or selling irrigation district property apply to properties obtained by a district through foreclosure proceedings for delinquent district assessments. A notice regarding the sale or lease of any real property owned by an irrigation district is to announce whether the sale or lease is to be negotiated by the district or is to be awarded by bid.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 95 0
Senate 46 0
Effective: June 9, 1994