NevadaAB983rd Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

AN ACT relating to water; revising the duration of time in which agricultural water rights may be temporarily converted for certain purposes; providing an exception to provisions relating to the forfeiture and abandonment of a water right; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Sponsored By: Assembly Committee on Natural Resources

Failed

BDR 48-391

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Conservation programs help protect water rights

Nevada exempts qualifying water rights from the law's specified forfeiture and abandonment rules. The exemption covers rights under contracts or agreements in official federal land or water conservation programs. It also covers rights in official water-conservation programs run by a Nevada state agency.

Limits on temporary farm water changes

Nevada's State Engineer cannot approve a temporary groundwater change after the owner receives notice of 4 consecutive years of nonuse. Notices covering longer periods also block approval. The Engineer must reject changes that fail an allowed purpose or the public interest, and can shorten approved terms or extensions. Temporary changes do not count as beneficial use to establish the water right or prove its use. Groundwater changes remain subject to groundwater management rules, applicable plans, and orders limiting withdrawals to honor priority rights.

Longer farm water changes with return rules

Nevada allows temporary changes to agricultural water rights for up to 5 years, instead of 3. Each extension also has a 5-year maximum, up from 3 years. Allowed purposes include helping wildlife and improving water quality or flow; improving water quantity is now allowed too. Applicants must first get any required permits or approvals. After the temporary change and all extensions end, the water right must return to its prior approved use.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Assembly Committee on Natural Resources

    Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. (No further action taken.)

    6/3/2025House
  2. Rereferred to Committee on Ways and Means. Exemption effective. To committee.

    4/15/2025House
  3. Taken from General File.

    4/15/2025House
  4. Notice of eligibility for exemption.

    4/15/2025House
  5. From printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.

    4/15/2025House
  6. Read second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 49.) To printer.

    4/14/2025House
  7. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.

    4/10/2025House
  8. Read first time. To committee.

    2/4/2025House
  9. From printer.

    11/1/2024House
  10. Prefiled. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources. To printer.

    10/29/2024House

Bill Text

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