IdahoIdaho resolution directs reports and studies on Bear River water
Idaho’s resolution reaffirms its Bear River water claim and directs state officials to measure supplies, study projects, and report on future development.
What it does
The resolution reaffirms Idaho’s claim to the first 125,000 acre-feet of Lower Division water and directs the state to oppose efforts to reallocate or limit it for downstream use in Utah.
The Idaho Water Resource Board must report on current water use and development options, recommend projects, and speed up feasibility studies. Projects must not harm Bear Lake’s natural water flow.
The Water Resource Board is directed to allocate money from a $30 million fiscal year 2027 transfer for the reports and related legislation, and consult legislative leaders before certain water agreements.
Argument forMore water measurements and project studies could help Idaho officials find available supplies and plan ways to meet the state’s water obligations.
Argument againstPrioritizing storage and recharge studies could direct public funds and planning toward water development, while projects must avoid harming Bear Lake’s natural water flow.
More detail
The resolution reaffirms Idaho’s claim to the first 125,000 acre-feet of water in the Bear River’s Lower Division and directs the state to oppose efforts to reallocate or limit it for downstream use in Utah. The claim concerns the Lower Division, which runs from Stewart Dam in Idaho to the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The resolution recognizes that water allocation is governed by the Amended Bear River Compact.
The resolution directs the Idaho Water Resource Board to prepare two reports and prioritize and speed up feasibility studies for projects identified in Bear River Basin reports. The reports cover current development by Idaho and Utah, water supplies available for further development, preliminary Idaho project options with estimated costs and timelines, recommended projects, and steps for Idaho agencies and lawmakers. The studies may include storage and groundwater recharge projects, but they must not harm Bear Lake’s natural water flow. The first report is due to House and Senate leaders by June 1, 2026. The second is due to the Natural Resources Interim Committee by September 30, 2026.
The resolution directs the Idaho Water Resource Board to allocate money from the fiscal year 2027 transfer to support the reports and related legislation, and to confer with legislative leaders before certain agreements. These directions apply to the Idaho Water Resource Board and its work concerning the Bear River and Bear Lake. The consultation must occur before an agreement about Bear River or Bear Lake use or management with a power utility, Wyoming, or Utah. The transfer is for fiscal year 2027. Consultation must happen before entering a covered agreement.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Delivered to Secretary of State at 10:43 a.m. on April 2, 2026Latest
- Apr 2Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Secretary of State
- Apr 1Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Apr 1Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Apr 1Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Apr 1Returned from Senate Passed; to JRA for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 31Read in full – ADOPTED – voice voteFloor Sponsor – HarrisTitle apvd – to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 25Retained on calendar
- Mar 23Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; to 10th order; held one legislative dayMinor
- Mar 20Introduced, read first time; referred to: Resources & EnvironmentMinor
- Mar 20Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 19Read Third Time in Full – ADOPTED - 67-2-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Leavitt, ThompsonAbsent – Tanner(14)Floor Sponsor - RaybouldTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Read Third Time in Full –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 17Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 12Reported Printed and Referred to Resources & Conservation
- Mar 12Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Environment & Energy