2022 Legislative Wrap-Up
Authored by Jess Lofland
We tracked three bills related to water during the 2022 General Session of the Utah Legislature. All three passed; water championed this year!
During the Utah Legislature’s 2022 General Session, we tracked three bills that aligned with our mission and vision. All three passed during the session!
HB121 | Water Conservation Modifications (Passed)
Sponsor: Rep. Robert Spendlove & Sen. Michael Mikell
This bill provides incentives to replace lawns with xeriscaping and drought-tolerant plants. A landowner can apply to the Division of Water Resources for up to 50 percent of the cost of landscape replacement. It also requires State of Utah facilities reduce water use by 25 percent by 2026.
HB131 | Watershed Restoration Initiative (Passed)
Sponsor: Rep. Gay Lynn Bennion & Sen. Evan Vickers
This bill formalizes the long-standing and successful Water Restoration Initiative within the Department of Natural Resources. It defines the Initiative’s policies and objectives and protects it in the state code. The Water Restoration Initiative has successfully improved, restored, and protected riparian ecosystems throughout Utah for 16 years.
HB33 | Instream Water Flow Amendments (Passed)
Sponsor: Rep. Joel Ferry & Sen. Scott Sandall
This bill allows water rights holders to lease water for up to ten years without risk of losing the right. Under the “use it or lose it” law, leaving water in streambeds was considered a waste of the resource. This bill could restore instream flows in seasonally dewatered streams, such as Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Creeks, as a result of water rights diversions.
