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Committee advances bill allowing water districts to charge for record updates after property transactions
Summary
S 1305 authorizes water districts' patrons to adopt resolutions permitting a watermaster to charge property-specific fees for updating water records after property transactions, with funds restricted to that purpose, recordkeeping requirements, and public budgets; the committee recommended the bill do pass.
Senator Cook explained S 1305 would allow water districts, by resolution of assessed owners, to authorize the watermaster to charge property-specific fees for updating and managing water records after a property transfer. Sponsor testimony identified four safeguards: a water-user resolution is required, funds must be used only for record updates, water districts must document how charges were determined, and the districts' budgets remain public records.
Neil Shippy, Watermaster for Water District 65, testified that title companies often fail to update ownership, leaving assessments returned unopened and forcing water districts to search county records; he said receiving a warranty deed from title companies helps confirm correct owners during transactions. The committee voted to send S 1305 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.
