Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 236 (2023GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Hinkins, D.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/14/2023

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• authorizes the Legislative Water Development Commission to open committee bill files related to the commission's duties.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

LEGISLATIVE WATER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: David P. Hinkins
House Sponsor: 
 Casey Snider
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to the Legislative Water Development
Commission.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ authorizes the Legislative Water Development Commission to open committee bill
files related to the commission's duties.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
73-27-103
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 50
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
73-27-103
 is amended to read:
73-27-103.
Duties and powers of commission.
(1) The commission shall consider and make recommendations to the Legislature and
governor on the following issues:
(a) how the water needs of the state's growing agricultural, municipal, and industrial
sectors will be met;
(b) what the impact of federal regulations and legislation will be on the ability of the
state to manage and develop its compacted water rights;
(c) how the state will fund water projects;
(d) whether the state should become an owner and operator of water projects;
(e) how the state will encourage the implementation of water conservation programs;
and
(f) other water issues of statewide importance.
(2) The commission shall consult with the Division of Water Resources and the Board
of Water Resources regarding:
(a) recommendations for rules, criteria, targets, processes, and plans described in
Subsection 
73-10g-105
(3); and
(b) the scope of any request for proposals that may be issued by the Division of Water
Resources and Board of Water Resources to assist in creating the rules, criteria, targets,
processes, and plans described in Subsection 
73-10g-105
(3) .
(3) The commission shall support community efforts to develop a unified, state water
strategy to promote water conservation and efficiency that:
(a) is consistent with Section 
73-1-21
;
(b) is created with the aid of stakeholders including water conservancy districts created
under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 10, Water Conservancy District Act;
(c) includes model ordinances or policies consistent with the unified, statewide water
strategy that may be adopted by political subdivisions; and
(d) respects different needs of different political subdivisions or geographic regions of
the state.
(4) The commission may:
(a) form one or more working groups from the membership of the commission to
consider and study the issues described in this section; [
and
]
(b) meet up to six times per calendar year without approval from the Legislative
Management Committee[
.
]
; and
(c) open one or more committee bill files that relate to the commission's duties under
this section.
[
(5) (a) In addition to supporting community efforts to develop a unified, state water
strategy to promote water conservation and efficiency under Subsection (3), the commission
shall study water conservation in the state on public and private land including:
]
[
(i) the management of water resources in the state; and
]
[
(ii) programs and policies to promote water conservation in the state that also protect
and support existing water rights.
]
[
(b) The commission shall report the commission's findings under this Subsection (5),
including any proposed legislation, to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
Interim Committee by no later than the 2022 November interim meeting of the Natural
Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee.
]