Water Rights Applications Amendments
HB 46 amends Utah's water rights application process to clarify procedures for reinstating lapsed applications. It requires applicants to submit a reinstatement request within 60 days of receiving notice of lapse, using a state-provided form, and includes a request for an extension under separate law. If reinstated, the application's priority date changes to the reinstatement request date - not the original filing date - unless the original date was lost due to a state engineer's mistake or fraud. This directly affects water rights applicants whose applications lapse for non-compliance, streamlining their path to reactivating applications while maintaining priority rules.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025
Signed Mar 12, 2025
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What changed between versions
Amended Excerpts 1/27/2025 11:01:149
→
Amended 1/27/2025 11:01:149
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4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends Utah's water rights application process by clarifying reinstatement procedures for lapsed applications and adjusting priority date rules. The changes ensure clearer timelines for applicants to reinstate applications and modify how priority dates are calculated when applications are reinstated.
Scope change
The bill applies specifically to water rights applications before the state engineer in Utah, affecting applicants who have lapsed applications.
TIMELINE
Reinstatement deadline for lapsed applications is now clearly defined as 60 days after the state engineer mails or sends electronic notice of lapse.
REQUIREMENT
Reinstated applications must include both a reinstatement request form and a request for time extension under Section 73-3-12.
Priority dates for reinstated applications are now set to the date the reinstatement request was filed, rather than the original filing date.
ELIGIBILITY
Original priority dates can only be reinstated upon showing of mistake by the state engineer or fraud, not for other reasons.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
35
Key actions
9
Committee
5
Amendments
2
Mar 12, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Feb 18, 2025
Legislature · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Feb 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 6, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ comm rpt/ amended
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Introduced
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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