HB 473: Colorado River Authority Amendments - Utah

Substitute #2 → Enrolled · 3 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MINOR

This bill finalizes the creation of the Department of Natural Resources by adding the Colorado River Authority and its river commissioner to the department's structure. It also adjusts the 2027 budget to fund the Colorado River Authority directly from the General Fund while simultaneously moving those same funds from a restricted account, effectively changing how the money is managed without altering the total amount available. The changes clarify the department's composition and ensure the Colorado River Authority operates under the new departmental framework starting July 1, 2026.

Scope change

The scope of the Department of Natural Resources was expanded to explicitly include the Colorado River Authority and river commissioner as part of the department's composition.

SCOPE

The Colorado River Authority and river commissioner are now listed as components of the Department of Natural Resources.

FISCAL

The budget for the Colorado River Authority was adjusted to show a direct appropriation from the General Fund and a corresponding transfer out of the Colorado River Authority Restricted Account.

TIMELINE

The effective date for these structural and funding changes is set to July 1, 2026.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill moves the Colorado River Authority of Utah from the Governor's office to the Department of Natural Resources, expanding its membership to include a tribal representative and a state engineer. It modifies the appointment process for authority members, changes the river commissioner's term length and compensation rules, and updates the effective date of the legislation from May 6, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded by transferring jurisdiction of the Colorado River Authority from the Governor's office to the Department of Natural Resources and adding new members to the authority's board.

SCOPE

The Colorado River Authority of Utah was moved from the Governor's office to the Department of Natural Resources.

ELIGIBILITY

The authority's membership was expanded to include a representative for tribal interests and the state engineer as a non-voting member.

REQUIREMENT

The appointment process for authority members was changed to require Senate confirmation for terms beginning on or after July 1, 2027.

The river commissioner's term was changed from six years to four years, and the authority was given the power to remove the river commissioner for neglect of duty or malfeasance.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the bill was changed from May 6, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

FISCAL

Authority members are no longer prohibited from receiving compensation, but may only receive per diem and travel expenses.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill moves the Colorado River Authority of Utah from the Governor's Office to the Department of Natural Resources, reorganizes its membership and appointment processes, and repeals the Colorado River Authority Restricted Account. It also adds a $1.6 million appropriation for the fiscal year 2027 and updates the authority's legal status regarding procurement and personnel rules.

Scope change

The bill significantly changes the organizational scope by transferring the authority from the executive branch (Governor's Office) to a state department (Department of Natural Resources) and alters which entities appoint authority members.

SCOPE

Transfers the Colorado River Authority of Utah from the Governor's Office to the Department of Natural Resources.

ELIGIBILITY

Changes the appointment process for authority members, shifting some appointments from county boards to the Governor with Senate consent and adding a representative for tribal interests.

FISCAL

Repeals the Colorado River Authority Restricted Account, which previously held specific funds for the authority.

Appropriates $1,638,500 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027 from the General Fund.

REQUIREMENT

Modifies the term length for the river commissioner from six years to four years and changes the chair selection process.

Allows the river commissioner to receive compensation, whereas previous law prohibited it.

Exempts the authority from certain state procurement and personnel management laws while requiring it to adopt similar internal policies.

Colorado River Authority Amendments

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