UtahUtah law protects some district water rights from nonuse
Utah law exempts some water rights held by conservancy districts from loss for nonuse and limits who may apply to change lower-basin water use.
What it does
Water conservancy districts are exempt from loss for nonuse on certain lower-basin water rights they own, lease, or have a contract to use.
People outside state divisions cannot apply to change lower-basin water use under this section, and state divisions cannot apply to deliver water to covered reservoirs.
Argument forDistricts could keep certain lower-basin water rights during nonuse, including rights they hold, lease, or have a contract to use.
Argument againstPeople outside state divisions could lose a way to apply to change lower-basin water use, and divisions could not apply to deliver water to covered reservoirs.
More detail
The law exempts certain water rights held by water conservancy districts from loss for nonuse. The exemption covers a water right, or part of one, held by a water conservancy district for lower-basin use. The right must be used, approved or certified for use, or planned for use in the lower basin; planned use must be shown in an affidavit signed by the district's general manager. The district must own the right, lease it, or have a contract giving it the right to use the water. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
The law bars some applications to change lower-basin water use. The limits apply to proposed permanent, fixed-time, or temporary change applications when the water diversion point is in the lower basin. State divisions may still file applications under the section's other provisions. When the diversion point is in the lower basin, people other than state divisions may not file change applications under this section. State divisions may not file applications under the section's reservoir-delivery provision. If H.B. 348 also passed and became law, the coordination clause extends these limits to dedicated-water applications. The law took effect May 6, 2026. The added limits on dedicated-water applications apply only if H.B. 348 also passed and became law.
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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 12House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 2Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 2Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Feb 26House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 26Senate/ to House
- Feb 26Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Feb 26Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 26Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 25Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 19Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 19Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 18Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 17Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 17Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 12Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12House/ to Senate
- Feb 12House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 12House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 3House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 3House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
- Feb 3LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0187S02
- Feb 3LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0187S02
- Feb 2House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 2House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Major
- Jan 30LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0187S02
- Jan 30LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0187S02
- Jan 21House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Jan 21Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm [House Rules Committee]Major
- Jan 20House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 20House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0187S01
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0187S01
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0187
- Jan 16LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0187
- Jan 14House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 13LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0187S01
- Jan 13LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0187S01
- Jan 7LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0187
- Jan 7LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0187
- Jan 7Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 7Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Environment & Energy