Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 243 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Shallenberger, David

Final action

Governor Signed 3/24/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• allows the Agricultural Water Optimization Committee to use certain money to fund research;
• modifies eligibility requirements related to grants for agricultural water optimization; and
• makes technical and conforming amendments.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

13
73-10g-204
73-10g-205
0
Agricultural Water Optimization Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: David Shallenberger
Senate Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses agricultural water optimization. 
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
allows the Agricultural Water Optimization Committee to use certain money to fund 
research;
modifies eligibility requirements related to grants for agricultural water optimization; and
makes technical and conforming amendments.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
73-10g-204
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 261
73-10g-205
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 233
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
73-10g-204
 is amended to read:
73-10g-204
. Agricultural Water Optimization Account.
(1)
There is created a restricted account within the General Fund called the "Agricultural 
Water Optimization Account."
(2)
The account consists of:
(a)
appropriations from the Legislature;
(b)
federal funds; and
(c)
grants or donations from other public or private sources.
(3)
Subject to appropriation, the conservation commission may use money in the account to
:
(a)
issue grants in accordance with Section 
73-10g-206
 to improve agricultural water 
optimization
.
; and
(b)
fund research approved by the committee under Subsection 
73-10g-205(7)
.
(4)
Until December 31, 2024, the department may loan up to $3,000,000 of General Fund 
money in the account to the Agriculture Resource Development Fund, subject to the 
conditions described in Section 
4-18-106
.
(5)
(a)
The department shall maintain the account and record the debits and credits made 
to the account by the department.
(b)
The Office of the Treasurer shall deposit interest and other earnings derived from 
investment of money in the account into the account.
(6)
The department and the Department of Natural Resources may use money in the 
account for the administration of this part, except that the aggregate amount expended 
under this Subsection 
(6)
 may not exceed 1.5% of the money appropriated to the grant 
program described in Section 
73-10g-206
.
Section 2, Section 
73-10g-205
 is amended to read:
73-10g-205
. Agricultural Water Optimization Committee.
(1)
There is created in the department a committee known as the "Agricultural Water 
Optimization Committee" that consists of:
(a)
the commissioner of the department, or the commissioner's designee;
(b)
the director of the division, or the director's designee;
(c)
the director of the Division of Water Rights, or the director's designee;
(d)
the dean of the College of Agriculture and Applied Science from Utah State 
University, or the dean's designee;
(e)
one individual representing local conservation districts created by Title 17D, Chapter 
3, Conservation District Act, appointed by the executive director of the Department 
of Natural Resources;
(f)
one individual representing water conservancy districts, appointed by the executive 
director of the Department of Natural Resources; and
(g)
three Utah residents representing the interests of the agriculture industry appointed 
by the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources.
(2)
(a)
An individual appointed under Subsection (1) shall serve for a term of four years.
(b)
Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (2)(a), the executive director of the 
Department of Natural Resources shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, 
adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of appointed members are 
staggered so that approximately half of the appointed members are appointed every 
two years.
(3)
(a)
The presence of five members constitutes a quorum.
(b)
The vote of five members constitutes the transaction of business by the committee.
(c)
The committee shall select one of the committee's members to be chair. The 
committee may select a member to be vice chair to act in place of the chair:
(i)
during the absence or disability of the chair; or
(ii)
as requested by the chair.
(d)
The committee shall convene at the times and places prescribed by the chair.
(4)
A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but may 
receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
(a)
Section 
63A-3-106
;
(b)
Section 
63A-3-107
; and
(c)
rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 
63A-3-106
 and 
63A-3-107
.
(5)
The department shall provide administrative support to the committee.
(6)
The committee shall make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act, establishing:
(a)
eligibility requirements for a grant issued under Section 
73-10g-206
, except that the 
eligibility requirements shall:
(i)
require at least a match for grant money of 50% of the total costs, except that for a 
grant application filed on or after January 1, 2024, the eligibility requirements 
shall require at least a match of 25% of the total costs for
:
(A)
a 
subsurface 
drip 
or automated surge 
irrigation project;
(B)
an automated surge irrigation project; or
(C)
a measurement, telemetry, or reporting project;
(ii)
consider the statewide need to distribute grant money;
(iii)
require a grant recipient to construct or install and maintain one or more 
measuring devices as necessary to comply with Section 
73-5-4
 and rules adopted 
by the Division of Water Rights regarding installation, use, and maintenance of 
devices to measure water use and to demonstrate water use in accordance with a 
project funded by a grant; and
(iv)
require a grant recipient to report water diversion and use measurements to the 
state engineer pursuant to Section 
73-5-4
 and rules made by the state engineer, in 
accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, for 
water measurement and reporting;
(b)
the process for applying for a grant issued under Section 
73-10g-206
; and
(c)
preliminary screening criteria to be used by the department under Subsection 
73-10g-206
(2)(d).
(7)
The committee shall, in coordination with the division:
(a)
as of July 1, 2023, assume oversight of all remaining research and contracts of the 
previous Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force activities;
(b)
post research to address and account for farm economics at the enterprise and 
community level that affects agricultural water optimization and encourage market 
behavior that financially rewards agricultural water optimization practices;
(c)
oversee research to identify obstacles to and constraints upon optimization of 
agricultural water use, and to recommend management tools, technologies, and other 
opportunities to optimize agricultural water use as measured at the basin level; 
and
(d)
use money in the account to fund research approved by the committee that:
(i)
is described in Subsection 
(7)(b)
 or (c); or
(ii)
establishes methods for measuring saved water or the effectiveness of the 
agricultural water optimization funding programs established by this part; and
(d)
(e)
facilitate benefits for farmers who optimize water use and protect water quality.
(8)
The committee shall comply with Section 
73-10g-206
 related to grants issued under this 
part.
Section 3. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-14-25 1:36 PM