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House restores prior-appropriation priority for water rights in close floor fight
Summary
After extended technical debate, the House passed H.B. 241 to remove a code provision that gave municipal uses priority 'in times of scarcity,' restoring strict prior-appropriation priority by a 52-18 vote; supporters said it clarifies law and protects property rights, opponents warned of potential impacts on domestic and agricultural users.
The Utah House on Feb. 11 approved House Bill 241, a change to water-rights law meant to remove a code paragraph that gave municipal uses priority "in times of scarcity" and thereby reinforce the prior-appropriation doctrine (first in time, first in right).
Representative Francis Gibson, the bill sponsor, framed H.B. 241 as the product of extensive work by an Executive Water Task Force and the State Water Development Commission. Gibson said the…
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