The board of directors of any irrigation district of the state of Idaho may petition the district court of the county in which the lands of said irrigation district or the greater portion thereof are situated for a change of the name of such irrigation district. Such petition must specify the date of organization of the district, its present name, the name proposed, and that the board of directors deems it for the best interests of said district that the name of the district be changed, and must be signed by the directors of the district or by a majority of them. Upon filing such petition the same proceedings shall be had for effecting such change of name as are prescribed in chapter 8 of title 7 of the Idaho Code, and a certified copy of any order of the district court changing the name of such irrigation district shall be forthwith filed with the department of water resources. Any change of name under the provisions of this section shall not affect any of the rights, property or obligations of said irrigation district.