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Senate advances House Bill 241 after extended debate over water‑rights language
Summary
Senator Okerlund presented House Bill 241 to repeal a cited section of state code that members said conflicts with prior‑appropriation water doctrine. Senators voiced sharply divided views about repeal, definitions of 'scarcity,' and impacts on municipalities and agricultural users; the bill advanced to third reading.
Senators debated House Bill 241, presented by Senator Okerlund, which would repeal a section of state statute that proponents said contradicts the longstanding prior‑appropriation doctrine for water rights. Okerlund told colleagues the change would preserve "first in time, first in place" priority and that the bill had been studied by an Executive Water Task Force, the State Water Development Commission and Natural Resources committees.
Opponents urged caution. Senator Hejern said…
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