All Roll Calls
Yes: 105 • No: 0
UtahH.B. 2432025 General SessionHouse
Agricultural Water Optimization Amendments
Sponsored By: David Shallenberger (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AgricultureDepartment of Agriculture and FoodNatural ResourcesWaterWater Conservation
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Lower farm grant matches with reporting rules
Beginning May 7, 2025, qualifying farm water projects require a match of at least 25% of total costs, rather than 50%. The lower match applies to applications filed on or after January 1, 2024. Eligible projects include subsurface drip irrigation, automated surge irrigation, and water measurement, remote monitoring, or reporting projects. Other projects remain subject to a match of at least 50%. Grant rules also require recipients to install and maintain necessary water-measuring devices and report water diversion and use to the State Engineer.
New funding system for farm water
Effective May 7, 2025, the law creates Utah's Agricultural Water Optimization Account for farm water grants and approved research. It can receive state appropriations, federal funds, grants, and donations; investment earnings stay in the account. The Utah Conservation Commission can spend account money on grants and committee-approved research only with legislative spending approval. Combined administrative spending by the agriculture and natural resources departments cannot exceed 1.5% of money appropriated to the grant program. A new nine-member committee sets grant eligibility, application, and preliminary screening rules. It includes state officials, Utah State University, conservation and water district representatives, and three Utah agriculture representatives. Appointed members serve staggered four-year terms; five members form a quorum, and business requires five votes. Members receive no compensation, but may receive travel expenses and per diem; the agriculture department maintains account records and supports the committee. The law assigns the committee oversight of remaining task force research and contracts as of July 1, 2023. Its work includes publishing farm economics research, studying barriers, recommending basin-level water-saving tools, measuring program results, and helping farmers benefit while protecting water quality. The law sets no grant or research funding amount. It also includes authority to loan up to $3 million in account General Fund money to the Agriculture Resource Development Fund, subject to statutory conditions, only until December 31, 2024—a deadline before this law's effective date.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
David Shallenberger
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Scott D. Sandall
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/6/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 0
House vote • 2/20/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 66 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/24/2025House/ to Governor
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/14/2025HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/14/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/7/2025Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/7/2025House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/7/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2025SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/6/2025SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2025SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/6/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/27/2025SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
2/27/2025SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/27/2025SenateSenate/ to standing committee
2/24/2025SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/21/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
2/21/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/20/2025HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/20/2025HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/20/2025HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
2/13/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/14/2025
Introduced
1/16/2025