All Roll Calls
Yes: 208 • No: 1
UtahH.B. 1252026 General SessionHouseWALLET
Department of Natural Resources Related Modifications Amendments
Sponsored By: Rex P. Shipp (Republican)
Signed by Governor
BoatingEnvironmentNatural ResourcesDepartment of Natural ResourcesWildlifeWater RightsTransportationState EngineerWater
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
20 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 7 costs, 5 mixed.
Irrigation suppliers must meter water use
Secondary water is non-drinking water used for irrigation; suppliers must meter every pressurized user by January 1, 2030, unless exempt. New commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential service requires meters when design starts on or after April 1, 2020, in first- and second-class counties. The matching design cutoff is May 4, 2022, in third- through sixth-class counties. Suppliers must establish a meter-installation reserve beginning January 1, 2022, and file or update a metering plan by December 31, 2025. Annual reports are due March 31 and cover water use and supply, meter and connection counts, and service boundaries; no household cost is specified.
Boat rental businesses face stricter duties
Boat rental businesses must check renters' invasive-species course completion and proof before renting a vessel. This duty excludes rentals without highway transport between rental and use, or rentals the owner transports and a course-qualified representative operates instead of the renter. Businesses must retain renter names, addresses, vessel IDs, launch waters and dates, departure details, and expected return times for at least one year. Boats cannot leave without required equipment and advice to renters about operating rules. Covered owners and workers face class B misdemeanors for knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly falsifying decontamination records, timelines, or devices, and for skipping required cleaning or violating specified fee, decal, and vessel-operation rules.
Irrigation customers move to tiered billing
Secondary-water contracts started or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, must allow tiered conservation billing. By April 1, 2030, suppliers must provide usage education through monthly statements or a portal with more frequent information. By July 1, 2030, covered suppliers must use tiered rates that consider conservation, service costs, and stable revenue. Meter-exempt suppliers and those approved for strategic metering are exempt from tiered rates. Suppliers can hire third-party billers; public water systems must accept requested billing contracts with compatible data and can recover reasonable billing costs from users.
Lowest irrigation rates for growing food
Beginning July 1, 2030, suppliers using tiered conservation rates must charge qualifying food-growing users the lowest tiered rate. A user qualifies by using any portion of secondary water to grow food. Covered uses include gardens, fruit trees, and grazing pasture. The law states no rate or savings amount.
Meter-related irrigation rate increases face caps
Secondary-water suppliers generally cannot raise customer rates for metering costs by more than 10% in a calendar year. This includes small secondary-water retail suppliers. A catastrophic failure or similar event allows a larger increase when necessary. Suppliers must explain the basis before raising rates. The cap does not limit rate increases for other costs.
Local agencies get water planning help
The Division of Water Resources must help counties and cities add water-use and preservation elements to their general plans. It can seek watershed council input on regional conservation goals. The Utah Geological Survey must help state or local agencies that request research on water quantity, quality, and seasonal and long-term viability. The Survey must also provide water-planning data and assess wetlands' roles, distribution, and ecological traits.
Natural resource rules gain enforcement coverage
The Division of Law Enforcement can enforce rules adopted by Department of Natural Resources divisions and their boards. The department director sets enforcement priorities. This change expands enforcement coverage but names no new individual duties or specific penalties.
State can fund water-right litigation
The Department of Natural Resources can pay the state's general litigation expenses and related costs for cases involving Utah's water interests. Covered interests include conservation, the right to use water, and water-resource development. The law sets no funding amount or direct household charge.
More financing options for irrigation meters
The Board of Water Resources can offer low-interest meter loans from the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund beginning July 1, 2019. The law removes the former $10 million annual loan cap, sets no replacement cap, and bars prepayment penalties. Beginning July 1, 2021, suppliers with no more than 5,000 connections can seek annual matching grants, subject to appropriation. Grants cover at most 50% of eligible installation costs, require a supplier match, and exclude the specified new-service metering. Grants cannot replace previously allocated federal, state, or local funds; suppliers with the greatest need or inability to pay get priority.
Some irrigation suppliers can meter fewer locations
Qualifying suppliers can meter approved strategic points instead of every connection. One path covers systems with little or no storage that rely mainly on stream flow. Another covers systems where most users farm or generate power and residential users consume less than 50% of the water. A third covers mixed pressurized-line and open-ditch systems serving no more than 1,000 users in part of a critical area, or 2,500 elsewhere. Suppliers must apply, and the State Engineer must approve the meter locations.
Some irrigation suppliers qualify for exemptions
Some suppliers are exempt from listed metering, planning, and enforcement duties. In fifth- or sixth-class counties, meter purchases, installation, and system upgrades must cost more than 25% of the owner's or operator's total operating budget. Those suppliers must agree not to add connections on or after May 4, 2022. Water quality that prevents obtaining a manufacturer-warranted meter provides another exemption, with reasonable proof required. Both paths require a non-metering conservation plan within six months, annual reports, and state evaluations. Suppliers in critical management areas with groundwater plans adopted or amended on or after May 1, 2006, also qualify for listed exemptions.
Annual invasive-species course for boat operators
Covered vessel operators age 12 or older must complete an approved invasive-species course once each calendar year. They must show proof when an officer asks; proof expires December 31 each year. Nonmotorized vessels and inflatable motorboats are exempt. The requirement also excludes authorized Great Salt Lake activities to harvest brine shrimp or their eggs.
Natural resource officers get required work periods
The Department of Natural Resources no longer has an exception from work-period rules for nonexempt law enforcement employees. It must designate either 80 hours over 14 consecutive days or 160 hours over 28 consecutive days. These periods affect overtime calculations. The provision does not establish a wage rate or a specific change in take-home pay.
Some Utah tax credits end
Beginning May 6, 2026, the law repeals two Utah tax-credit provisions and their related reporting provision. Taxpayers lose access to the credits covered by those provisions. The supplied text does not identify the credits, who qualified, or their amounts, so household tax increases cannot be calculated.
Mineral lease defaults affect water approvals
This rule covers water applications for recovering salts, minerals, or elements from navigable state lakes or streams. After written notice that a related royalty contract or mineral lease ended or is not being followed, the State Engineer must act. The Engineer must reverse approval unless the notice identifies a clause returning the water right after default. In that case, the Engineer must record the default on the water right.
Water suppliers face fines and funding losses
Beginning January 1, 2030, suppliers without required full metering cannot receive state money for water-related purposes. After referral and findings that enforcement is needed to conserve or protect water, final orders impose fines per unmetered connection. Fines are $10 in 2030, $20 in 2031, $30 in 2032, $40 in 2033, and $50 annually from 2034 onward. Billing-rule violations on or after April 1, 2030, also block state water funding until compliance and can trigger enforcement after the required findings. Billing fines cannot exceed state funds the supplier received for metering; collected fines go to the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund. These penalties apply to suppliers, not directly to household customers.
Boater fees include exemptions for rentals
Annual invasive-species fees are $20 for resident-registered vessels and $25 for nonresident vessels that require registration for residents. Qualifying government vessels used for official duties, nonmotorized vessels, and inflatable motorboats are exempt. Boat-rental customers are exempt from the fee and decal requirements. Renters also avoid decontamination duties when the rental owner must handle them; other applicable rules still apply. Beginning May 6, 2026, the law repeals a fee-collection section, but that provision does not establish that the fee ends.
Water records are public; certification costs
Records filed or recorded with the State Engineer are public, including maps and electronic documents. Records legally classified as private, controlled, or protected remain exempt from disclosure. People requesting certified copies must pay reasonable copying costs and the legal certification fee. The law provides no fixed fee amount.
Stronger mussel protections can restrict waters
Utah's invasive-mussel rules now cover Dreissena and Limnoperna species, including golden mussels, living or dead at any life stage. The rules cover possession, transport, release, cleaning, reporting, inspections, detention, quarantine, closures, and penalties. Law enforcement can inspect potentially affected waters and facilities while wildlife staff coordinate biological sampling. Wildlife officials can order closures or restrictions with the department executive director's agreement and work with water operators on control plans; closures over seven days require written and online updates every 10 days. The Wildlife Board can set cleaning and inspection rules, and the state response plan requires coordination with wildlife staff and public and private groups before implementation after detection.
Water holders gain conservation-use options
Wildlife Resources, State Parks, and Forestry, Fire, and State Lands can seek permanent, fixed-time, or temporary water-use changes for stream flows or state-owned lakebeds and riverbeds. Other water-right holders can seek fixed-time or temporary changes with the relevant division director's approval. The State Engineer must find a wildlife, park-management, or natural aquatic benefit. Divisions can use owned rights, agreements, donations, or rights acquired with land; purchases require specifically appropriated legislative funds. These uses cannot take water rights by eminent domain, claim unappropriated water, create access across private land, or infringe private property rights. Water holders can also seek fixed-time or temporary changes to deliver water to Utah Colorado River System reservoirs under the federal drought plan, a Bureau of Reclamation-funded conservation program, or a state-authorized conservation program. Those reservoir applications require prior approval from the Colorado River Authority of Utah's executive director.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Rex P. Shipp
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Carl R. Albrecht
Republican • House
Stewart E. Barlow
Republican • House
Kay J. Christofferson
Republican • House
Leah Hansen
Republican • House
David P. Hinkins
Republican • Senate
Ken Ivory
Republican • House
Jill Koford
Republican • House
Mike L. Kohler
Republican • House
Jason B. Kyle
Republican • House
Lee, T.
Affiliation unavailable
Clinton Okerlund
Republican • House
Michael J. Petersen
Republican • House
Thomas W. Peterson
Republican • House
Troy Shelley
Republican • House
Christine F. Watkins
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/6/2026
House Conference Committee - Final Passage
Yes: 66 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate Conference Committee - Final Passage
Yes: 29 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2026
House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ refused to recede from Senate amendments
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ refuse to concur with Senate amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 24 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 2/25/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/25/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 65 • No: 0
House vote • 2/24/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 2/19/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/25/2026House/ to Governor
3/16/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/16/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/12/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/12/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/11/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/11/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/11/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/11/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/10/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse Conference Committee - Final Passage
3/6/2026House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
3/6/2026House/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate Conference Committee - Final Passage
3/6/2026Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
3/6/2026Senate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateConference Committee Report
3/6/2026Bill Substituted by Conference Committee
3/6/2026House/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse Conference Committee Appointed
3/6/2026House/ received from Senate
3/6/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Substitute #2
3/6/2026
Substitute #3
3/6/2026
Substitute #1
3/3/2026
Amended 2/19/2026 13:02:875
2/19/2026
Introduced
1/2/2026