All Roll Calls
Yes: 133 • No: 3
UtahH.B. 1872026 General SessionHouse
Water Amendments
Sponsored By: Colin W. Jack (Republican)
Signed by Governor
EnvironmentNatural ResourcesWater RightsCompactsWaterWater Conservation
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Broader protections from water-right forfeiture
Beginning May 6, 2026, the law shields many kinds of nonuse from forfeiture. Examples include use under a written, terminable lease; approved conservation fallowing; lack of water supply; storage rights; priority‑date shortages; and when most of a right is used within seven years. Public water suppliers can hold rights for reasonable future need, based on a 40‑year planning horizon. Water conservancy district rights used or planned in the lower basin are also protected; planned use can be shown by affidavit. For saved water sold apart from the underlying right, the nonuse clock starts when the underlying right is forfeited or when the saved‑water title is conveyed. These rules sunset December 31, 2030.
Deadlines on water-right forfeiture cases
Beginning May 6, 2026, a forfeiture case must be filed within 15 years after the last seven‑year nonuse ends. Time covered by approved nonuse applications adds to that window. The state engineer can claim forfeiture in a proposed determination only if recent nonuse falls within that period. Filing or approving a nonuse application is not "beneficial use" and does not save a right already forfeited. If a court finds forfeiture, the water returns to the public and is reassigned by priority. These timing rules sunset December 31, 2030.
Pause nonuse of your water right
Beginning May 6, 2026, you can file a nonuse application on part or all of a water right. The state engineer grants up to seven years for good cause, like financial hardship, physical limits, conservation or recharge work, legal cases, future public need, approved plans, or equipment loss with a resume plan. An approved nonuse excuses use from the filing date and pauses the seven‑year forfeiture clock. The state publishes notice once a week for two weeks; people can protest within 20 days (informal) or 30 days (formal). The state must warn you 60 days before your approval ends. This authority sunsets December 31, 2030.
New rules for instream flow changes
Beginning May 6, 2026, state divisions can file change applications for instream flows or use on sovereign lands. Water users can file fixed‑time or temporary changes, but projects must help wildlife, a state park, or the natural aquatic environment. You must get a division director’s approval first, include legal descriptions and studies, and follow added reviews for deliveries to Colorado River System reservoirs (including approval by the Colorado River Authority executive director). You cannot appropriate unappropriated water for instream flows, and filings are barred when the diversion point is in the lower basin. Use under these approvals counts as beneficial use, and no new access or trespass rights are created on private land.
Clearer water supplier definitions and plans
Beginning May 6, 2026, the law defines who counts as a public entity and as a public water supplier. It covers governments, regulated water companies, certain community water systems, and some water users associations. The state engineer must set standards for written plans that show reasonable future water needs and present the rules to the Legislature before they take effect. These changes sunset December 31, 2030.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Colin W. Jack
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Don L. Ipson
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 20 • No: 1
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 24 • No: 2
House vote • 2/18/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 66 • No: 0
House vote • 2/2/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 2/2/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/25/2026House/ to Governor
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/11/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/11/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/2/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/2/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
2/26/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/26/2026HouseSenate/ to House
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd reading
2/25/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/25/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/19/2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
2/19/2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/18/2026Senate/ to standing committee
2/17/2026SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/17/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/12/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/12/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/12/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/12/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
2/3/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/11/2026
Substitute #2
1/30/2026
Substitute #1
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/7/2026