February 27, 2023

2023 Legislative Updates

Dear FRIENDS,

The 2023 Utah Legislative Session is coming to a close. There are several opportunities to support water conservation and investment in efforts to rescue Great Salt Lake from ongoing collapse. Please do your part to preserve and protect the Great Salt Lake ecosystem by contacting your representatives regarding legislation relevant to the health of Great Salt Lake. Here's what we're tracking:

Budget:

The Executive Appropriations Committee met on Friday, 2/24 to release the budget draft. Included in the budget draft is $8 m. for Air & Water Innovation Grants, $6 m. for Wetland Acquisition, $5 m. each for Turf Replacement Rebates and Utah Lake Improvements, $5,449,000 for Water Rights Measurements and Data, $15 m. for Secondary Water Metering, $200 m. for Ag Optimization, and $10 m. for Emergency Water Shortages, and $20 m. for Wildlife Highway Mitigation.

Priority Bills:

To receive email notifications about the status of these and any other bills during this session, sign up for the Legislature's tracking service.

 S.B. 76 Water Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Sandall, addresses coordination of planning related to water and land use, including requiring certain municipalities and counties to consult with state agencies and others in development of general plans. This bill also appropriates $890,000 for planning. Effective water planning must become an integral part of land use planning and economic development as Utah continues to grow. We strongly support this step toward that goal.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by Senate! Recommended by standing committee, but returned to House Rules Committee due to fiscal impact.

Who to Contact: House Rules Committee members

S.B. 92 Special License Plate Designation, sponsored by Sen. Plumb, creates the Great Salt Lake Preservation special group license plate and directs revenue generated by the license plate to be deposited into the Sovereign Lands Management Account to enhance preservation of the Great Salt Lake watershed and ecosystem. We support this additional source of funding for the Lake and its recognition of Great Salt Lake as a Utah landmark.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by both chambers!

Who to Contact: Thank your representatives and bill sponsor, Sen. Plumb.

S.B.118 Water Efficient Landscaping Incentives, sponsored by Sen. Sandall, establishes a financial incentive program for the conversion of lawns or turf to water efficient landscaping. Conservation by all water users is critical to the preservation of Great Salt Lake. We strongly support this conservation initiative.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by Senate! Recommended by standing committee, but returned to House Rules Committee due to fiscal impact.

Who to Contact: House Rules Committee members

S.B. 119 Per Capita Consumptive Use, sponsored by Sen. McKell, defines how per capita consumptive water use is to be calculated, requires reporting, and regulates the publication or dissemination of consumptive water use numbers. Effectively measuring water use is essential for water supply planning and water conservation efforts. Gallons Per Capita Per Day (GPCD) is a common metric for measuring water use but under the surface there are some shortcomings that if not understood can lead to bad comparisons and even worse decisions. We oppose this bill, as flawed language may allow for underreporting and lack of transparency that would undermine water conservation efforts.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by both chambers.

Who to Contact: N/A

S.C.R. 6 Concurrent Resolution Regarding the Great Salt Lake Elevation Targets, sponsored by Sen. Blouin, establishes a target minimum elevation of 4,198 feet above sea level for Great Salt Lake. A surface elevation of 4,198 feet supports the health of the Lake's ecosystem and other beneficial uses according to the Utah Department of Natural Resources' Great Salt Lake Elevation Matrix. We support the designation of this target elevation for Great Salt Lake.

Status as of 2/27: Failed in Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee by 4-2 vote.

Who to Contact: N/A

H.B. 121 Wildlife Habitat Account Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Peterson, increases the percentage and amounts of money that go to wetlands that are beneficial to waterfowl and decreases amounts that go to upland and big game projects. We support this investment in critical wetland habitats which support migratory birds and other wildlife.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by both chambers!

Who to Contact: Thank your representatives and bill sponsor, Rep. Peterson.

H.B. 137 State Crustacean Designation, sponsored by Rep. Lesser, designates the brine shrimp as the state crustacean. We support this symbolic recognition of a keystone species in the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. This bill was introduced in partnership with sixth graders from Emerson Elementary School. Read more about this collaborative effort and why the students think brine shrimp should be our state crustacean here.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by House! Recommended by standing committee; awaiting second reading and full vote in Senate.

Who to Contact: Your Senator

H.B. 150 Emergency Water Shortages Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Albrecht, clarifies the process for the declaration of emergency shortages of water by the governor and creates a preference for uses of water during a temporary water shortage emergency. We support this clarification of priorities as Utah faces continued drought.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by House! Recommended by standing committee; awaiting second reading and full vote in Senate.

Who to Contact: Your Senator

H.B. 217 School Energy and Water Reductions, sponsored by Rep. Bennion, authorizes the State Board of Education to issue grants to schools related to energy and water reductions with priority given to outdoor water conservation projects, and provides a one-time $9.9 million appropriation from the Income Tax Fund. We support this water conservation initiative.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by House! Sent to Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee to be heard at 8am meeting on Tuesday, 2/28.

Who to Contact: Committee Members

H.B. 220 Emissions Reduction Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Stoddard, enacts the Pollution Emission Reduction Act which imposes certain emission related requirements on the board of the Inland Port Authority. We strongly support this regulation of emissions related to the Inland Port, which is adjacent to critical wetlands on Great Salt Lake's southern shore as well as Westside communities that are already disproportionately impacted by air pollution.

Status as of 2/27: Passed by House! Sent to Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee to be heard at 8:54am meeting on Tuesday, 2/28.

Who to Contact: Committee Members

H.B. 262 Wildlife Management Area Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Snider, establishes wildlife management area purposes and how purposes and conditions for certain uses are to be implemented. There are several wildlife management areas surrounding Great Salt Lake, and we support the protection and effective management of these important habitats.

Status as of 2/27: Sent to House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee

Who to Contact: Committee Members

H.B. 272 Water Efficient Landscaping Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Owens, allows the Division of Water Resources to award grants to local water districts or municipalities that pass appropriate water use ordinances. Municipalities can use grant funding to financially assist property owners in water-efficient landscaping efforts. This bill would incentivize municipalities to adopt regionally-based water efficiency standards and promote water-efficient landscaping. We strongly support this effort to reduce outdoor irrigation in cities throughout the Great Salt Lake basin.

Status as of 2/27: Recommended by standing committee; circled on third reading in House

Who to Contact: Your Representative

H.B. 286 Great Salt Lake Funding Modifications, sponsored by Rep. Briscoe, redirects sales and use tax revenue from the Water Infrastructure Restricted Account (WIRA), which collects funding for the Bear River Development and Lake Powell Pipeline projects, to the Great Salt Lake Account for five years to support the management of Great Salt Lake's water levels. We strongly support this proposed use of existing tax revenue to fund urgent water acquisition for Great Salt Lake.

Status as of 2/27: Sent to House Rules Committee; awaiting standing committee assignment

Who to Contact: House Rules Committee members; Standing committee members, once assigned

H.B. 538 Water Usage Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Owens, establishes civil penalties for watering lawn or turf during a restricted period, and provides for use of water for the Great Salt Lake. We strongly support this water conservation initiative and the allocation of conserved water to Great Salt Lake.

Status as of 2/27: Recommended by standing committee; awaiting second reading in House

Who to Contact: Your Representative

How You Can Help:  

Contacting your representatives during the legislative session is an important responsibility and really does make a difference. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this legislation and reach out with any questions you might have, then contact your representatives and let them know that you support initiatives to preserve and protect Great Salt Lake. 

Find Your Representatives