1     
LEGISLATIVE WATER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

2     
AMENDMENTS

3     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

6     
House Sponsor: Casey Snider

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This bill modifies provisions related to the Legislative Water Development
11     Commission.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This bill:
14          ▸     authorizes the Legislative Water Development Commission to open committee bill
15     files related to the commission's duties.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          73-27-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 50
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 73-27-103 is amended to read:
26          73-27-103. Duties and powers of commission.
27          (1) The commission shall consider and make recommendations to the Legislature and
28     governor on the following issues:
29          (a) how the water needs of the state's growing agricultural, municipal, and industrial

30     sectors will be met;
31          (b) what the impact of federal regulations and legislation will be on the ability of the
32     state to manage and develop its compacted water rights;
33          (c) how the state will fund water projects;
34          (d) whether the state should become an owner and operator of water projects;
35          (e) how the state will encourage the implementation of water conservation programs;
36     and
37          (f) other water issues of statewide importance.
38          (2) The commission shall consult with the Division of Water Resources and the Board
39     of Water Resources regarding:
40          (a) recommendations for rules, criteria, targets, processes, and plans described in
41     Subsection 73-10g-105(3); and
42          (b) the scope of any request for proposals that may be issued by the Division of Water
43     Resources and Board of Water Resources to assist in creating the rules, criteria, targets,
44     processes, and plans described in Subsection 73-10g-105(3) .
45          (3) The commission shall support community efforts to develop a unified, state water
46     strategy to promote water conservation and efficiency that:
47          (a) is consistent with Section 73-1-21;
48          (b) is created with the aid of stakeholders including water conservancy districts created
49     under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 10, Water Conservancy District Act;
50          (c) includes model ordinances or policies consistent with the unified, statewide water
51     strategy that may be adopted by political subdivisions; and
52          (d) respects different needs of different political subdivisions or geographic regions of
53     the state.
54          (4) The commission may:
55          (a) form one or more working groups from the membership of the commission to
56     consider and study the issues described in this section; [and]
57          (b) meet up to six times per calendar year without approval from the Legislative

58     Management Committee[.]; and
59          (c) open one or more committee bill files that relate to the commission's duties under
60     this section.
61          [(5) (a) In addition to supporting community efforts to develop a unified, state water
62     strategy to promote water conservation and efficiency under Subsection (3), the commission
63     shall study water conservation in the state on public and private land including:]
64          [(i) the management of water resources in the state; and]
65          [(ii) programs and policies to promote water conservation in the state that also protect
66     and support existing water rights.]
67          [(b) The commission shall report the commission's findings under this Subsection (5),
68     including any proposed legislation, to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment
69     Interim Committee by no later than the 2022 November interim meeting of the Natural
70     Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee.]