Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 174 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Albrecht, Carl R.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/19/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• addresses money for obtaining legal support; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

3
73-2-1.6
Water Rights Restricted Account
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Carl R. Albrecht
Senate Sponsor: Derrin R. Owens
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions creating the Water Rights Restricted Account.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
addresses money for obtaining legal support; and
makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
73-2-1.6
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 154
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
73-2-1.6
 is amended to read:
73-2-1.6. Water Rights Restricted Account.
(1)
As used in this section:
(a)
"Account" means the Water Rights Restricted Account created by this section.
(b)
"Division" means the Division of Water Rights.
(2)
There is created in the General Fund a restricted account known as the "Water Rights 
Restricted Account."
(3)
The account shall consist of the money deposited into the account under Subsection 
59-12-103
(5)(e).
(4)
Upon appropriation, the division may use money in the account for:
(a)
 costs incurred by the division that benefit water rights adjudications, including:
(i)
employing technical staff;
(ii)
acquiring equipment;
(iii)
obtaining legal support; 
(iv)
(iii)
conducting studies;
(A)
(iv)
installing, operating, and maintaining measurement infrastructure; and
(B)
(v)
sharing the costs of installed United States Geological Survey stream gauges; 
and
(b)
not to exceed 5% of the money deposited into the account under Subsection 
59-12-103
(5)(e) in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year of appropriation, costs 
incurred by the division to acquire, manage, and analyze surface and groundwater 
data, not limited to geographic areas of adjudication
.
; and
(c)
costs incurred by the division to obtain legal support, not limited to geographic areas 
of adjudication.
(5)
(a)
The account may not exceed $8,000,000 at the end of a fiscal year.
(b)
If the account exceeds $8,000,000 at the end of a fiscal year, the Division of Finance 
shall deposit into the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund, created 
in Section 
73-10-24
, the money in excess of the amount necessary to maintain the 
account balance at $8,000,000.
Section 2. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
1-10-25 3:22 PM