UtahH.B. 3482026 General SessionHouse

Dedicated Water Amendments

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.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Tighter rules for instream and sovereign uses

Beginning May 6, 2026, you may not appropriate unappropriated water to create an instream flow or a use on sovereign lands. If you file for instream flow or a sovereign‑lands use, your application must include a legal description and studies that show public benefits and need. Before filing for a sovereign‑lands use, you must get the division director’s written concurrence. Before filing to deliver water to a Colorado River System reservoir, you must get the Colorado River Authority director’s written concurrence. The state engineer can deny a dedicated application that would stop irrigation on the same field for a full season in more than two of five years.

New rules to dedicate water rights

Beginning May 6, 2026, you can file a dedicated water application. It adds an instream flow, a use on sovereign lands, or delivery to some Colorado River reservoirs to an existing right. Divisions and people entitled to use water can file these for a set time or forever, including split‑season use. The state engineer treats these as a priority, and they do not need the usual proof of appropriation. Approval does not change your base water right, extend its deadlines, or force yearly deliveries. You cannot separate the dedicated filing from the base right. The engineer may require yearly notice and reports. The approval ends if the base right lapses, or on notice for loss of interest, inability to deliver, not meeting conditions, or not providing requested information.

Approvals must list build and use deadlines

Beginning May 6, 2026, when the state engineer approves an application that is not fixed time or dedicated, the decision must list two deadlines. It must state when construction must be finished and when water must be put to beneficial use. This adds clear timelines but also creates firm due dates.

Fees and funding for water‑right services

Beginning May 6, 2026, the state engineer charges fees for listed water‑right services, including dedicated water applications. The fee is based on flow or annual volume; if you propose flow and storage, the higher measure sets the fee. The fees go to the General Fund as a dedicated credit for the Division of Water Rights. The Division can use that money only for public notices, processing conveyance reports, and hiring an employee to speed processing.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Jill Koford
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Sahara Hayes
Democratic • House
Stephanie Pitcher
Democratic • Senate
Scott D. Sandall
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 126 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension

Yes: 26 • No: 0

House vote • 2/24/2026

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

Yes: 4 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026

House/ passed 3rd reading

Yes: 70 • No: 0

House vote • 2/5/2026

House Comm - Substitute Recommendation

Yes: 13 • No: 0