Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 60 — Water Rights Amendments

Last action — Governor Signed

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 22, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 23, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

277 added · 279 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill HB 60 clarify rules related to water rights and the actions of the state engineer. Key changes include how the state engineer can consider public protests and the criteria for approving or rejecting water applications, especially focusing on public welfare. This is important because it aims to balance water use rights with protecting community interests. Additionally, it specifies who can challenge decisions in court, making the process more transparent for those affected.

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HB0060S01 compared with HB0060 {Omitted text} shows text that was in HB0060 but was omitted in HB0060S01 inserted text shows text that was not in HB0060 but was inserted into HB0060S01 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy H.B.
This document is provided to assist you in your comparison of the two bills.
60 Water Rights Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Sometimes this automated comparison will NOT be completely accurate.
Therefore, you need to read the actual bills.
This automatically generated document could contain inaccuracies caused by:
limitations of the compare program;
bad input data;
or other causes.
Water Rights Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
3 LONG TITLE General Description:
Keven J.
Stratton 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
H None B Other Special Clauses:
None Other Special Clauses:
None 6 HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 Utah Code Sections Affected:
None Utah Code Sections Affected:
73-3-1 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 19 73-3-7 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 19 73-3-8 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 233 73-3-14 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 165, 382 73-3d-102 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 126 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
73-3-1, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 19 73-3-7, as last amended by Laws of Utah 1995, Chapter 19 73-3-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 233 73-3-14, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 165, 382 73-3d-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 126 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1.
H.B.
60 Enrolled Copy Section 1.
73-3-1.
73-3-1 .
(5) [(a)] Between appropriators, the one first in time is first in rights.
(5)[(a)] Between appropriators, the one first in time is first in rights.
73-3-7.
73-3-7 .
- 2 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 (2) The state engineer shall:
(2) The state engineer shall:
73-3-8.
73-3-8 .
(1) (a) [It shall be the duty of the] The state engineer [to] shall approve an application if there is reason to believe that:
(1)(a) [It shall be the duty of the] The state engineer [to] shall approve an application if - 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
60 there is reason to believe that:
- 3 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 (2) (a) [An ] The state engineer may approve an application to appropriate water for industrial, power, mining development, manufacturing purposes, agriculture, or municipal purposes[ may be approved] for a specific and certain period from the time the water is placed to beneficial use under the application, but in no event may the state engineer grant an application[ be granted] for a period of time less than that ordinarily needed to satisfy the essential and primary purpose of the application or until the water is no longer available as determined by the state engineer.
(2)(a) [An ] The state engineer may approve an application to appropriate water for industrial, power, mining development, manufacturing purposes, agriculture, or municipal purposes[ may be approved] for a specific and certain period from the time the water is placed to beneficial use under the application, but in no event may the state engineer grant an application[ be granted] for a period of time less than that ordinarily needed to satisfy the essential and primary purpose of the application or until the water is no longer available as determined by the state engineer.
(c) No later than 60 calendar days before the expiration date of the fixed time period, the state engineer shall send notice by mail or by any form of electronic communication through which receipt is verifiable, to the applicant of record.
(c) No later than 60 calendar days before the expiration date of the fixed time period, the - 3 - H.B.
60 Enrolled Copy state engineer shall send notice by mail or by any form of electronic communication through which receipt is verifiable, to the applicant of record.
(3) (a) Before the approval of [any] an application to divert water from a navigable [lakes or streams] lake or stream of the state that contemplates the recovery of salts and other minerals or elements, as defined in Section 65A-17-101, [therefrom] from the navigable lake or stream by precipitation or otherwise, the applicant shall file with the state engineer a copy of:
(3)(a) Before the approval of [any] an application to divert water from a navigable [lakes or streams] lake or stream of the state that contemplates the recovery of salts and other minerals or elements, as defined in Section 65A-17-101, [therefrom] from the navigable lake or stream by precipitation or otherwise, the applicant shall file with the state engineer a copy of:
(4) - 4 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 (a) The state engineer shall investigate [all] a temporary change [applications] application.
(4)(a) The state engineer shall investigate [all] a temporary change [applications] application.
(5) (a) With respect to a change application for a permanent or fixed time change:
(5)(a) With respect to a change application for a permanent or fixed time change:
(i) the state engineer shall follow the same procedures provided in this title for approving an application to appropriate water;
- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
60 (i) the state engineer shall follow the same procedures provided in this title for approving an application to appropriate water;
- 5 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 (E) does not violate an existing water agreement;
(E) does not violate an existing water agreement;
(6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), the state engineer shall reject a permanent or fixed time change application if the person proposing to make the change is unable to meet the burden described in Subsection 73-3-3(5).
- 5 - H.B.
60 Enrolled Copy (6)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), the state engineer shall reject a permanent or fixed time change application if the person proposing to make the change is unable to meet the burden described in Subsection 73-3-3(5).
(c) (i) There is a rebuttable presumption of quantity impairment, as defined in Section 73-3-3, to the extent that, for a period of at least seven consecutive years, a portion of the right identified in a change application [has not been] is not:
(c)(i) There is a rebuttable presumption of quantity impairment, as defined in Section 73-3-3, to the extent that, for a period of at least seven consecutive years, a portion of the right identified in a change application [has not been] is not:
- 6 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 (d) The state engineer may not consider quantity impairment based on the conditions described in Subsection (6)(c) unless the issue is raised in a:
(d) The state engineer may not consider quantity impairment based on the conditions described in Subsection (6)(c) unless the issue is raised in a:
(g) The owner of a right who receives the written notice described in Subsection (6)(d)(ii) may not become a party to the administrative proceeding if the owner has not filed a timely protest.
- 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
60 (g) The owner of a right who receives the written notice described in Subsection (6)(d)(ii) may not become a party to the administrative proceeding if the owner has not filed a timely protest.
(7) (a) To determine whether a proposed plan would not prove detrimental to the public welfare under Subsection (1)(a)(iii), the state engineer may {consider only issues directly related to} only consider:
(7)(a) To determine whether a proposed plan would not prove detrimental to the public welfare under Subsection (1)(a)(iii), the state engineer may only consider:
(i){(A)} the beneficial use of water;
(A) the beneficial use of water;
Show all 58 changed rows (18 more)
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or (ii){(B)} the quantity, quality, or availability of water {in the state.} ;
or (B) the quantity, quality, or availability of water;
(b) The state engineer may not consider or rely on detriment to the public welfare under Subsection (1) (a)(iii) as a basis for the rejection of an application if:
(b) The state engineer may not consider or rely on detriment to the public welfare under Subsection (1)(a)(iii) as a basis for the rejection of an application if:
(i) the prevention, regulation, or mitigation of the detrimental effect is reserved to, reasonably within the scope of authority of, or better suited to be addressed by another regulatory agency;or - 7 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 {(ii) {except as provided in Subsection (7)(c), the detriment to the public welfare is based on the volume of water on or flow of water across sovereign land, as defined in Section 65A-1-1, based on the land's status as sovereign land;
(i) the prevention, regulation, or mitigation of the detrimental effect is reserved to, reasonably within the scope of authority of, or better suited to be addressed by another regulatory agency;
or} } (iii){(ii)} the factors supporting a finding of a detriment to the public welfare:
or (ii) the factors supporting a finding of a detriment to the public welfare:
or (B) {are primarily related to indirect or } will have a negligible {environmental, economic, social, or other effects of } effect on the {proposed plan} interests described in Subsection (7)(a).
or (B) will have a negligible effect on the interests described in Subsection (7)(a).
{(c)} {The state engineer may consider the water present on or flowing across sovereign land, as defined in Section 65A-1-1, when addressing whether a proposed plan is detrimental to the public welfare if directed or authorized to do so by a statute other than this section.} } Section 4.
Section 4.
73-3-14.
73-3-14 .
(1) (a) A person aggrieved by an order of the state engineer may obtain judicial review in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act, and this section.
(1)(a) A person aggrieved by an order of the state engineer may obtain judicial review in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act, and this section.
(2) [The ] A person who files a petition of judicial review shall join the state engineer [shall be joined ]as a respondent in a petition to review the state engineer's decision, but [no] a court may not award a judgment for costs or expenses of the litigation [may be rendered ]against the state engineer.
(2) [The ] A person who files a petition of judicial review shall join the state engineer [shall be joined ]as a respondent in a petition to review the state engineer's decision, but [no] a - 7 - H.B.
60 Enrolled Copy court may not award a judgment for costs or expenses of the litigation [may be rendered ] against the state engineer.
- 8 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 (a) who requested the adjudicative proceeding;
(a) who requested the adjudicative proceeding;
Section 5.
- 8 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
60 Section 5.
73-3d-102.
73-3d-102 .
(1) (a) The powers vested in the governor under this chapter are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other emergency powers otherwise statutorily vested in the governor, including the power of the governor to authorize the use of water sources as necessary for fire suppression under Subsection 53-2a-204(1)(o).
(1)(a) The powers vested in the governor under this chapter are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other emergency powers otherwise statutorily vested in the governor, including the power of the governor to authorize the use of water sources as necessary for fire suppression under Subsection 53-2a-204(1)(o).
To exercise an authority granted under Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 2, Disaster Response and Recovery Act, related to a declaration of - 9 - HB0060 compared with HB0060S01 a state of emergency, the governor shall issue an executive order that is separate from an executive order declaring a temporary water shortage emergency.
To exercise an authority granted under Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 2, Disaster Response and Recovery Act, related to a declaration of a state of emergency, the governor shall issue an executive order that is separate from an executive order declaring a temporary water shortage emergency.
Effective date.
2-2-26 7:26 AM - 10 -
- 9 -
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Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. House/ to Governor

  3. House/ received enrolled bill from Printing

  4. House/ enrolled bill to Printing

  5. Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate

  6. Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared

  7. Bill Received from House for Enrolling

  8. House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

  9. House/ received from Senate

  10. Senate/ to House

  11. Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

  12. Senate/ passed 3rd reading

  13. Senate/ uncircled

  14. Senate/ circled

  15. Senate/ 3rd reading

  16. Senate/ passed 2nd reading

  17. Senate/ 2nd reading

  18. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  19. Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  20. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  21. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  22. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  23. Senate/ received from House

  24. House/ to Senate

  25. House/ passed 3rd reading

  26. House/ substituted

  27. House/ 3rd reading

  28. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0060S01

  29. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0060S01

  30. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0060S01

  31. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0060S01

  32. House/ 2nd reading

  33. House/ committee report favorable [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  34. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  35. House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  36. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  37. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  38. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  39. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0060

  40. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0060

  41. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0060

  42. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0060

  43. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  44. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 102 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (102)

102 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

environment
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 60?
HB 60 is sponsored by Keven J. Stratton (Republican) and David Shallenberger (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 60?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 22, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 60?
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