There were a number of water-related bills that were considered during the 2025 legislative session that were ultimately not passed. Below are bill summaries (drafted by the water attorneys at Smith Hartvigsen) about these bills that did not pass.
HB 45 (1st Substitute) – Irrigation Amendments
Rep. Rex P. Shipp
House Bill 45 sought to modify Utah Code section 73-1-8 regarding the duties and liabilities of the owners or operators of irrigation ditches and canals. While the section already specifies that the owners or operators of water facilities must exercise “reasonable and ordinary care” in operating and maintaining those facilities, the bill sought to clearly assign liability to the owners or operators of ditches and canals if their failure to meet that care standard results in the property damage or injury to others. In addition, if an individual is held liable to a third party for any damage or injury directly caused by the failure of an owner or operator to exercise reasonable and ordinary care in maintaining a ditch or canal located within a municipality, the bill sought to allow that individual to recover the amount for which they are liable from the owner or operator of the ditch or canal.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
HB 318 - Residential Turf Amendments
Rep. Doug Owens
House Bill 318 sought to require lawn or turf restrictions for any single-family home constructed after May 7, 2025. Specifically, it would have required lawn or turf areas exceeding 600 square feet for a lot size less than 4,000 square feet or for a lot size greater than 4,000 square feet, the lesser of 15% of the lot’s square footage, or 2,500 square feet.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
HB 328 - Water Usage Amendments
Rep. Doug Owens
House Bill 328 sought to mandate that counties and municipalities require compliance of overhead spray irrigation in some situations as part of the land use approval process. The bill would have also prohibited new developments or redevelopments to use overhead spray irrigation except under special circumstances.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
HB 330 - Water Sprinkler Efficiency Requirements
Rep. Doug Owens
House Bill 330 sought to prohibit the sale of spray sprinklers that do not have an integral pressure regulator or did not meet the requirements under the WaterSense Specification for Spray Sprinkler Bodies, Version 1.0 adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
HB 492 (1st Substitute) - Drinking Water Utilities
Amendments
Rep. Colin W. Jack
House Bill 492 (1st Substitute) would have required community water systems in Utah to complete a cybersecurity plan according to the standards in the Bill and report a security breach to the Utah Cyber Center within two hours of discovering the breech. It also had provisions requiring community water systems to make information on security plans and incidents to the Director of the Division of Drinking Water. The Division of Drinking Water was required to report annually to two legislative interim committees - the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee and the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee - on cybersecurity incidents and plans at community water systems. Under HB 492, a community water system’s security plan was designated as a protected record under the Governmental Access and Management Act. HB 492 passed the House but died in the Senate.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
HB 536 - Water Usage Notification Amendments
Rep. Doug Owens
House Bill 536 sought to require retail water suppliers to provide notifications to end users if their water use significantly escalates during a month. The Division of Water Resources would have defined what constituted “significantly escalates.”
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
SB 92 (1st Substitute) – Golf Course Amendments
Sen. Daniel McCay
Senate Bill 92 sought to authorize the Utah State University Institute of Land, Water, and Air to study the use of water on golf courses in the state. The Institute would identify best practices for water use in Utah relative to golf courses, and then work with golf course owners to “identify strategic water saving opportunities.” The bill also sought to set up an advisory committee of golf professionals to consult with the Institute. Additionally, the bill would have required the Division of State Parks to develop a master plan for state-owned golf courses, which would address water use and conservation. Finally, the bill would have classified water data records provided to the Institute as “protected records” under GRAMA.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
SB 131 (1st Substitute) – Water Commitment Amendments
Sen. Nate Blouin
Senate Bill 131 sought to amend Utah Code section 73-10-32 regarding water conservation plans. SB 131 would have added a provision that a water conservation plan may include information regarding “the commitment of available water to uses on the Great Salt Lake.”
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
SB 305 - Water Wise Landscaping Amendments
Sen. Keven J. Stratton
Senate Bill 305 sought to modify water wise regulations for state government facilities that were enacted in 2022. The bill sought to prohibit the use of overhead spray irrigation at government facilities and require water wise landscaping.
To read the full text of the bill, click here.
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