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House approves temporary change to conservancy-district petition rules amid concerns over 'nonresponse as yes'
Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 7, which relaxes petition thresholds and treats certified nonresponse as an affirmative for forming water conservancy districts in small counties, passed 39–28 after members questioned constitutionality, certified-mail mechanics and safeguards; sponsor said a 20‑day certified-mail process and court verification will be used.
The Utah House on Feb. 6 approved substitute Senate Bill 7, a measure intended to lower petition thresholds for creating water conservancy districts in smaller counties and to open a temporary two‑year window for those formations.
Sponsor Representative Hayes Hunter told the House the substitute "relaxes the petition so that we can, if we so desire in Iron County and smaller counties, to set up a water conservancy district," arguing the change was needed because some counties lack the population base required under current law.
The most contested provision would treat property owners who do not return a certified petition as…
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