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Lawmakers back HB 349 to tighten rules for funding water storage projects

Utah Legislature - Natural Resources/Water Committee · February 12, 2026

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Summary

Representative Brooks presented HB 349 to require projects seeking state support to demonstrate existing water rights, regional/state benefit, and a sponsoring conservancy district or manager; committee moved to support the bill after brief discussion and a voice vote.

Representative Brooks told the committee HB 349 grew out of a decade of interim work to ensure state investments in water storage yield long‑term public benefit. The sponsor said the bill requires a project to show an underlying water right, demonstrate the best use for the state (regional or statewide benefit), have an existing sponsor (for example a conservancy district) to manage the project, and be project‑ready before receiving funding, all intended to reduce speculative or politically driven projects.

Brooks said the bill had previously cleared the House with unanimous support and had been vetted by the Water Task Force. Senator Ibsen moved to support the bill; the committee unanimously endorsed a motion to support HB 349 by voice vote.

What’s next: Committee recorded a favorable recommendation and the bill proceeds through the legislative process as indicated by the sponsor.

"This bill articulates what really needs to be done for an organization to be able to put the pieces in place so we can streamline the process," Representative Brooks said.