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HB 243 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Agricultural Water Optimization Amendments

HB 243 modifies Utah's agricultural water optimization program by adjusting grant requirements for farmers. It reduces the required matching funds for certain irrigation projects - from 50% to 25% - specifically for subsurface drip, automated surge, or water measurement projects. The bill also allows the Agricultural Water Optimization Committee to fund research using existing account funds, which include state appropriations, federal money, and grants. These changes directly affect agricultural water users applying for state grants to upgrade irrigation systems. The bill makes no new funding appropriations but refines how current resources support water conservation efforts.
Issues: ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentReduces financial barriers for water conservation projects (subsurface drip, etc.), directly advancing water resource protection per bill's focus on water conservation and natural resources.90% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Mar 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 24, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Utah's Agricultural Water Optimization laws to create a committee structure, adjust grant matching requirements, and clarify fund management. The changes modernize the program by establishing a formal committee to oversee research and grants, reducing the required financial match for certain irrigation projects from 50% to 25% starting January 1, 2024, and clarifying administrative procedures for the Agricultural Water Optimization Account.
Scope change
The bill expands the governance structure by creating a formal Agricultural Water Optimization Committee with defined membership, staggered terms, and specific responsibilities for overseeing research and grant eligibility.
GOVERNANCE

Created a formal Agricultural Water Optimization Committee with seven members including representatives from conservation districts, water conservancy districts, and agriculture industry, with staggered four-year terms.

ELIGIBILITY

Reduced the required grant match from 50% to 25% for subsurface drip, automated surge, and measurement projects when applications are filed on or after January 1, 2024.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for grant recipients to install and maintain water measurement devices and report water diversion measurements to the state engineer.

FISCAL

Clarified that the committee can use account funds to fund research and that the committee assumes oversight of previous task force research activities as of July 1, 2023.

TECHNICAL

Standardized formatting and numbering throughout the bill text for consistency with legislative drafting standards.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
8
Committee
6
Mar 24, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 7, 2025
Legislature · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Mar 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 24, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
0 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.