2021 Legislation: Water Bills That Did Not Pass

HB 13 – School and Child Care Center Water Testing Requirements

Rep. Stephen G. Handy 

House Bill 13 sought to require each school and child care center to test at least 20% of their water taps for lead by December 31, 2024. The samples would be submitted to a certified laboratory for testing. The schools and child care centers would be eligible for reimbursement of the testing costs from the Division of Environmental Quality, subject to administrative rules to be drafted. If a test result showed actionable levels of lead, the school or child care center would have to take steps to stop using the water tap or reduce the lead level below actionable levels. The bill sought to appropriate $2 million from the education fund to reimburse public schools for the required testing.

HB 144 – Water Pricing Structure

Rep. Carol Spackman Moss

House Bill 144 sought to require retail water providers to create a culinary water rate structure that, by no later than January 1, 2022, considers the lot size of a customer receiving water from the retail water provider in creating a block unit, if the retail water provider provides water that may be used by the customer for outdoor use. H.B. 144 also sought to require a retail water provider to provide the foregoing lot sizes used in creating block units in billing notices, or in a notice that is distributed to customers at least annually.

HB 215 – Jordan River Improvements Amendments

Rep. Cheryl K. Acton

House Bill 215 sought to require the Jordan River Commission to work with the Utah Department of Transportation to (1) post consistent and attractive signs where a highway crosses the Jordan River; (2) develop methods to provide safe access from highways to trails along the Jordan River; and (3) develop methods to address water pollution caused by storm water running off highways into the Jordan River.

HB 364 (2nd Substitute) – Utah Lake Authority

Rep. Brady Brammer

House Bill 364 sought to create a Utah Lake Authority to replace the Utah Lake Commission and assume the responsibilities of a number of state agencies in managing the lake. Based in part on the legislation that created the Inland Port in Salt Lake County, this new Utah Lake Authority would have also been the land use authority for “all land, whether or not submerged under the waters of Utah Lake, within the lake authority and to which the state has acquired title.” The intent of the bill was to create a new authority with more teeth to address water quality and other issues that have plagued Utah Lake for years. However, the bill stalled in committee due to concerns from members of the water community who felt that more time was needed to work with the sponsor to ensure that the proposed Authority would not create unintended consequences for water management. The lake is subject to a number of agreements, decrees, and other complicated distribution systems that govern the management of the water that flows into and out of Utah Lake, including flows in the Jordan River. The Utah Water Task Force met on March 10, 2021 and created a committee of water stakeholders and experts to work with the sponsor on legislation for next session.