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
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Districts keep qualifying unused water rights
Beginning May 6, 2026, qualifying water conservancy district rights are protected from loss for nonuse; the exemption expires December 31, 2030. The district must own, lease, or have a contract right to use the water. The water must be used or diverted in the lower basin, or approved or certified for that use by the state engineer. Planned lower-basin use also qualifies when shown in an affidavit signed by the district’s general manager. Ownership includes beneficial ownership of a right conveyed to the state under a loan agreement.
More state agencies can request water changes
Beginning May 6, 2026, two more state divisions can file water-change applications for stream flows or state-owned lands. The Division of State Parks and Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands join the Division of Wildlife Resources. Applications must support wildlife, state park management, or protection or improvement of the natural water environment. The state engineer must approve the changes.
New limits on lower-basin water applications
Beginning May 6, 2026, water users outside the listed state divisions cannot request permanent, fixed-time, or temporary water-use changes for lower-basin diversion points. State divisions also cannot file lower-basin applications under the reservoir-delivery rule. A coordinated provision with H.B. 348 also restricts dedicated water applications and reservoir-delivery filings by the Division of Water Rights. That coordinated provision applies only when both H.B. 187 and H.B. 348 are enacted.
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
Senate 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