1     
AGRICULTURAL WATER USE AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Jacob L. Anderegg

5     
House Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses reporting on agricultural water use.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     defines terms;
13          ▸     requires the Division of Water Rights to prepare a report about agricultural use of
14     water; and
15          ▸     addresses distribution of the report.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     ENACTS:
22          73-2-30, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 73-2-30 is enacted to read:
26          73-2-30. Agriculture water reporting by division.
27          (1) As used in this section:

28          (a) "Agricultural use" means a use of water on land assessed under Title 59, Chapter 2,
29     Part 5, Farmland Assessment Act.
30          (b) "Division" means the Division of Water Rights.
31          (2) The division shall prepare a report concerning agricultural use of water. The report
32     shall include:
33          (a) the amount of water for agricultural use that is used in the state;
34          (b) of the water described in Subsection (2)(a), the amount distributed:
35          (i) by flood irrigation;
36          (ii) by drip irrigation;
37          (iii) through pressurized systems; or
38          (iv) using a different irrigation method;
39          (c) the amount of water for agricultural use that is subject to metering;
40          (d) the amount of water for agricultural use that is owned by different ownership types,
41     such as by a special service district, municipality, or private entity;
42          (e) explanations of unique regional issues that affect metering of water for agricultural
43     use; and
44          (f) any other information the division determines to be relevant to metering agricultural
45     use of water.
46          (3) (a) By November 1, 2020, the division shall:
47          (i) complete the report required by Subsection (2); and
48          (ii) provide a copy of the report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
49     Environment Interim Committee and the Economic Development and Workforce Services
50     Interim Committee.
51          (b) At the request of the chairs of the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
52     Interim Committee or the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee,
53     the division may present the report in the November meeting of the requesting committee.