Utah Legislative Session

Dear FRIENDS,

The 2025 Utah Legislative Session is underway. Over the last six years, significant legislation has been passed affecting water policy and management in the Great Salt Lake basin. Read a summary at the bottom of this page.

State agencies including the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Division of Water Resources, and State Engineer’s office are responsible for implementing many of these bills. To uphold the intent of protective legislation, FRIENDS engages in administrative processes with state agencies, independently verifies scientific claims, and, when necessary, makes legal challenges on behalf of the Lake. With this charge, we have filed legal protests related to 2023’s H.B. 349 Water Reuse Projects Amendments, aiming to keep more than 150,000 acre-feet of treated wastewater flowing to Great Salt Lake. Learn more about these active protests here.

There is still work to be done to fill gaps in existing legislation, as identified by the Great Salt Lake Strike Team’s 2025 Report. Our priorities include efforts to advance water conservation, measurement, and shepherding. See pages 20 and 21 of the Strike Team Report for specific recommendations to get more water to Great Salt Lake. 

Below are the 2025 bills we’re tracking. 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.

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

Priority Bills

H.B. 244 Wildlife Management Area Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Snider, creates Bear River Bay Waterfowl Management Area, removes restrictions on impounding structures in certain waterfowl management areas, and modifies regulation of airboats or small watercraft in certain waterfowl management areas.

We are studying this bill.

Status as of 2/13: Recommended by House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee; scheduled for third reading in House.

H.B. 274 Water Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Snider, addresses how water conservation may be considered by municipalities and retail water suppliers when setting water rates, and allows for tiered pricing of secondary water. The bill’s current language also removes the requirement that not more than five members of the Board of Water Resources shall be from the same political party.

Tiered water pricing is a conservation tool identified by the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s 2024 Strategic Plan (pages 26 and 32), and we support the creation of a framework allowing water suppliers to implement tiered pricing for the purpose of conservation.

Status as of 2/13: Recommended by House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee; scheduled for third reading in House.

Who to Contact: Your Representative

H.B. 304 Livestock Watering Modifications, sponsored by Rep. Chew, establishes issuance of livestock watering certificates for homesteads. Based on the bill’s current language, livestock watering certificates would be issued in lieu of a water right, with minimal verification of requirements and without being subject to protest as water rights applications are.

We oppose this bill as written, due to concerns that livestock watering certificates will circumvent the water rights process.

Status as of 2/13: Still in House Rules Committee

Who to Contact: House Rules Committee Members

H.B. 318 Residential Turf Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Owens, requires cities and counties within the Great Salt Lake watershed to adopt restrictions on new construction that limits the amount of lawn based on lot size and prohibits lawn in park strips.

According to the Great Salt Lake Commissioner's 2024 Strategic Plan, “60% of Utah's residential water use goes toward outdoor irrigation” (page 13). The Plan identifies integrated land and water use planning as “one of the quickest strategies for reaching regional conservation goals” (page 31). We support this model for growth that values water and protects Great Salt Lake.

Status as of 2/13: Still in House Political Subdivisions Committee

Who to Contact: House Political Subdivisions Committee Members

S.B. 92 Golf Course Amendments, sponsored by Sen. McCay, requires a study of water used by golf courses and protects data derived in study from public disclosure.

The Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s 2024 Strategic Plan calls for the development of better methodology for estimating water use and processing and storing data (page 20). The Plan states, “good data management allows for accurate and transparent distribution accounting and makes water measurements widely available to different interests for many purposes.” 

We support the measurement of water used by golf courses, but oppose the data’s exemption from the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).

Status as of 2/13: Passed by Senate; Sent to House Rules Committee

Who to Contact: House Rules Committee Members

Other Relevant Bills

H.B. 41 State Water Policy Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Albrecht, amends the state water policy to reference saved water and promote quality of groundwater, monitoring of activities in drinking water watersheds by watershed councils, state water planning and formation of state water plan, and regionally appropriate water reuse.

We support the inclusion of these efforts in the state water policy.

Status as of 2/13: Passed by House; scheduled for third reading in Senate

Who to Contact: Your Senator

H.B. 328 Water Usage Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Owens, directs cities and counties to prohibit use of overhead spray irrigation within the Great Salt Lake watershed in certain situations.

According to the Great Salt Lake Commissioner's 2024 Strategic Plan, “60% of Utah's residential water use goes toward outdoor irrigation” (page 13). We support regulations to improve efficiency of outdoor irrigation in the Great Salt Lake watershed.

Status as of 2/13: Awaiting hearing by House Political Subdivisions Committee

Who to Contact: House Political Subdivisions Committee Members

H.B. 330 Water Sprinkler Efficiency Requirements, sponsored by Rep. Owens, restricts the sale of sprinklers that do not meet EPA efficiency standards by July 2026.

According to the Great Salt Lake Commissioner's 2024 Strategic Plan, “60% of Utah's residential water use goes toward outdoor irrigation” (page 13). We support the adoption of efficiency standards for spray sprinklers. 

Status as of 2/13: Awaiting hearing by House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee

Who to Contact: House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee Members

S.B. 163 Government Records Amendments, sponsored by Sen. Harper, significantly amends provisions relating to the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).

We are studying this bill.

Status as of 2/13: Sent to Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee; on agenda for 2/14

Who to Contact: Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee Members

How You Can Help

Contacting your representatives during and outside of 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