Bills / H.B. 439
H.B. 439 Water Planning Amendments
- Introduced
- House committee
- House vote
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- Signed into law
What this bill does
This bill would require the State Water Engineer's Office to create a program and plan that helps counties, cities, and special water districts prepare 40-year water plans, including a simple template for small communities. It would take effect in January 2028, and Senate floor remarks say its provisions have been merged into another Senate bill.
Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.
Official description
- defines and modifies terms
- requires counties, municipalities, and special districts to adopt a written plan, beginning on January 1, 2028, for determining the reasonable future water requirement of the public before imposing a water exaction
- requires the state engineer to make rules to establish standards for the written plan
- provides a coordination clause with S.B. 284, Local Land Use Modifications, to address a requirement for counties and municipalities to complete a written plan
- makes technical and conforming changes
What it costs you
- State spending from tax funds goes up by $10,000 in FY2027.
From the bill's latest official fiscal note, counting the state's tax funds (General, Income Tax, Education, Uniform School, and Transportation) in the first full budget year after the session. Some bills take effect partway through that year, so later years can be larger; the note shows each year. Household count: U.S. Census Bureau. An average is a starting point, not your bill.
Your legislators on this bill
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Quotes come from the official recordings' automatic captions, which can mishear words. Speakers and summaries are identified by AI and can be wrong. Use the ▶ links to check the recording.
Take action
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Every vote
- 7 yes, 0 no, 7 absentHouse Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: vote to change the bill · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
- 5 yes, 4 no, 5 absentHouse Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
- 59 yes, 8 no, 8 absentFinal House vote · Feb 24, 2026Who voted how
- 6 yes, 0 no, 1 absentSenate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee: Amendment Recommendation · Mar 3, 2026Who voted how
- 6 yes, 0 no, 1 absentSenate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee: vote to approve it · Mar 3, 2026Who voted how
Hearings and debates
- Feb 17, 2026 House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (56 turns) →
- Feb 24, 2026 House floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (7 turns) →
- Mar 3, 2026 Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (25 turns) →
- Mar 6, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (5 turns) →