SF 84 — Voluntary water conservation program.
Last action — Governor Signed SEA No. 0062
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
-
✓Introduced
-
✓In Committee
-
✓Passed Senate
-
✓Passed House
-
✓To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 07, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Mark Gordon (Republican) on March 08, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
-
Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
-
1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
Establishes the "Voluntary Water Conservation Program Act" administered by the State Engineer to manage water use in Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River basin. Defines key terms related to the program, including "conservation project," "consumptive use," and "curtailment." Outlines an application and approval process for conservation projects, including public notice and comment periods. Specifies criteria for project approval, including reduction of consumptive use and compliance with Wyoming's interstate compact obligations. Prohibits the approval of projects that harm other water rights or promote interstate water marketing. Authorizes the storage of conserved water in specified reservoirs and provides for the investigation of additional storage options. Appropriates funds to support program implementation and staffing. Requires the state engineer to publish notices and hold public meetings to inform stakeholders about the program. Ensures that no water rights are lost or impaired due to participation in the program. Sets a sunset date of July 1, 2032 for the authorization of new conservation projects under the program. Comments: Requires the State Engineer to report to the Select Water Committee and the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee on October 1 of each year until 2031, detailing the operation of the program.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
457 added · 379 removedPlain-language change summary
The revised bill SF 84 now includes updated definitions and terminology in the introduction section, specifying the understanding of the "Colorado River basin" and the "Colorado River Compact." These changes clarify the terms used in the legislation, ensuring that all parties have a consistent understanding of what is being referenced. This matters because clear definitions help avoid confusion and ensure that the implementation of the voluntary water conservation program is effective and aligned with existing agreements.
SORIGINAL TATE OF W YOMING 26LSO-0037 SENATE ENGROSSED FILE NO.
SF0084 VoluntaryENROLLED waterACT conservationNO. program.
Sponsored62, by:SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION AN ACT relating to water within Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River basin;
Select Water Committee A BILL for AN ACT relating to water within Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River basin;
SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 2 (a) As used in this act:
4 (i) "Colorado River basin" shall have the same meaning as defined in the Colorado River Compact and in the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact;
8 (ii) "Colorado River Compact" means the document signed on November 24, 1922, by representatives from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, and codified at W.S.
(iv) "Conservation project" means a voluntary project approved by the state engineer that reduces consumptive use within Wyoming's portion of the Colorado RiverORIGINAL basinSENATE orENGROSSED helpsFILE satisfyNO. Wyoming's interstate compact obligations through interstate agreements or otherwise;
2 SF0084 STATEENROLLED OFACT WYOMINGNO. 26LSO-0037 (v) "Consumptive use" means the depletion of water for domestic and agricultural beneficial uses as those terms are defined and referred to in the Colorado River Compact and the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION River basin or that may help satisfy Wyoming's interstate compact obligations through interstate agreements or under a valid court order entered by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(v) "Consumptive use" means the depletion of water for domestic and agricultural beneficial uses as those terms are defined and referred to in the Colorado River Compact and the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact.
7 (A) Consumed in association with the production of electrical power other than hydropower;
(B) Diverted from the Upper Colorado River system for which there are no return flows to that system, including,including for example, diversions outside the natural Colorado River watershed.
(vi) "Program""Curtailment" means the voluntarycurtailment of water conservationuse programunder authorizedthe pursuantterms toof thisthe act;Upper Colorado River Basin Compact;
(vii) "Upper"Involuntary Coloradowater Riveruse Basinregulation" Compact" means the documentregulation signedof onwater Octoberrights 11,by 1948,a Wyoming hydrographer or water commissioner as authorized by representativeslaw fromand thein statesaccordance ofwith Arizona,established Colorado,priorities Newor Mexico,as Utah,ordered andby Wyoming,a andcourt codifiedof atcompetent W.S.jurisdiction;
(viii) "Program" means the voluntary water conservation program authorized pursuant to this act;
(ix) "Upper Colorado River Basin Compact" means the document signed on October 11, 1948, by representatives ORIGINAL SENATE ENGROSSED FILE NO.
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION from the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, and codified at W.S.
3(x) SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 (viii) "Upper Colorado River Commission" means the administrative agency created by article VIII of the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact;
5(xi) (ix) "This act" means W.S.
8 (b) This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Voluntary Water Conservation Program Act".
Conservation project applications may include multiple water rights and multiple appropriators, and shall be accompanied by any information that the state engineer may SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 require.
5 (b) TheFor statethe engineerpurpose shallof publishproviding notice of eachthe program and of conservation project applicationapplications filedto underwater subsectionright (a)owners ofand thisother sectioninterested onpersons, the state engineer'sengineer website and shall provide the electronicopportunity noticefor requiredwater underright thisowners sectionand notother lessinterested thanpersons thirtyto (30)request daysnotice beforeof theORIGINAL stateSENATE engineerENGROSSED issuesFILE aNO. decision on the application.
TheSF0084 stateENROLLED engineerACT shallNO. provide electronic notice of each conservation project application to all persons who have requested electronic notice and have provided a valid email address.
Additionally,62, notSENATE lessSIXTY-EIGHTH thanLEGISLATURE thirtyOF (30)THE daysSTATE beforeOF theWYOMING stateBUDGET engineerSESSION issues a decision on any conservation project applicationapplications that proposes to forego the diversion and use of water for irrigation purposes, the applicant shall certify to the state engineer that the applicant made a good faith effort to provide notice of the conservation project by personal contact or regular mail toor all owners of land adjacent to conservation project lands and any contiguous lands owned by theelectronic applicant.means.
TheAny certificationperson requesting notice of conservation project applications under this subsection shall includeidentify athe listwater thatdistrict identifiesor alldistricts adjacentfor SF0084which STATEtheir OFrequest WYOMINGapplies 26LSO-0037and landownersshall thatprovide werea notifiedvalid bymailing theor applicant.email address.
(c) The state engineer shall publish notice of each conservation project application filed under subsection (a) of this section on the state engineer's website and shall provide the regular mail or electronic notice required under this section not less than thirty (30) days before the state engineer issues a decision on the application.
The state engineer shall provide notice of each conservation project application to all persons who have requested notice of applications within that water district and have provided a valid mailing or email address.
Additionally, not less than thirty (30) days before the state engineer issues a decision on any conservation project application that proposes to forgo the diversion and use of water for irrigation, the applicant shall certify to the state engineer that the applicant made a good faith effort to provide notice of the conservation project by personal contact or regular mail to all owners of land adjacent to conservation project lands and any contiguous lands owned by the applicant.
The certification shall include a list that identifies all adjacent landowners that were notified by the applicant.
9ORIGINAL (c)SENATE TheENGROSSED stateFILE engineerNO. shall review each application submitted under this section and any written comments that are received under this section and shall approve only those conservation project applications that are in compliance with the requirements of this section and the state engineer's regulations.
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (d) The state engineer shall review each application submitted under this section and any written comments that are received under this section and shall approve only those conservation project applications that are in compliance with the requirements of this section and the state engineer's regulations.
(d)(e) The state engineer shall not approve a conservation project application if the proposed SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 conservation project will injuriously affect the water rights of other appropriators orand if the proposed conservation project will notnot: result in the reduction of historic consumptive use or help satisfy Wyoming's interstate compact obligations through interstate agreements or otherwise.
The(i) stateResult engineer may refuse any conservation project application that appears to be detrimental to the public interest or that appears to provide for or aid in the interstatereduction marketing of water.historic consumptive use;
or (ii) Help satisfy Wyoming's interstate compact obligations through interstate agreements or under a valid court order entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(f) The state engineer may refuse any conservation project application that appears to be detrimental to the public interest or that appears to provide for or aid in the interstate marketing of water.
(e)ORIGINAL ApprovedSENATE conservationENGROSSED projectsFILE shallNO. not cause the involuntary regulation of any other Wyoming water right.
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
Show all 100 changed lines (60 more)
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (g) Approved conservation projects shall not cause the regulation of any other Wyoming water right by the state of Wyoming.
41-3-606, the water commissioner may prevent headgates of all downstream diversions that are subject to the regulation from that source of supply from diverting and using any water SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 conserved by the conservation project during the period of time the source of supply is being regulated.
4(h) (f) The state engineer shall not approve a conservation project application unless the applicant demonstrates a recent history of consumptive use made under the applicant's water right or the conservation project helps satisfy Wyoming's interstate compact obligations through interstate agreement or otherwise.
For any conservation project where the state engineer determines that alternative methods may be better suited to determine the historic consumptive use, including methods to estimate consumptive use incident to the diversion, impounding and conveyance of water, the state engineer shall have the discretion to use those alternative methods.
8(j) SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 (g) The state engineer shall not approve any conservation project applicationapplication, that includes water rights that are appurtenant to lands within an irrigation district or conservancy district without the written consentORIGINAL ofSENATE theENGROSSED district.FILE NO.
7SF0084 (h)ENROLLED ForACT anyNO. conservation project that proposes to temporarily forego the diversion and use of the direct natural flow of water for irrigation purposes, the total period of the conservation project approved under this section shall not exceed five (5) consecutive years.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION consent of the district, that includes water rights that are appurtenant to lands within:
(i) An irrigation district;
(ii) A conservancy district;
or (iii) A watershed improvement district.
(k) For any conservation project that proposes to temporarily forego the diversion and use of the direct natural flow of water for irrigation purposes, the total period of the conservation project approved under this section shall not exceed five (5) consecutive years.
9(m) SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 (j) No loss, abandonment or impairment of any water rights involved in an approved conservation project shall occur or attach as a result of the conservation project.
9ORIGINAL (k)SENATE AnyENGROSSED appealFILE ofNO. the state engineer's endorsement upon a conservation project application shall be made in the following manner:
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (n) Any appeal of the state engineer's endorsement upon a conservation project application shall be made in the following manner:
(ii) Any owner of a valid water right whose water right will be injuriously affected by the state engineer's approval of a conservation project may appeal the action of the state engineer to the board of control not later than thirty (30) days after the notice of SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 approval of the conservation project is posted on the state engineer's website pursuant to subsection (c)(d) of this section;
5 (iii) Pursuant to an appeal under paragraph (i) or (ii) of this subsection, the board of control shall appoint a hearing officer and conduct a contested case hearing in accordance with its rules and regulations and the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act.
Judicial review shall be sought within thirty (30) days after the notice of approval of the conservationORIGINAL projectSENATE isENGROSSED postedFILE onNO. the state engineer's website pursuant to subsection (c) of this section.
11 SF0084 STATEENROLLED OFACT WYOMINGNO. 26LSO-0037 (m) Conservation project applications or approved conservation projects under this section shall not be considered or construed as applications for use of water outside of the state of Wyoming, or transfers of use of water outside the state of Wyoming, for purposes of W.S.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION conservation project is posted on the state engineer's website pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.
(o) Conservation project applications or approved conservation projects under this section shall not be considered or construed as applications for use of water outside of the state of Wyoming, or transfers of use of water outside the state of Wyoming, for purposes of W.S.
8(p) (n) The state engineer shall assess a fee not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) for the review of conservation project applications under this section.
(o)(q) NoInformation newprovided conservationby projectan shallapplicant beor authorizedincluded as part of a conservation project under this sectionact onshall ornot afterbe Julysubject 1,to 2032.W.S.
16-4-203(d)(xiv).
(r) No new conservation project shall be authorized under this section on or after July 1, 2032.
Storage of conserved water;water.
(a) The state engineer and the Wyoming water development office are hereby authorized to pursue the ability to store water conserved under the program in Fontenelle Reservoir.
(a) The state engineer and the Wyoming water development office are hereby authorized to pursue the ability to store water conserved under the program in SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 Fontenelle Reservoir.
7ORIGINAL (b)SENATE ConservedENGROSSED waterFILE storedNO. in Fontenelle Reservoir under this section shall only be released for one (1) or more of the following purposes:
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION (b) Conserved water stored in any reservoir under this section shall only be released for one (1) or more of the following purposes:
13 SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 (c) The state engineer is hereby authorized to investigate other reservoirs located within Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River basin and assess their suitability for the storage of water conserved under the program.
It is the intent of the legislature that these two (2) full-time positions be included in the standard budget requestORIGINAL forSENATE theENGROSSED stateFILE engineerNO. for the 2029-2030 fiscal biennium and thereafter.
14 SF0084 STATEENROLLED OFACT WYOMINGNO. 26LSO-0037 (b) There is appropriated five hundred ten thousand dollars ($510,000.00) from the general fund to the state engineer for purposes of funding the positions authorized in subsection (a) of this section and any other expenses necessary to implement this act.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION request for the state engineer for the 2029-2030 fiscal biennium and thereafter.
(b) There is appropriated five hundred ten thousand dollars ($510,000.00) from the general fund to the state engineer for purposes of funding the positions authorized in subsection (a) of this section and any other expenses necessary to implement this act.
Under federal law and practice, the secretary of the interior must consult with the Colorado River basin states and such state representatives as each governor may designate regarding Colorado River SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 system operations.
This act is also intended to help Wyoming water users manage severe and prolonged drought conditions and any associated water useORIGINAL reductionsSENATE andENGROSSED impactsFILE inNO. Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River basin.
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION use reductions and impacts in Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River basin.
(a) For the purpose of providing notice of the program created in section 1 of this act and of conservation project applications to water right owners and other interested persons, the state engineer shall:
(i) Not later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of this act, cause to be published in at least three (3) newspapers published within Wyoming's portion of the Colorado river basin one (1) time each week for three (3) consecutive weeks a notice of the Voluntary Water Conservation Program Act and how water right owners and other interested persons may obtain program information;
(ii) Not later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of this act, cause to be published in at least two (2) Wyoming trade publications related to the irrigated agriculture water use sector a notice of the Voluntary Water Conservation Program Act and how water right owners and other interested persons may obtain program information;
(iii) Not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the effective date of this act, hold at least three (3) public meetings at different locations within Wyoming's portion of the Colorado river basin that provide notice of the Voluntary Water Conservation Program Act and how water right owners and other interested persons may obtain program information.
ORIGINAL SENATE ENGROSSED FILE NO.
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION Section 5.
Section 5.6.
16 SF0084 STATE OF WYOMING 26LSO-0037 Section 6.
The state engineer shall file a report with the select water committee on or before October 1, 2026 and on or before October 1 of each year thereafter until 2031, detailing the operation of the program implemented under this act.
The report under this section shall include recommendations to the committee regarding the continuance of the program and any advantageous or necessary statutory changes.
The state engineer shall file a report with the select water committee and the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee on or before October 1, 2026 and on or before October 1 of each year thereafter until 2031, detailing the operation of the program implemented under this act.
The report under this section shall include recommendations to each committee regarding the continuance of the program and any advantageous or necessary statutory changes.
ORIGINAL SENATE ENGROSSED FILE NO.
SF0084 ENROLLED ACT NO.
62, SENATE SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING BUDGET SESSION Section 8.
(END) SF0084Speaker of the House President of the Senate Governor TIME APPROVED:
_________ DATE APPROVED:
_________ I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.
Chief Clerk 14
Show all 100 changed rows (60 more)
Amendments
3 amendments- Amendment SF0084HS001 (Standing Committee) - House Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water (Adopted) Adopted Show changes
- Amendment SF0084S3001 (3rd reading) - Senator Hicks (Adopted) Adopted Show changes
- Amendment SF0084SS001 (Standing Committee) - Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Committee (Adopted) Adopted Show changes
Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
-
Governor Signed SEA No. 0062
-
Assigned Chapter Number 100
-
Assigned Number SEA No. 0062
-
S President Signed SEA No. 0062
-
H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0062
-
S Received for Concurrence
-
S Concur:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
-
H 3rd Reading:Passed 60-0-2-0-0
-
H COW:Passed
-
H 2nd Reading:Passed
-
H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0
-
H Placed on General File
-
H COW:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations
-
H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0
-
H Placed on General File
-
H Received for Introduction
-
H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture
-
S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0
-
S COW:Passed
-
S 2nd Reading:Passed
-
Recalled from Committee Pursuant to Senate Rule 5-5: 29-2-0-0-0
-
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
-
:Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations
-
S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture 28-2-1-0-0
-
S Received for Introduction
-
Bill Number Assigned
Sponsors
- Water Select · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 92 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Water Select
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (92)
92 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 92 →"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.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SF 84 do?
- Establishes the "Voluntary Water Conservation Program Act" administered by the State Engineer to manage water use in Wyoming's portion of the Colorado River basin. Defines key terms related to the program, including "conservation project," "consumptive use," and "curtailment." Outlines an application and approval process for conservation projects, including public notice and comment periods. Specifies criteria for project approval, including reduction of consumptive use and compliance with Wyoming's interstate compact obligations. Prohibits the approval of projects that harm other water rights or promote interstate water marketing. Authorizes the storage of conserved water in specified reservoirs and provides for the investigation of additional storage options. Appropriates funds to support program implementation and staffing. Requires the state engineer to publish notices and hold public meetings to inform stakeholders about the program. Ensures that no water rights are lost or impaired due to participation in the program. Sets a sunset date of July 1, 2032 for the authorization of new conservation projects under the program. Comments: Requires the State Engineer to report to the Select Water Committee and the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee on October 1 of each year until 2031, detailing the operation of the program.
- Who sponsors SF 84?
- SF 84 is sponsored by Water Select.
- What is the current status of SF 84?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 07, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track SF 84?
- Track SF 84 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on SF 84
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of SF 84
Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →