Bills / S.B. 21
S.B. 21 Geothermal Amendments
- Introduced
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- House committee
- House vote
- Signed into law
What this bill does
The bill would make geothermal resources belong to the surface owner on non-government land, unless the rights were expressly sold or reserved separately. It would require a water right to use geothermal fluid and give those who secure and test a site five years of protection, plus two years after they abandon it.
Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.
Official description
- addresses the reservation of a geothermal resource on state and institutional trust land
- clarifies the purposes of the geothermal chapter
- addresses definitions
- modifies provisions related to ownership of geothermal resources or fluids
- amends powers of the Division of Water Rights related to confidentiality of information
- addresses bonding requirements
- makes technical and conforming amendments
Your legislators on this bill
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Every vote
- 3 yes, 0 no, 4 absentSenate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: vote to change the bill · Feb 4, 2026Who voted how
- 2 yes, 1 no, 4 absentSenate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 4, 2026Who voted how
- 27 yes, 0 no, 2 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
- 24 yes, 0 no, 5 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 23, 2026Who voted how
- 8 yes, 0 no, 4 absentHouse Public Utilities and Energy Committee: vote to change the bill · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how
- 8 yes, 0 no, 4 absentHouse Public Utilities and Energy Committee: Amendment Recommendation · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how
- 9 yes, 0 no, 3 absentHouse Public Utilities and Energy Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 25, 2026Who voted how
- 67 yes, 1 no, 7 absentFinal House vote · Mar 5, 2026Who voted how
- 24 yes, 0 no, 5 absentSenate vote to accept the other chamber's changes · Mar 6, 2026Who voted how
Hearings and debates
- Jan 22, 2026 Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
- Feb 4, 2026 Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (31 turns) →
- Feb 20, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (3 turns) →
- Feb 23, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (12 turns) →
- Feb 25, 2026 House Public Utilities and Energy Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (28 turns) →
- Mar 5, 2026 House floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (11 turns) →
- Mar 5, 2026 House floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (6 turns) →
- Mar 6, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (7 turns) →