All Roll Calls
Yes: 217 • No: 17
UtahS.B. 802025 General SessionSenateWALLET
Water Fee Amendments
Sponsored By: Scott D. Sandall (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Department of Environmental QualityNatural ResourcesWater Utilities, Irrigation, and SewerDrinking WaterLocal Taxation and FeesWater
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Fee incentives for qualifying water systems
Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah's environmental department may offer financial incentives through its water system fee schedule. Noncommunity systems must comply with the public water system requirements in Section 19-4-114. Community systems must also meter every residential connection, adopt tiered water rates, and have a recent drinking water master plan. That plan report must have been created within 10 years before the fee is imposed. The law sets no incentive amount and does not guarantee lower customer bills.
Qualifying farm water avoids state fees
Qualifying agricultural water is exempt from environmental department fees beginning May 7, 2025, and council fees beginning July 1, 2026. It must be used for irrigation under a Utah water right to produce food, fiber, fuel, or other agricultural products. Water delivered for drinking or other household uses does not qualify. Neither does water delivered through a secondary water connection. The law sets no dollar value for these exemptions.
Wholesale water suppliers get fee exemption
Beginning May 7, 2025, wholesale public water suppliers are exempt from the environmental department's annual water-use fee. The exemption excludes water delivered directly to end users for drinking or other household uses. It does not exempt suppliers from every type of water fee. The law does not require suppliers to pass savings to customers.
District customers face water fee pass-throughs
Beginning May 7, 2025, special districts can pass these state water fees to customers without certain fee limits or public-hearing requirements. The district's service fee or increase must equal the amount needed to pay the state fee. This exception covers both environmental department and water council fees imposed on the district. The law does not set the customer charge.
New fees for Utah water systems
Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah's environmental department must develop public water system fees after reviewing costs and other funding sources. Fees can cover annual water use, plan reviews, sanitary inspections, and regulatory staff. The department retains part for regulation; the rest goes to the Water Infrastructure Fund, supporting prioritized projects beginning July 1, 2026. Beginning July 1, 2026, the state water council may develop separate fees, but collection requires legislative approval. Council payments go to the same fund. State fee safeguards include itemized statements, public notice and hearings for new or increased fees, and legislative fiscal monitoring. Fee-development reports are due October 31, 2025, for the department and October 31, 2026, for the council. The law sets no fee amounts; water systems may pass costs to customers.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Scott D. Sandall
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Casey Snider
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/4/2025
House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate Conference Committee - Final Passage
Yes: 21 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2025
Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2025
House Conference Committee - Final Passage
Yes: 60 • No: 10
Senate vote • 2/27/2025
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/27/2025
House/ refused to recede from House amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2025
Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2025
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2025
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2025
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 62 • No: 7
House vote • 2/20/2025
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/7/2025
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 2/7/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/5/2025
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 26 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/28/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ refused to recede from House amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ refuse to concur with House amendments
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • Unknown
Senate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • Unknown
House Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/24/2025Senate/ to Governor
3/12/2025SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/12/2025SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/7/2025SenateEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/7/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/5/2025Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling
3/5/2025Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/5/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
3/5/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/5/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/4/2025SenateSenate Conference Committee - Final Passage
3/4/2025SenateSenate Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
3/4/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
3/4/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/4/2025HouseHouse Conference Committee - Final Passage
3/4/2025HouseHouse Motion to Adopt Joint Conference Comm Rpt
3/4/2025HouseConference Committee Report
3/3/2025Bill Substituted by Conference Committee
3/3/2025Senate/ to House
2/28/2025SenateSenate Conference Committee Appointed
2/28/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
2/28/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/27/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/7/2025
Substitute #3
3/3/2025
Substitute #2
2/26/2025
Substitute #1
2/7/2025
Introduced
1/9/2025
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