UtahUtah courts may appoint water receivers and order ownership transfers
Utah law allows courts to appoint a receiver or require an ownership transfer in certain water safety cases, and requires the director to report some cases to lawmakers.
What it does
For a serious public health risk, a court may appoint someone to manage corrective work if the water supplier is unwilling or unable to act.
When a civil case could lead to a receiver or ownership transfer, the director must report its status to legislative committee leaders.
A court may require a supplier in violation to give up ownership of a public water system if that is reasonably necessary for long-term compliance.
Argument forA court could appoint someone to manage corrective work when a serious health risk remains unaddressed, which may help protect people who use the water.
Argument againstA court could require a supplier to give up ownership of a water system, which may reduce local control over that system.
More detail
A court may appoint a receiver to carry out corrective or remedial work. This applies to a public water system supplier in a civil case brought by the director over a violation covered by a compliance order. The violation must pose a serious public health risk. The supplier must be unwilling or unable to take corrective or remedial action consistent with the drinking water chapter.
The director must report the status of certain civil cases to legislative committee leaders. The director reports to the named interim committee chairs when the Legislature is not in session, or the named House and Senate committee chairs when it is in session. The report is required when the director brings a civil case that may lead to a court order for a receiver or ownership transfer. The reporting duty applies when the director brings such a case; the recipients depend on whether the Legislature is in session.
A court may require a supplier in violation to give up ownership of a public water system. This applies to a supplier in violation in a civil case brought by the director. The court must find that giving up ownership is reasonably necessary to ensure long-term compliance with the drinking water chapter.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 3House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 3House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Feb 20House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Feb 20Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Feb 12Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Feb 12Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Feb 10House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 10Senate/ to House
- Feb 10Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Feb 10Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 10House/ to Senate
- Feb 10House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Feb 9House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Feb 9House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 6Senate/ to House with amendments
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 6Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 5Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Senate/ uncircled
- Feb 5Senate/ circled
- Feb 5Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 2LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0069S01
- Feb 2Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 2Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
- Jan 30Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Jan 30Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Major
- Jan 30LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0069S01
- Jan 30LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0069S01
- Jan 30LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0069S01
- Jan 27Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Jan 23Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 22Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22House/ to Senate
- Jan 22House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Jan 22House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Jan 20House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Jan 20House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 14LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0069
- Jan 5LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0069
- 2025
- Dec 22LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0069
- Dec 22LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0069
- Dec 22Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Dec 22Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Public SafetyEnvironment & Energy