UtahUtah places its Colorado River Authority in Natural Resources
Starting July 1, 2026, Utah’s Colorado River Authority would be part of the Natural Resources Department, with $1,638,500 provided for its fiscal year 2027 budget.
What it does
Utah’s Colorado River Authority would be part of the Department of Natural Resources starting July 1, 2026. Its existing contracts and resolutions carry over.
The Authority may seek grants, give grants from its money, lease water rights, and help fund Colorado River projects. Its spending must stay within its annual budget.
The Legislature provides $1,638,500 from the General Fund for the Authority’s fiscal year 2027 operating and capital budgets.
Argument forThe Authority could help Utah pursue water projects and grants, and prepare for talks or legal disputes over Colorado River water.
Argument againstThe Authority could direct limited public money to grants or river projects, leaving less available for its other work.
More detail
The Colorado River Authority of Utah would be placed within the Department of Natural Resources. This applies to the Colorado River Authority of Utah and its existing contracts and resolutions. The Authority takes over its existing contracts. Its resolutions in effect on June 30, 2026, stay in effect until the Authority changes them. The placement takes effect July 1, 2026. Existing resolutions stay in effect until the Authority changes them.
The Authority may take steps to support Utah’s rights to use Colorado River water, including seeking grants, giving grants from its own money, leasing water rights, and funding related projects. The mission concerns Utah’s rights to use water from the Colorado River system. The Authority may act as it considers appropriate to advance its mission or management plan. It may give grants only from Authority money, and it may not spend more than its adopted or amended annual budget. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026. The Authority prepares a budget for each fiscal year.
The Legislature provides $1,638,500 from the General Fund for the Authority’s operating and capital budgets. The funding is for the Colorado River Authority of Utah. The bill also directs the transfer of any balance left in the Colorado River Authority Restricted Account after fiscal year 2026 closes to the Authority’s Department of Natural Resources budget line. Fiscal year 2027 runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Any remaining restricted-account balance transfers after fiscal year 2026 closes.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
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 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Feb 25Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 24Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 23Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0473S02
- Feb 20LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0473S02
- Feb 20LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0473S02
- Feb 20Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 19Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19House/ to Senate
- Feb 19House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 19House/ substituted
- Feb 19House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 19LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0473S02
- Feb 19LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0473S02
- Feb 12House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 12House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
- Feb 12LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0473S01
- Feb 12LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0473S01
- Feb 11House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 11House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Major
- Feb 10LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0473S01
- Feb 10LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0473S01
- Feb 9House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 6House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0473
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0473
- Feb 4House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 4House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 3LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0473
- Feb 3LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0473
- Feb 3Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 3Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Environment & EnergyGovernment & EthicsTaxes & Budget