What did they say?
Search what Utah legislators said in every 2026 committee hearing and floor debate. Each result links to the moment in the official video, so you can hear it for yourself.
162 times legislators spoke about Great Salt Lake (showing the 60 closest matches).
Rep. Logan Monson (R-69) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · floor debate · Mar 3, 2026
Monson said the resolution calls on the federal government and regional partners to help protect the Great Salt Lake and increase its water flow, citing the governor's conversation with President Trump and local and church water commitments.
And thank you, Mr. Speaker. So HCR nine is a resolution that is going to be near and dear to many hearts in Utah. This is a very nonpartisan issue, and it is, it is regarding the Great Salt Lake and all of us. And you might of course wonder why there's a southern Utah guy running a, a, uh, great Salt Lake bill, but it just lets you know that we throughout the state have a, a deep interest in, in making sure that we preserve and protect all of our natural resources. But as we all know, the natural, the Great Salt Lake is, is struggling. We've been making great efforts within the state, within this body to …
Rep. Joseph Elison (R-72) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee · Mar 4, 2026
Presents the resolution, which calls on Congress and the President to join the state in revitalizing the Great Salt Lake, citing recent philanthropic and church water commitments.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be brief. Um, recently, well, we all know the concerns around the Great Salt Lake recently. Is there an issue? I think we all know what the issue is, right? Um, we've had some wonderful Phil philanthropic folks that have, uh, committed $200 million to the cause. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has committed tens of thousands of acre feet of water to the Great Salt Lake. And most recently, president Donald Trump had a conversation with our Governor Cox and has said he wants to make the great Salt Lake great again. So this resolution is calling upon Congress, calling upon the president to follow through on that commitment …
Rep. Joseph Elison (R-72) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Presents the resolution, citing federal and state commitments to help restore the Great Salt Lake and calling for partnership and a shift away from scarcity.
to call your attention to this resolution. This resolution came about after the White House and President Trump recognized that the Great Salt Lake needs some help and we're willing to do as a nation and as a state and maybe a region. What, what needs to be done to make sure that the Great Salt Lake stays in existence. This resolution calls out the importance of the Great Salt Lake and all of the things that it does for our environment, for our community, and for our lifestyle. In the there fours, we resolve that the legislature in the state of Utah and the President Congress and the Executive Branch provide substantial and timely assistance dedicated to stabilizing and …
Rep. John Arthur (D-41) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Commends the sponsor for the resolution, calls the Great Salt Lake a national treasure, and says everyone must do their part to save it.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to go ahead and commend the, the sponsor for bringing this resolution forward. The, the Great Salt Lake is a, a national treasure. It's also internationally renowned. When my father was, uh, reassigned and re stationed here to Fort Douglas from the Presidio, we, we drove from San Francisco to Salt Lake City. And my mother, who was from Korea, insisted that we stop and look at the Great Salt Lake when we passed. And she said that she'd read about it in, in stories back in South Korea. And, and she never actually thought that it was a real thing. So she went and she touched the water and she smelled it. …
Sen. Scott D. Sandall (R-1) · H.J.R. 30, House Joint Resolution to Approve the Transfer of Land · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Sandall explains that a resolution approves a land transfer settling a longstanding dispute over 22,311 acres near the Great Salt Lake, with the state receiving more than $60 million for the restricted Great Salt Lake account.
actually late last night, that, uh, the state and the federal government have agreed to settle a, uh, longstanding dispute over 22,311 acres, uh, along the border between the Great Salt Lake and the Wildlife Refuge on the north end of the lake. This resolution actually allows the state to receive that money, uh, will be somewhere in, uh, excess of $60 million. It will go into the restricted account for use, uh, in and around and to the benefit of the Great Salt Lake. And with that good news, I would be open to any questions.
Rep. Joseph Elison (R-72) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Reads the President's Truth Social post about saving the Great Salt Lake and making the lake great again.
Okay. This was on Truth Social on, uh, 2 21 says, very important to save the Great Salt Lake in Utah. This is an environmental hazard that must be worked on immediately, and immediately is in all caps. It is a tr it is of tremendous interest to me. The people of Utah are spectacular, especially Representative Monson. I'm just kidding. That's not in there for the record. And they deserve to be helped. I am dealing with your very caring governor, Spencer Cox, and we are going to make it all happen. And then in all caps, make the lake great again. President Donald J. Trump,
Rep. Jill Koford (R-10) · H.B. 410, Water Leasing Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Presents HB 410, which creates a statewide water leasing program for agricultural water to benefit the Great Salt Lake, with a Great Salt Lake Preservation Fund, a governing board, measurement and reporting, and a 2030 sunset.
Um, HB four 10 water leasing agreements creates a statewide water program or program to lease water, primarily Ag water for the benefit of Great Salt Lake and also streamline streamlines the process statewide. Um, it provides funding, oversight and enforcement. It creates the great Salt Lake Preservation Fund, um, and does have a $5 million fiscal note. It establishes a new governing board. It protects wa leased water in transit, ensuring that it actually gets to the lake and removes any barriers, um, at the direction of our state water engineer. It also streamlines the process and provides some agriculture safeguards, um, with no more than two or five years of on the same field being able to be …
Rep. Hoang Nguyen (D-23) · H.B. 296, Water Commitment Amendments · floor debate · Feb 6, 2026
Describes HB 296 as letting the Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Weber, and Salt Lake conservancy water districts consider and allocate available dedicated water to the Great Salt Lake in their five-year water conservation plans, without mandating any allocation, and says the bill has no fiscal note.
Hello, Mr. Hello, Mr. Speaker HB 2 96 is a very simple bill and an effort to leave no rocks unturned to save our wa bodies of water here. What HB 2 96 does is allow our Conservation Conservancy water districts in the Great Salt Lake Basin, which is the Central Utah Water District, the Jordan Valley Conserv Conserv. I cannot say that word. Cons. Help me here. Conservation Cons. I can't say it. Thank you. Conservancy District. Thank you. The Weber, uh, district and the Salt Lake District be able to take into, into account and allocate any available dedicated water to the Great Salt Lake. This does not mandate them to allocate water, but it helps them in …
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht (R-70) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · floor debate · Feb 17, 2026
Supports the bill, saying it funds water rights for the Great Salt Lake while maintaining the brine shrimp industry.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill has, uh, substituted, I think, uh, the sponsor has worked well with the brine shrimp industry and, uh, he's outlined a program that will get funding for water rights to the Great Salt Lake, still maintain the brine ship shrimp industry. And, uh, I think it's a unique way to help the Great Salt Lake. And I'm saying that as a southern Utah guy. Thank you.
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht (R-70) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · floor debate · Feb 17, 2026
Supports the substitute, saying it funds water rights for the Great Salt Lake while maintaining the brine shrimp industry.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill has, uh, substituted, I think, uh, the sponsor has worked well with the brine shrimp industry and, uh, he's outlined a program that will get funding for water rights to the Great Salt Lake, still maintain the brine ship shrimp industry. And, uh, I think it's a unique way to help the Great Salt Lake. And I'm saying that as a southern Utah guy. Thank you.
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore (R-17) · S.B. 130, River Restoration Amendments · floor debate · Jan 21, 2026
Sponsor says the bill funds removal of invasive weeds along the Jordan River to increase water flow to the Great Salt Lake and creates a matching grant program for cities to build river access points.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Jordan River is one of the main tributaries into the Great Salt Lake. And, uh, as the Great Salt Lake has risen in concern, uh, in the body as its, uh, water level has done the opposite of rising, um, we're looking for ways cost effective ways to get more water into the Great Salt Lake. And this bill represents an opportunity to do that. Um, you know, the banks of the Jordan River on both sides are, uh, present with a, a growing amount of invasive weeds, very thirsty non-native weeds that drink up a lot of the water that flows by them. Uh, so this bill appropriates some money to clean up the …
Sen. Scott D. Sandall (R-1) · H.B. 410, Water Leasing Amendments · floor debate · Mar 4, 2026
Presents H.B. 410, which creates a state-run program to lease agricultural water for the Great Salt Lake, provides funding and oversight, and sets limits on leases to keep land in irrigation.
Thank you. This bill creates a state run, uh, program to lease water, primarily agriculture water for the bend of the Great Salt Lake. Streamlines certain water leases and provides funding, oversight and enforcement to ensure leased water actually reaches the lake, uh, creates the great Salt Lake pres uh, preservation program. Lease agricultural water establishes a new governing board, provides 2.75 million non lapsing into a fund to carry this out. The, uh, agri agricultural safeguards, it limits leases so the land cannot be taken out of full irrigation. Uh, it requires only two of the, of a five year period for the same field and is completely voluntary without, I'm open to any questions.
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht (R-70) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Asks whether the President promised any funding for the Great Salt Lake.
I didn't hear the, the president's speech about making the Great Salt Lake great again, but did he promise any funding?
Sen. Keven J. Stratton (R-24) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Gave a summation saying the bill is one part of a broader effort on water rights, watersheds, and the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, and explained why he asked about the delayed implementation.
Thank you. I I appreciated the, uh, the discussion today, the work of the good sponsor. And I think the reason I asked that question about the delayed, I, I wanted to point out that we have this remarkable ecosystem in our state. It deals with so many different levers and, and what we're doing here is we're focusing on water rights, the Great Salt Lake, but a water right is greatly impacted, for example, by forest health and, and and, and what we're doing in our watersheds and, and what we're doing with our public lands. And this is something we've been, we, we all know, and I look around this, this and I look Senator Hinkins and then …
Rep. Jill Koford (R-10) · H.B. 410, Water Leasing Amendments · floor debate · Feb 17, 2026
Presents H.B. 410 as a voluntary, market-driven, temporary water leasing program to deliver water to the Great Salt Lake, says agriculture has praised it, and opens the floor to questions.
you Mr. Speaker, colleagues. This is the second of my great Salt Lake bills for this session. This bill is a water leasing bill. It stands up the, the leasing program, which is voluntary market driven and temporary mainly to deliver water to the Great Salt Lake. Um, I'm happy to report that the bill has been widely and broadly praised by agriculture. They're excited about the bill and the way that it allows them to look at their water differently as a commodity, something that they can deliver to the lake on a split season, on a temporary basis when they need it, they can react quickly to market pressures and market needs, and they can help us actually …
Sen. Keven J. Stratton (R-24) · S.B. 130, River Restoration Amendments · floor debate · Jan 21, 2026
Says the bill is also important for water infrastructure and the ecosystem, noting the overgrown river limited water flow from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake in a recent wet year.
Thank you Mr. President. Just a quick comment point of information. I agree with a good, uh, the comment from the, the Senator from Salt Lake, the, the beautification. But this is also critical for our, our infrastructure. Our ecosystem. It, it's interesting to note that two years ago when we had a really good record water year, that actually getting water from Utah Lake to the great Salt Lake was not the, the Jordan River didn't have the capacity 'cause the overgrown and the bad, the bad condition of it to get the water there, had to use some of our canals and other sources. So this, this is not only as a, an aesthetic, uh, uh, uh, not …
Sen. Brady Brammer (R-21) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Asks the sponsor whether he believes agriculture is hostile to the Great Salt Lake.
Uh, to the substitute sponsor. Do you believe that agriculture is hostile to the great Salt Lake?
Rep. Joseph Elison (R-72) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Presented the first substitute to H.C.R. 9, which follows up on the President's commitment to help revitalize the Great Salt Lake with federal, philanthropic, and state support.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Vice. Vice Chair. It is. We will be speaking to the first sub, um, that was, uh, posted, so I apologize that, uh, that sub did Go ahead. Okay. Thank you. Sorry, Mr. Vice-Chair. Um, hope you had a chance to read the, uh, the copy that I gave to you earlier in the day. Each of the committee members, there's only a couple word differences, and I'll point that out in what is posted now on the website. But just to give you a little bit of context, uh, last weekend, uh, president Donald Trump was visiting with our governor, governor Cox. And as part of their conversation, the topic of the Great Salt Lake …
Sen. Jerry W Stevenson (R-6) · S.B. 225, Public Corporation Amendments · House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Presented SB 225 as a technical cleanup that defines distribution centers, allows boundary descriptions using GIS files, clarifies the tax increment trigger date, and moves a Fair Park developer out of the state procurement process, without expanding the port's boundaries.
Thank you very much. Uh, let me just tell you very quickly, the substitute, uh, just Jim made a, a clarification regarding water around the Great Salt Lake. Uh, the Inland Port has, we do not have water policies. We adopt the water policy, uh, inside of the community that we are working in. They have that control and we don't, and that's, that's what the second substitute does. It just clarifies, there was a note in there that, uh, that we, uh, limiting, uh, uh, water around the lake and it was tied to Salt Lake Cities, uh, not around the lake, just in the Salt Lake City portion of our port. So that's, that's what it does. And …
Rep. Thomas W. Peterson (R-1) · H.B. 489, Water Infrastructure Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Presented the bill, which would generally require cities and counties in the Great Salt Lake drainage basin to use draining detention basins instead of retention basins where available.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. It's a pleasure to be before you this morning. Um, what this bill does, and, and this is one of one step, uh, in my goal, to try to figure out a way to eliminate and, uh, eventually get rid of retention and detention basins in the greater Salt Lake basin drainage area, so that we can, can prevent water from evaporating and soaking into the ground that we've captured and get it to the lake. It's a small thing we can do to, to help our lake quality. And so we can maybe quit talking about the lake and get it up to a level where it's, uh, it's not an …
Rep. Doug Owens (D-33) · H.B. 490, Water Optimization Reporting Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 11, 2026
Said that water conservation bills focused on municipal use should be watched, that estimates of agricultural share of Great Salt Lake depletion are likely too high, and that the state should develop more accurate numbers next session.
is important, again, it's important to bear in mind when you see a water conservation bill coming through this year, if it's about municipal water conservation, please pay attention. Because what we've been doing is everybody's thinking we're gonna take this water to save the great Salt Lake out of the height of agriculture. And it's, we're gonna find it, isn't there? It's, it's some, you see estimates ranging from 60 to 80% ag usage in the drainage of the Great Salt Lake. It's probably quite a bit lower than that. And, uh, we are, we are needing to think harder about how much water we're depleting in that m and i setting. So I do think, uh, the, the …
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe (D-15) · H.B. 16, Solar Power Plant Amendments · Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Asked about Farm Bureau membership and praised Salt Lake County farmers.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, as a Farm Bureau member, are you guys farm Bureau members? $72. You can be a lifelong farm member. Salt Lake. Salt Lake County. No, I'm, I'm wearing Farm Farm Bureau socks today. I have Farm Bureau socks too. And I think you should all join the Farm Bureau because I met some really great Salt Lake County farmers, which, like I said this morning seems like an oxymoron statement, but we do have farmers here too, and we really appreciate what they're doing.
Sen. Kathleen A. Riebe (D-15) · S.B. 225, Public Corporation Amendments · floor debate · Feb 23, 2026
Says organizations asked that the same water-use caps be extended statewide to benefit the Great Salt Lake, and asks whether there is appetite to require every municipality and county to have the same cap.
Thank you, Mr. President Pro Tem. I've been approached by numerous organizations asking that we, uh, look to extend the same restrictions on water across the state. Um, we, they feel like this would be, uh, beneficial to the Great Salt Lake and, um, are just really concerned that if a, uh, another agency doesn't have a cap, that that would be a negative impact on the Great Salt Lake. Um, is there any appetite for changing the requirement for every, uh, municipality and, um, county to have the same cap on their water uses?
Rep. Leah Hansen (R-51) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · floor debate · Feb 17, 2026
Asks the sponsor how funds in the Sovereign Lands account would be used to lease water for the Great Salt Lake.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a question? Representative Ward, will you yield to a question? Yes. Um, I'm not understanding what's to be done with the Sovereignty Lands Management account and funding that goes there to lease a water, right for the Great Salt Lake. Would you mind explaining that to me please?
Rep. Leah Hansen (R-51) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · floor debate · Feb 17, 2026
Asks how the Sovereignty Lands Management account would be used to lease water for the Great Salt Lake.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Will the sponsor yield to a question? Representative Ward, will you yield to a question? Yes. Um, I'm not understanding what's to be done with the Sovereignty Lands Management account and funding that goes there to lease a water, right for the Great Salt Lake. Would you mind explaining that to me please?
Rep. Raymond P. Ward (R-19) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Explains that the Senate made two changes: an agreement on how fast the brine shrimp assessment money would be paid and on the assessment rate, which would return to its rate of four years ago, and a settlement over adjacent lands near the Great Salt Lake that the bill allows to be finalized.
Yes, I would. There were two good changes that, uh, took place, um, in the Senate. When the bill left here, there was still some battling back and forth about how fast it would be implemented and what the, the rate would be. On the Brian Shrimp assessment. The parties involved came to a a, a better agreement so the money will go sooner and the Brian Shrimp assessment will return to the rate that it was four years ago. The other agreement, uh, the other bit that is put in the bill, relates to a settlement. Uh, that the, that we are just in the process of finalizing with some lands that are directly adjacent to the Salt Lake, …
Rep. Doug Owens (D-33) · H.B. 400, Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Says it is embarrassing that cities in the growing Great Salt Lake drainage lack an ordinance, ties the bill to lake restoration and the Olympics, and acknowledges local control concerns.
Thank you for hearing it. Uh, I, I suppose you could look at it as a message Bill. I, I think in this day and age, to have a third of the population of a very fast growing area that drains to the Great Salt Lake, not to have enact an ordinance is frankly a little embarrassing. Um, and, uh, we, we, we need to put water in that lake before the Olympics, get here in eight years and show the world we can manage our situation. I think just having these folks think about it and get something done and into their code is a good, is a good idea. So, and, and I understand local control. I, I …
Sen. Nate Blouin (D-13) · S.B. 250, Great Salt Lake Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Said he had not spoken with the commissioner and that the bill is meant to supplement existing resources and match roughly $200 million in private funding.
I, I have not. I assume, uh, maybe he, someone is here to speak to that, but, uh, this is really about augmenting those existing resources that we've allocated to them, uh, and supplementing the, the $200 million in, uh, private funding that come, came from the, I believe it's called the Great Salt Lake, Salt Lake Rising, uh, effort. And, uh, and matching those funds so that we as a state are saying we're gonna, we're gonna pony up, uh, when the private sector comes to the table, we're gonna step in and, and supplement those funds. And so that's what we're trying to do right here.
Sen. Keven J. Stratton (R-24) · S.B. 250, Great Salt Lake Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Noted past legislative funding for the lake and the creation of a commission, and asked whether the sponsor had consulted the Great Salt Lake commissioner and whether that office had taken a position.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In recent years, the legislature's appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars to help the lake and there's been some good positive, uh, direction and, and a lot of positive, uh, things that happened two years ago. It raised four feet from its lowest level, and it's still above that. Uh, at one of the things we did is we set up a, uh, commission to study and make recommendations to the legislature, put that formal in process. Uh, just wondering if the sponsor has had any interaction with the, the director of the commission if, if they have taken a position on this.
Sen. Keven J. Stratton (R-24) · S.B. 250, Great Salt Lake Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Asked that anyone present from the Great Salt Lake Commissioner's office be given a chance to speak, even if comments are limited.
No. I, well, yes, I, I guess if the, anyone from the Salt Lake Commission is here to speak on it, I'd like to be able to hear from, I don't know if you're gonna limit the amount of, uh, comments, but if you choose to do that, I, and if someone from the commission is here, I'd like them to have an opportunity to speak.
Sen. Nate Blouin (D-13) · S.B. 198, Water Project Management Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 30, 2026
Expresses concern about state-level projects such as the Bear River development and about whether the bill could advance diversions affecting the Great Salt Lake, and prefers local planning and funding.
Um, I guess, yeah, I, it, this consolidation just always scares me as, as far as we're talking about a state that believes in local control and yet pushes these big projects from the state level top down. Um, I, you know, thinking about the Great Salt Lake in particular, I mean, this, this seems like, I know the, the Bear River development is always the elephant in the room in these conversations. You know, we hear about that every year. It seems like it's, this, to me, looks like another vehicle that could be used to kind of move those sorts of things forward. Um, if that were true, how would we be navigating between saving the Great Salt …
Rep. Cheryl K. Acton (R-38) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · floor debate · Feb 17, 2026
Supports the bill, saying brine shrimp provide nutrients for migratory birds that depend on the Great Salt Lake.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Um, I rise in support of this bill. Um, the Brian Shrimp or, you know, you think of them as shrimp, you know, get too excited, but they provide essential nutrients to the millions of migratory birds who use our lake. And I, I learned in doing some other research that our lake is of hemispheric importance to birds in North and South America. I mean, and all over North America. Um, and so I think it's very important that we keep our brine shrimp healthy and, uh, thriving. And so for that reason, I support this bill. Thanks.
Rep. Ken Ivory (R-39) · H.B. 362, Tax Payments with Gold · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Presents HB 362 and says the sponsors worked with Representative Peterson to balance local flexibility with statewide policy aimed at getting more water to Great Salt Lake. Asks the witness to state her name and organization.
Good morning, Mr. Chair. Members of the Committee. You pulled that microphone a little closer to Candace. That, is that a little better? That's much better. Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the committee great to be with you today. Just wanted to comment that we have been working with Representative Peterson on this bill to try to find the balance, as was mentioned in previous comments and discussion. It is a tricky thing, so giving the flexibility to locals to do what they need to do while giving the overall state policy direction on trying to get more water to Great Salt Lake is, was kind of the balance we were working on. Candace, you, we, I, I know …
Sen. David P. Hinkins (R-26) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 26, 2026
Responded that a faster timeline could be possible but cautioned about protecting endangered species in the Colorado River, which feeds water to Utah reservoirs and the Great Salt Lake, and about watershed management.
Well, You might be able to move it faster, but problem is you've got also the Colorado River you gotta realize we've got endangered species in that river, four of them that, uh, if we don't protect them, we're gonna stop taking water outta the Colorado River. And if you don't realize it, starvation Reservoir, a Deer Creek Reservoir, strawberry Reservoir, Utah Lake, all that water's coming from the Colorado River. A lot of it, you know, other than the contributors. But, uh, so we've gotta make sure that we take care of the Colorado River. And we're in a fight right now with the downstream states, California, Arizona, and Nevada. And so if we don't protect species, I mean …
Sen. Scott D. Sandall (R-1) · H.B. 60, Water Rights Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 12, 2026
Supports the bill, saying it applies statewide because drought and water decisions affect the whole state, not only the Salt Lake Valley.
Would just like to add that this isn't just pertinent to the Salt Lake Valley. This is a statewide regulations. There's other things besides the Great Salt Lake. There's other bodies of water in the state of Utah. You've gotta consider that when the state engineers making their decisions. I mean, there's other little tributaries, creeks and streams and everything else. And so I just want to hand it to her that she's, I, I trust her a lot and she has a tough job and her staff does a wonderful job. And, and I just want to make that, that that's the reason for my support for this bill is 'cause it, it, it impacts the whole state of …
Sen. Nate Blouin (D-13) · S.B. 250, Great Salt Lake Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Said the commissioner's office has been underfunded and the bill is a small step, and stated he will vote against the motion to hold because he believes the bill should pass.
Thank you. Yeah, I guess I would look at this as empowering us and empowering our, uh, great minds in the room to make those decisions. We heard, uh, very clearly that the great Salt Lake Commissioner's office has been, I think, underfunded from the very beginning. And, and I, I don't, I don't know of anyone in that space that would dispute that we need a lot more than the 200 million in this bill or the 400 million in total as, uh, between this bill and the, the other initiative, the private sector initiative, uh, to find the, you know, 800,000 or so acre feet that we need every year. Uh, so this is, this is a bill …
Rep. John Arthur (D-41) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Arthur speaks to the motion, commends the sponsor and the Youth Coalition, and says the bill is a good one to support.
I would indeed. Um, first of all, uh, I'd like to commend the, the Good sponsor as well as the, the Youth Coalition for the Great Salt Lake. I've appreciated the emails. Um, I assume the other members of the committee have received them as well and I think that the engagement, uh, is exactly what we need to see from everybody in the public. Um, I, I would love to agree with the, the comment that it's, it's nice to see that the tax is drawn from the Brian ship shrimp industry being put back into, uh, that same industry and making the, not just the lake hole, but the, the, the Brian Chimping industry as well. And I …
Sen. Karen Kwan (D-12) · S.B. 225, Public Corporation Amendments · Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Asks whether the port has an interest in keeping the Great Salt Lake healthy.
Yes. And it seems to me, oh, Madam Chair, if I may. Sure. Yeah. It seems to me that, um, you would have a great interest in making sure that the Great Salt Lake is healthy. I mean, you, you don't wanna see this land die out either, is that, is that correct?
Rep. Doug Owens (D-33) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Owens asks whether Endangered Species Act funding already goes to the lake and how much would change.
So, but can you help, just to help me understand that? 'cause I thought a lot of, there was a lot of Endangered Species Act funding that also Uintah the lake also, but maybe I'm wrong about that. And is it, how much is really changing? Is it opposed to, is it going in the lake just under a different account or is it, was it not going into the lake at all?
Rep. Hoang Nguyen (D-23) · H.B. 296, Water Commitment Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 28, 2026
Nguyen presented HB 296, saying it would let water suppliers include commitments of water to Great Salt Lake in their conservation plans, and introduced Laura Briefer.
Good afternoon everyone. Representative Hong Winn. Some of you may know I'm in kind of a unique position where I live in Salt Lake City, represent the east bunch of Salt Lake City, but I also go travel the state quite a bit, where I have a lot of agriculture business in several different counties. Um, that puts me in a really unique position to be able to speak with folks in rural Utah and kind of see what those issues that they have out there are. I was having a conversation with one of them recently, um, a rancher, uh, where he says, you know, we are doing our best out in rural Utah to conserve water and the …
Rep. Jill Koford (R-10) · H.B. 60, Water Rights Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Jan 23, 2026
Supported the bill, saying it will help deliver water to the Great Salt Lake, and praised the sponsor and state engineer's work.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I was going to ask some questions, but Warren Peterson jumped on and, and took care of a lot of the questions that I was hoping we could clarify and get to. Um, I am working on the Great Salt Lake. It's my number one priority and my number one priority in that space is to deliver water to the lake. I have spent hours working with Theresa on this issue. She is an incredible advocate for what we're trying to do. Um, she wants to streamline this process and make some of the things that we are trying to do work. The biggest barrier that we have, that we have faced and all of …
Rep. Thomas W. Peterson (R-1) · H.B. 489, Water Infrastructure Amendments · floor debate · Feb 24, 2026
Explains that the bill requires detention basins in the Great Salt Lake drainage basin to drain entirely so water can reach the lake, and that the amendment removed the words 'as soon as possible'.
Thank you Mr. Speaker Pro Tim, uh, colleagues, all this bill does is it says that if we've collected, collected water from a, a storm drain, uh, parking lot, a, a retention basin, detention basin, it says that once we've collected that water that in, in the, the process and the, and the idea of trying to get water to the great Salt Lake, it makes it so that retention basins are no longer allowed in cities and, and areas, uh, municipalities that have a storm drain system that the intention of the state is once you've collected that water, uh, once you've, uh, put it into a detention basin, is to drain that detention basin entirely and getting all …
Sen. Scott D. Sandall (R-1) · H.B. 296, Water Commitment Amendments · floor debate · Feb 19, 2026
Sandall explained that H.B. 296 adds the commitment of available water to uses on the Great Salt Lake to the information a water conservation plan may include.
Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this bill simply, uh, suggests if you look on line 52, that a water conservation plan may include informa the following information and added to that list is the commitment of available water to uses on the Great Salt Lake. It simply allows conservation plans to look at com water that could be committed to the lake without it be open to questions.
Rep. Cheryl K. Acton (R-38) · S.B. 252, Water Usage at State-owned Facilities Amendments · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether the bill would require retrofitting existing landscaping and whether it applies only near the Great Salt Lake or statewide.
I'm just wondering will they have to go retroactively re landscape anything? And it is it the other question, I guess two questions. Um, the other question is, isn't isn't it only in the, um, the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake or is it statewide?
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht (R-70) · S.B. 252, Water Usage at State-owned Facilities Amendments · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Asks whether the bill covers all new state buildings, whether or not they are in the Great Salt Lake drainage.
Does this include all new state buildings, whether they're in the Great Salt Lake drainage or not?
Sen. Nate Blouin (D-13) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Explains the substitute, which acknowledges partnership across multiple administrations, removes references to a specific federal administration, and cites agriculture and climate change as factors in the lake's depletion.
Yeah, so this is substitute three. It was just released online, so I'm still looking at it. But basically would acknowledge the, uh, continued partnership from, from multiple administrations. It takes out language referencing, uh, a specific federal administration. It, uh, acknowledges the, uh, concerns we've had around agriculture being a major, uh, issue in, in the depletion of the lake. It acknowledges climate change, uh, as a driver of the depletion of the lake. Uh, let's see, what else does it do? It it talks about, um, the urgency across Yeah. The years and, and the multiple administrations that have worked on this and have committed funding. We've seen this under the last, uh, two administrations now. Uh, and, …
Sen. Brady Brammer (R-21) · H.C.R. 9, Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Opposes the resolution as divisive and as assigning blame to the agricultural industry, and recommends not supporting it.
Yeah, go ahead. Yeah, and then with regards to, so it looks like, and, and I'll just speak to it. I, I think the concern that I have with the resolution is that it's trying to pick fights as to, uh, and it's trying to assign blame with regards to the Great Salt Lake and sim. It's simply not helpful. It's divisive and it's not, uh, you know, and I don't think that the assignment of blame is warranted in the way that it's being done. Um, you know, and, and I think that it fails to it, it's in many ways it smacks a little bit of hubris with the idea that the agricultural industry that brought us here …
Rep. Jill Koford (R-10) · S.B. 252, Water Usage at State-owned Facilities Amendments · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Says the bill applies only to new state-owned properties, is not retroactive, and that it was not specified whether it is limited to the Great Salt Lake Basin.
Uh, thank you for the question Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that this is for only new state owned properties. Um, and my Senate sponsor didn't say if it was specific to the Great Salt Lake Basin, but it is for new state owned properties. So it is not retroactive and wouldn't require any new landscape and built in existing facilities. Thank you.
Rep. Jill Koford (R-10) · S.B. 252, Water Usage at State-owned Facilities Amendments · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Says the bill applies only in the Great Salt Lake Basin.
I am clarifying that right this moment. If you'll give me two seconds. My understanding is that it is just in the Great Salt Lake Basin.
Rep. Jill Koford (R-10) · S.B. 252, Water Usage at State-owned Facilities Amendments · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Repeats that the bill applies only in the Great Salt Lake Basin.
I said, my understanding is that it is just in the Great Salt Lake Basin.
Sen. Scott D. Sandall (R-1) · H.B. 247, Great Salt Lake Related Amendments · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Presents the substitute bill, which continues funding for the GSL Advisory Committee, redirects remaining Species Protection account funds to leasing water for the lake and other brine shrimp projects, and freezes tax liability for two lakeside industries at current rates for one year.
Now to the bill. Thank you Mr. President. Uh, this bill is a continuation of previous work regarding the Species protection account. It will result in a more appropriate use of the funds that we currently get from our brine ship assessment. A few decades back, a tax was placed on the brine ship, uh, producers that was used to fund the Species Protection account. Uh, last year the legislature passed a bill, put a considerably larger amount of money into the Species protection account, gave them the opportunity to dedicate more funds towards, uh, brine shrimp and around the lake. The bill continues to fund the GSL Advisory Committee, but then redirects the remaining funds to be used for …
Rep. Casey Snider (R-5) · H.J.R. 30, House Joint Resolution to Approve the Transfer of Land · floor debate · Mar 6, 2026
Presents HJR 30, which approves transferring state land parcels in a long-disputed area near the Great Salt Lake to the US Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, in exchange for money and public hunting and fishing access, with the state keeping mineral rights; the resolution is required because the transfer exceeds 500 acres.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker at, at statehood this every state in the nation is granted certain lands and those lands are considered navigable if they reside under a body of water that has sufficient water on top of it to allow for commerce. We have had those parcels since we became a state. Um, but in the 1920s, a wildlife refuge was established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service that occupied parcels that were in dispute between what had historically been the high of the Great Salt Lake and the new boundary established by the US Fish and Wildlife Service conflict about what exactly and where exactly that line has existed since that time really coming to …
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller (D-24) · S.B. 270, State Court Amendments · floor debate · Mar 4, 2026
Supports the bill, saying it began in Salt Lake County with consolidated calendars and would benefit defendants, landlords, and tenants by speeding evictions and enabling pro bono attorneys to help in one place.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in enthusiastic support. This is a great bill. Um, this is, it is hard to hear me say that normally I'm saying no, no, no. But, uh, yes, yes, yes. On this bill. This bill started, uh, in Salt Lake County. There was a judge that consolidated these calendars. It was great for defendants because pro bono attorneys could just show up in one place and help people being evicted, helping them through that process and negotiating on their behalf with, uh, landlords. Landlords liked it because it expedited the, uh, eviction process. And it's really good for tenants, uh, because tenants have an instinct that they wanna fight for the home they're being …
Rep. Grant Amjad Miller (D-24) · S.B. 270, State Court Amendments · floor debate · Mar 4, 2026
Supports the bill, saying a Salt Lake County consolidated calendar helped defendants, landlords, and tenants and let pro bono attorneys assist more people efficiently.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in enthusiastic support. This is a great bill. Um, this is, it is hard to hear me say that normally I'm saying no, no, no. But, uh, yes, yes, yes. On this bill. This bill started, uh, in Salt Lake County. There was a judge that consolidated these calendars. It was great for defendants because pro bono attorneys could just show up in one place and help people being evicted, helping them through that process and negotiating on their behalf with, uh, landlords. Landlords liked it because it expedited the, uh, eviction process. And it's really good for tenants, uh, because tenants have an instinct that they wanna fight for the home they're being …
Sen. Brady Brammer (R-21) · H.B. 575, Fuel Tax and Supply Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asked about guidance on the water quality impact of resulting flows and whether there is a current water quality crisis in the Great Salt Lake.
last question is, do we have any, uh, any guidance as to the impact of water qua water quality of, of what would likely be the resulting, uh, flows down? So we already have storm water that flows directly into the Great Salt Lake through the various tributaries, and it has not impacted the water quality to such a degree that we're in a crisis on water quality. Is that fair to say?
Sen. Brady Brammer (R-21) · H.B. 546, Public Lands Duty of Care Amendments · Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee · Mar 2, 2026
Asks whether water quality testing is in place along the Jordan River and at the inlet of the Great Salt Lake to monitor the bill's effects.
Do we have, uh, testing in place along the Jordan River and at the inlet of the Great Salt Lake so that we can monitor the impact of this with regards to water quality?
Rep. Rosalba Dominguez (D-35) · H.B. 489, Water Infrastructure Amendments · House Public Utilities and Energy Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Asked whether any basins already release water into the Great Salt Lake.
Yes. Thank you. Um, would, is there a portion of this, I, I don't know if there's any basins already ready to release the water into the Great Salt Lake, or, I guess that's, that is my question is if you know of anybody, any city,
Rep. Doug Owens (D-33) · H.B. 400, Landscaping Water Amendments · House Political Subdivisions Committee · Feb 18, 2026
Presents HB 400, which asks cities in the Great Salt Lake drainage without a water-efficient landscaping ordinance for new construction to enact one, and explains the water-use reasons for the bill.
We will go to HB 400 Landscaping water amendments. Yes. Thank you. Madam Chair and committee members got a handout that'll be coming around now. Uh, this was a bill that has passed previously, uh, the Water Legislative Water Development Committee Commission, and also the Water Task Force. This is a water conservation bill. And what it says is it asks, it requires, I should say, cities who are in the drainage of the Great Salt Lake who have no water efficient ordinance for new construction to enact one. It states that it's a requirement, but it has no enforcement teeth whatsoever. It just has the carrot of, uh, pointing out that if they want to, they can enact an …
Sen. Nate Blouin (D-13) · S.B. 250, Great Salt Lake Amendments · Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 9, 2026
Presented SB 250, which would de-authorize the Bear River Development and allow money already in the state account to be used to buy and lease water and match private investment for the Great Salt Lake, without raising taxes or diverting the ongoing sales tax stream.
This is on. Oh, there we go. It is on. Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, I wanna start with the basic premise of this bill of SB two 50, because it is a pretty straightforward proposal. Um, so right now we have taxpayer dollars that are sitting in, uh, a state account dedicated to the Bear River Development. At the same time, leadership, legislative leadership has been very clear, uh, folks including Speaker Schultz that, uh, the Bear River development is, is probably not going to happen. And if it were to happen, uh, it's probably a long ways in the future. So if that's the case, uh, if this project is either not needed or so far off …
Rep. Jill Koford (R-10) · H.B. 348, Dedicated Water Amendments · House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee · Feb 5, 2026
Presents HB 348, which creates a dedicated water application process for instream flows and Colorado River projects without changing the underlying water rights, and introduces Teresa Wilhelmsen to add detail.
Yes, sir. I will. Thank you. And I have with me Theresa Wilhelmson, our state water engineer. Um, just to note, this bill was presented in the Utah Water Task Force and received a unanimous, um, recommendation. And I'm really excited to be able to present this bill. It's the, it's the culmination of several months of work on a number of bills to try to deliver water to Great Salt Lake. This bill creates a new type of water use approval, a new process called Dedicated Water Applications, um, that will be used for instream flows on sovereign lands, the Great Salt Lake. And in the Colorado River projects, it will protect the underlying water right. And agriculture rights. …
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