We just wrapped week 5 of the 2026 legislative session. With just two weeks left of session, we are spending more time in committee and on the Senate floor, considering and debating the record number of bills that have been filed this year.
This week’s recap is focused on one of the most critical issues facing our state: water. A number of water bills have been introduced this year (including one of my own) that address the water crisis and the need for more water to the Great Salt Lake. Read on for an overview of these bills and their impact. As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback on these issues, and anything else we’re considering this session!
About Our Lake 💙
The Great Salt Lake is the largest natural saltwater lake in the U.S., which formed following the evaporation of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville. Today, fresh water flows into the Great Salt Lake from the Bear, Weber and Jordan rivers.
The Great Salt Lake has no outlet, so once water is there it evaporates and leaves behind minerals and salt, which is why the lake is one of the saltiest in the world (about 2-9Â times more briny than the ocean!). It is also a critical ecosystem for over 10 million migratory birds and supports a significant brine shrimp industry.
The Problem
The Great Salt Lake has dropped to the lowest level ever recorded — to an elevation of 4,190 feet. Its volume and area has shrunk by about 50 percent. To get back to a healthy elevation, flows to the lake would need to increase by 29% a year.
Some lake level changes are natural; they’re caused by fluctuations in precipitation and streamflows. However, those natural changes can’t account for the recent loss of 40% of flow to the lake. Researchers at Utah State University have found that, since the Mormon Pioneer era, the lake would be 11 feet higher without human consumption. The bulk of the water, about 63%, has gone to agriculture.
What happens if the lake keeps shrinking?
If the lake continues to shrink, more lakebed will be exposed. An exposed lakebed will fuel dust storms that carry arsenic, mercury, and other pollutants into nearby communities, resulting in increased respiratory and other illnesses. A shrinking lake will also cause an increase in salinity beyond what brine shrimp and brine flies can survive, collapsing the food chain for millions of migratory birds. The loss of the lake would have significant, detrimental impacts on Utah’s environment, economy, and public health.
What Is the Legislature Doing About It?
In a recent report from the Great Salt Lake Project, policy experts urged lawmakers to prioritize long-term funding, streamlined water transactions, and increased water conservation in our strategy to restore the Great Salt Lake by 2034. This session, legislators have introduced several bills that touch on these goals. The following is a list of good bills that I believe could make a difference in accelerating the lake’s recovery:
My take: The good bills
💧 HB76: Data Center Water Privacy Amendments (Rep. Koford)
- What it does: Requires large data centers to report annually on projected and annual water use, their efforts to reduce water consumption, and efforts to protect the environment and the public from polluted water.
- Why I support: This bill ensures large data centers are accountable for their water use and requires a plan for better water use efficiency and conservation, making data centers better water stewards.
- Status: Passed the House, now awaiting a committee assignment in the Senate.
💧 HB155: Water Rates Amendments (Rep. Owens)
- What it does: Creates block rates for how water is priced.
- Why I support: This type of tiered pricing model would incentivize conservation by making increased water use more expensive.
- Status: Has not left the House Rules Committee.
đź’§ HB296: Water Commitment Amendments (Rep. Nguyen)
- What it does: Amends existing law that requires providers — including retail water suppliers and conservancy districts — to present clearly stated conservation goals, provide public notice and officially adopt those goals. It would allow water suppliers to include the Great Salt Lake in their conservation plans.
- Why I support:Â This bill gives water conservation districts the option to redirect conserved water to the lake, improving accountability and transparency and promoting actions to help save the Great Salt Lake.
- Status: Passed both bodies; awaiting the Governor’s signature.
đź’§ HB328: Water Usage Modifications (Rep. Okerlund)
- What it does: Restricts the use of overhead spray irrigation on nonfunctional turf for certain new development and major redevelopment projects within the Great Salt Lake drainage.Â
- Why I support: This bill would help reduce long-term water waste and ensure future growth is water-smart.
- Status: Passed the House (barely), now waiting to be sent to the Senate Rules Committee.
đź’§ HB348: Dedicated Water Amendments (Rep. Koford)
- What it does: Creates a new type of application—a Dedicated Water Application—that allows a water rights holder to dedicate some of their water to 1) an instream flow, 2) sovereign lands, or 3) certain reservoir deliveries without permanently changing their underlying water right. The bill also directs the State Engineer to prioritize processing these applications and authorizes the state engineer to require reporting in order to track and verify dedicated water.
- Why I support: This bill cuts red tape in transferring water rights to the Great Salt Lake, creating a more flexible, streamlined pathway for voluntary water donations.
- Status: Passed the House, now waiting to be heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
đź’§ HB400: Landscaping Water Amendments (Rep. Owens)
- What it does: Requires cities and counties in the Great Salt Lake basin to mandate water-efficient landscaping in new development by Nov. 1, 2027.
- Why I support: Cities and counties should be good water stewards, and this bill helps ensure they are water-efficient with their landscaping.
- Status: Passed out of the House Political Subdivisions Committee, now awaiting a vote on the House floor.
đź’§ HB410: Water Leasing Amendments (Rep. Koford)
- What it does: Gives the state $5 million to lease water from farmers.
- Why I support: This investment increases potential water commitments to the Great Salt Lake.
- Status: Passed the House, now waiting to be heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
đź’§ SB130: River Restoration Amendments (Sen. Fillmore)
- What it does: Modernizes and expands the framework for Jordan River improvement projects, introduces a substantial new grant program, and appropriates significant funding to support increased recreational access and environmental restoration along the river.
- Why I support:Â This bill promotes river restoration, recreation, and public access by providing increased funding, fostering intergovernmental collaboration, and promoting environmental stewardship.
- Status: Passed the House Political Subdivisions Committee, awaiting a vote on the House floor.
đź’§ SB250: Great Salt Lake Amendments (Sen. Blouin)
- What it does: This bill deauthorizes the Bear River project and would allow for $200M in existing funding in the water infrastructure restricted account to be used for the benefit of the Great Salt Lake.
- Why I support: Diverting any additional water from the Bear River via diversions and developments on the river is water taken from the Great Salt Lake. Doing that ensures that more water goes to the lake (rather than diverting). The investment would be for the benefit of the lake (purchasing and leasing water rights, phragmites mitigation, etc.).
- Status: Held in the Senate Natural Resources Committee on a vote of 5-1.
đź’§ SB252: Great Salt Lake Amendments (Sen. Pitcher)
- What it does: Directs the Division of Water Resources to select low-water turf grass when replacing or installing lawn or turf on state properties, and requires the Division of Facilities Construction and Management to routinely audit state facilities to test the efficiency of the landscape irrigation system and determine whether the efficiency of the system operates at or above 75%.
- Why I’m running it: The State should be leading out on water-efficient landscaping practices and water conservation efforts, and water conserved is more water we can direct toward the Great Salt Lake.
- Status: Will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee tomorrow (Feb. 24).
My take: The bad bills
đźš« HB60: Water Rights Amendments (Rep. Shallenberger)
- What it does: Changes how the State Engineer evaluates water-rights applications and protests; reduces opportunities for Utahns to contest new water rights applications.
- Why I oppose: This bill limits what the State Engineer can consider as “public welfare” to beneficial use and quantity, quality, or availability of water, reducing the State Engineer’s ability to consider broader community harms like public health, environmental collapse, or downstream consequences. Additionally, limiting avenues for Utahns to contest new water rights applications removes their ability to defend, protect, and advocate for Utah waters.
- Status: Passed both bodies; awaiting the Governor’s signature.
đźš« HB349: Statewide Water Shortage (Rep. Brooks)
- What it does: Establishes a process for using funds from the Water Infrastructure Restricted Account to construct dams and reservoirs and to fund other projects that increase water storage in the state.
- Why I oppose: The impact of this bill seems ambiguous. It could be used to fund infrastructure projects (such as the Bear River Development) that are detrimental to the GSL by storing water upstream that would otherwise flow to the Lake.
- Status: Passed the House, awaiting a committee assignment in the Senate.
đźš« SB234: Rulemaking Amendments (Sen. Brammer)
- What it does:Â Makes it more difficult for Utah state agencies to adopt environmental regulations that are stricter than federal standards. It also increases legislative authority to delay or prevent those rules from taking effect.
- Why I oppose: This bill could limit agencies’Â ability to adopt stronger environmental protections needed to respond to challenges stemming from the Great Salt Lake, such as toxic dust in our communities.
- Status: Passed the Senate, awaiting a committee assignment in the House.
What You Can Do
You can help combat our water crisis by taking steps to reduce outdoor water use, implement water-wise strategies, and adopt a smart irrigation approach.
Some strategies you can implement at home:
- Remove or reduce turf: Replace grass with water-wise, drought-tolerant plants
- Audit irrigation systems: Repair broken sprinkler heads, install drip irrigation, and use smart controlled that adjust for weather
- Take a smart irrigation approach: Water deeply but infrequently, adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks or during high winds, don’t water in heat, add mulch around plants to keep soil moist and reduce evaporation
- Make the indoor repairs: Fix leaks inside your home — indoor leaks can lead to thousands of gallons of wasted water annually
- Improve water use habits: Be mindful of the amount of water used, purchase water efficient appliances
Resources for water efficient landscaping:
Let’s Connect
Serving in the state legislature is an incredible responsibility, and I have been proud to take our community values to the Utah senate. Whether you reached out this session to share concerns, support legislation, or simply ask questions, your engagement improves the process and helps make our democracy stronger.
While the session may be over, my work representing you continues year-round. Please reach out with your thoughts on the issues that matter to you and what policies you think our state legislature should be focusing on moving forward.
Thank you for staying engaged and for your advocacy this session.
Talk soon,
Stephanie
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