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Committee advances bill shifting water‑course determinations to local districts
Summary
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee recommended a do‑pass on Senate Bill 2044, which moves initial water‑course determinations from the Department of Water Resources to local water resource districts and establishes the department as an appeal forum. Testimony said the change should speed decisions; committee vote was unanimous.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Patton on Tuesday opened a hearing and later recommended a do‑pass on Senate Bill 2044, a measure that would make local water resource districts the primary decisionmaker on whether a feature constitutes a watercourse and give the Department of Water Resources an administrative appeal role.
Supporters told the committee the change is intended to speed resolution of water‑course questions and preserve an appeal path to the department. Aaron Carranza, director of the regulatory division at the Department of Water Resources, said the department currently receives few requests but…
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