Utah measure sets technical rules and repeal dates for resource programs

The measure sets repeal dates for many listed agriculture, environmental, water, and study provisions. The provisions cover parts of Utah's agriculture, environmental quality, water, wildlife, and natural-resources laws. The text lists different repeal dates, including July 1, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2034. The text also repeals individual outdated studies, reports, surveys, deadlines, and other provisions. The listed provisions take effect or are repealed on the dates stated in the text, with many repeals beginning July 1, 2027 or July 1, 2029.

Specified boards, councils, divisions, and agencies must submit annual reports to legislative committees or other listed officials. The reporting rules cover funds, water planning, wildlife management, recreation grants, public-land applications, and other natural-resource activities named in the text. Reports must include the information required for the particular program. Some reports go to more than one committee, official, or commission. Many reports are due no later than October 1 each year; the exact deadline and reporting period depend on the program.

The Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands must include water-protection and production-control terms in certain Great Salt Lake mineral leases and royalty agreements. The rules apply to extraction of rare earth, trace, and other covered minerals from Great Salt Lake brines, including leases and agreements covered by the section. Operations must use commercially viable technology that minimizes water depletion. Agreements must allow the division to limit production when the lake reaches an emergency trigger and to withdraw lands, methods, or technologies from production. Before operation begins, an operator must show commercial viability and obtain state approval that the operation will not negatively affect the lake's biology or chemistry. These provisions apply to agreements in effect on May 1, 2024, and agreements entered into after that date; some technology requirements may begin only after a five-to-seven-year period.