Senate adopts conference committee report to Senate File 43 on temporary water use transfers

The Wyoming Senate on the floor Tuesday adopted Joint Conference Committee Report Number 1 to Senate File 43, a bill amending rules for temporary water-use transfers. Senator Fred French moved adoption of the conference committee report and urged colleagues to vote yes.

The report includes a provision requiring that, after the expiration of a temporary water transfer, the underlying water right must be used for its adjudicated or permitted purpose for a period equal to at least 50% of the time that the temporary transfer was exercised before the right becomes eligible for another temporary transfer. The conference committee also agreed to delete language that would have created an exception referring to in-stream flow uses identified in a state statute, a deletion French described as a concession by the other side during negotiations.

The motion to adopt the conference committee report carried on a roll call. The chief clerk recorded 20 ayes, 8 no votes and 1 excused. Senator French moved the adoption on the floor and asked members to vote aye. There were no intervening amendments during the floor adoption debate.

The adoption sends the conference committee report back to the enrolling process consistent with Senate procedure.

Senator French, who presented the report, described the changes as negotiated compromises and noted the deletion of the in-stream-flows exception. The Senate president and the chief clerk presided over the roll call and announced the final tally.