SB 25-140

Senate Bill 25-140, known as the "Irrigation Districts Inflation Adjustments," increases daily compensation for board members and election judges of irrigation districts from $100 to $150 per day. It also raises the threshold for contract approval by district electors from $250,000 to $400,000 and introduces a new tier requiring written authorization or an election for contracts between $400,000 and $650,000. The bill mandates that these financial thresholds will be adjusted for inflation every five years starting in 2029. This affects irrigation districts and their electors, ensuring fair compensation and more realistic contract approval requirements as costs rise over time. Since the bill has been signed into law, it is now active and enforceable.

Official Summary

Under current law, each member of a board of directors of an irrigation district (board of directors) and each judge of election of an irrigation district (judge of election) receives compensation of not more than $100 per day. In addition, a contract entered into by a board of directors that involves a consideration that exceeds $250,000 but does not exceed $400,000 must be authorized and ratified in writing by no less than one-third of the electors of the irrigation district according to the number of votes cast at the last district election. A contract that exceeds $400,000 must be authorized and ratified at an election in the manner provided for the issuance of bonds. To account for inflation, the act: Increases the amount of compensation for members of a board of directors and judges of election to up to $150 per day; and Requires that, to be binding, a contract entered into by a board of directors that exceeds $400,000 but does not exceed $650,000 must be authorized and ratified in writing by no less than one-third of the electors of the irrigation district according to the number of votes cast at the last district election, and a contract that exceeds $650,000 must be authorized and ratified at an election in the manner provided for the issuance of bonds. The act requires that the dollar amounts related to compensation of members of a board of directors and judges of election, as well as those related to contracts entered into by a board of directors, must be increased for inflation every 5 years, beginning July 1, 2029. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes