Resources and Conservation Committee sends water‑recharge, canal governance and wildlife bills to the House floor

At a meeting of the Resources and Conservation Committee, members voted to send a package of natural‑resource bills to the House floor, including House Bill 334, which sets a 350,000 acre‑foot annual recharge target for the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer; two bills clarifying irrigation‑district and canal company authorities; a bill to let guided participants trap under a licensed guide; and a bill to create a depredation appeals board.

The committee advanced the most contested measure, House Bill 334, after testimony from water users and irrigation interests. Representative Stephanie Mickelson, sponsor for the bill, said the 350,000 acre‑foot target was the product of negotiation "between the surface water coalition and the ground water districts." Farmer Brian Murdoch of Murdoch Farms testified in support but urged the committee to prioritize recharge "in the Upper Valley" — above American Falls — because recharge near Twin Falls and Milepost 31, he said, has short retention time and quickly returns to springs. Murdoch also said the State Water Board has paused funding for some injection wells, including projects in Bingham County, and said he expects funding to resume once technical and community concerns are addressed.

Paul Arrington of the Idaho Water Users Association told the committee recharge is a key tool to address water calls across the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer and urged passage. Claire Power (committee member) clarified technical and legal constraints, saying the timing of reservoir fills and the priority date of water rights determine where the board can divert water for recharge. She also noted testing standards around injection wells and said monitoring has shown water‑quality improvements where recharge has been done.

The committee voted to send House Bill 334 to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation; the chair announced "the ayes have it." No roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Two bills dealing with irrigation governance moved together. Senate Bill 1040 would amend Idaho Code to make clear irrigation districts may enter collaborative arrangements (such as easements or agreements to facilitate recharge) when a board member has nearby property, provided the board member does not profit. Paul Arrington said the change is intended to prevent an ‘‘overly strict’’ reading of Idaho Code 43‑320 from blocking needed partnerships. The committee approved SB 1040 and agreed to send it to the floor.

Senate Bill 1041 would broaden the entities that may receive petitions under Idaho Code 42‑909 to resolve disputes on private laterals — allowing canal companies and similar distribution entities (and recognizing piped conduits) to help mediate or appoint a local manager. Arrington said the change responds to requests from places such as the Wood River Valley and is intended to give local entities another option to resolve disputes. Committee members asked how the resolution process would work; Arrington and a witness described a petition process and mediation role for the canal company, not a takeover of private ditches. The committee approved SB 1041 and sent it to the floor.

On wildlife and recreation, the committee advanced Senate Bill 1013, which exempts individuals from trapper‑license and trapper‑education requirements when they hold a valid big‑game license and are under the direct supervision of a certified guide who holds a valid trapping license and trapper education certification. Ellery Tucker Williams of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game testified the measure may encourage outfitters to offer guided trapping as a way to introduce people to the practice; the Idaho Farm Bureau, Idaho Wildlife Federation and at least one outfitter representative also testified in support. The committee voted to send SB 1013 to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation.

Senate Bill 1012, which would create a depredation appeals board to review disputed predator depredation determinations and to act as a "state authorized investigator" for compensation purposes, also advanced. Representative Judy Boyle, sponsor, said the board would include the director of the Department of Agriculture, the director of Fish and Game and a large‑animal veterinarian appointed by the governor; producers could appeal if wildlife services could not confirm cause of death. Supporters said the board would allow producers to submit photographs and other preserved evidence so payment decisions can be reviewed without requiring a field necropsy in every case. Opponents, including Megan Smith of Living With Wolves, said the proposed board lacks forensic wildlife‑investigation expertise and raised concerns about incorrect determinations and potential taxpayer cost. Despite those objections, the committee approved SB 1012 and sent it to the floor.

All five measures carried forward to the House floor; the transcript records the chair announcing each measure "will be sent to the floor" after the committee vote but does not record roll‑call vote counts. Sponsors said they will carry the bills on the floor.

The committee also approved minutes from earlier meetings at the start of the session and briefly noted there may be an additional senate bill presented on Friday upon adjournment.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 334 — Sponsor: Representative Stephanie Mickelson. Subject: Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer recharge; sets a goal of 350,000 acre‑feet per year (average). Committee action: Do‑pass to floor. Notes: Testimony urged prioritizing recharge sites "above American Falls" for longer retention; the State Water Board has paused funding for some injection well projects in parts of the aquifer.

- Senate Bill 1040 — Sponsor: Representative Stephanie Mickelson (presented). Subject: Clarifies Idaho Code 43‑320 to allow irrigation districts to enter collaborative agreements without an appearance of profit to board members. Committee action: Do‑pass to floor.

- Senate Bill 1041 — Sponsor/Presenter: Paul Arrington (Idaho Water Users Association). Subject: Amends Idaho Code 42‑909 to allow canal companies and similar entities to receive petitions and help resolve disputes on private laterals; adds recognition of "conduits." Committee action: Do‑pass to floor.

- Senate Bill 1013 — Sponsor: Representative Judy Boyle. Subject: Allows guided trapping by individuals (with a valid big‑game license) under direct supervision of a licensed trapper/outfitter without a separate trapper education certificate; full education required to trap independently. Committee action: Do‑pass to floor. Support from Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Farm Bureau and Idaho Wildlife Federation.

- Senate Bill 1012 — Sponsor: Representative Judy Boyle. Subject: Creates a depredation appeals board composed of the directors of Agriculture and Fish and Game and a governor‑appointed large‑animal veterinarian to review disputed depredation determinations for compensation. Committee action: Do‑pass to floor. Testimony split; supporters cited access to federal funds and another review avenue for producers, opponents questioned the board's forensic expertise and potential costs to taxpayers.

What the committee did not decide

The transcript shows committee approval to advance each bill but does not include roll‑call vote counts or dates for final floor action. Several witnesses asked for follow‑up work on siting recharge projects and for further technical information about injection wells; committee members and sponsors said those operational details remain subject to the Water Board's rights priorities and permitting processes.

Details and next steps

Sponsors indicated who will carry the bills on the House floor when known. Additional testimony or technical briefings on recharge siting, canal‑company authorities and depredation investigations may appear during subsequent floor debate or administrative rulemaking. The committee chair noted a possible additional bill presentation on Friday after adjournment.