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Senate unanimously approves bill setting public-use rules for stretch of Weber River
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Summary
The Senate passed second substitute Senate Bill 63, 29–0, to set parameters for public recreation on a one-mile navigable stretch of the Weber River between Holiday Park and Echo Reservoir, responding to a recent Utah Supreme Court ruling.
Senator Bridal brought second substitute Senate Bill 63 to third reading and described it as a collaborative measure that responds to a Utah Supreme Court ruling about public access on a one-mile stretch of the Weber River. "As was presented on Friday, this has been a collaborative effort over the last few years to come up with some kind of strategy on how to deal with waters in the state of Utah," Bridal said on the floor.
The bill, explained Bridal, "places some parameters" for how the public may use the stretch the court deemed navigable between Holiday Park and Echo Reservoir after the court granted access but did not grant title. Senator Okerlund complimented the work on the bill and noted that the president of the Utah Streambed Access Coalition had spoken in favor of the measure during committee consideration.
The Senate approved the measure on a roll-call vote, with President Adams announcing the result as 29 yea, 0 nay. The bill will be transmitted to the House for consideration.
Supporters framed the legislation as clarifying public-use rules following litigation; no floor amendments were adopted during the third-reading consideration. The measure does not itself convey property title, and the sponsor said it was intended to implement parameters consistent with the court's decision.
The next procedural step is transmittal to the House; sponsors and supporters said the bill was the product of stakeholder collaboration during committee work.
