Keeping Law SimpleLegislation, clearly explained
Back to Wyoming
Wyoming2008Did Not Pass

HB0018

State Engineer Rulemaking Authority

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would grant the Wyoming state engineer the authority to create rules for water and weather activities and officially approve rules already in place.

What it does

  • Gives the state engineer the authority to adopt rules for weather modification experiments.
  • Allows the state engineer to create rules for temporary water rights used in highway or railroad construction.
  • Permits the state engineer to adopt rules for reservoir construction permits.
  • Authorizes the state engineer to make rules for permits needed to build ditches or canals.
  • Ratifies, or officially approves, rules the state engineer adopted before January 1, 2007, and filed with the secretary of state.
  • Sets an effective date of July 1, 2008, if the bill passes.

Who it affects

  • The Wyoming state engineer.
  • People or companies that apply for water rights or permits for construction projects.
  • The secretary of state, who receives filed rules.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and failed introduction in the House on February 12, 2008.
  • The bill text is marked as a 'Working Draft,' so the final language may have differed from this version.
  • The bill does not specify the exact content of the rules the state engineer would create, only the authority to create them.

Plain language

Terms to know

Ratify
To officially approve or confirm that existing rules are valid.
Weather modification
Attempting to change or control any of the weather phenomena by chemical, mechanical or physical methods.
Rulemaking authority
The legal power to create and enforce specific rules and regulations.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Aug 8, 5:15 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports introducing the bill because it codifies existing rules that have been written and operated on by the state engineer's office for decades, clarifying their authority.

Public statementFloor statement at 36:36 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes introducing the bill because expanding rulemaking authority is dangerous and could cause unintended consequences for irrigators in agricultural communities.

Public statementFloor statement at 36:56 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

1 roll call

H Failed Introduction 32-28-0-0-02008-02-12 · House32 yes 28 no
Yes
32
No
28
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 32

Bernadine CraftH17Colin SimpsonH24Dn.Doug SamuelsonH07Esquibel, F.Frank PhilpH34Jane WarrenH13Jerry IekelH29Jim SlaterH46Ken A EsquibelH41Kermit C BrownH14Lori A MillinH08Mark SemlekH01Marty A MartinH48, S12Mary A ThroneH11Mary GilmoreH59Mary W HalesH36Michael K MaddenH40Monte OlsenH22Owen PetersenH19Pat ChildersH50Peter S IllowayH42Rodney "Pete" AndersonH10Rosie M BergerH51Ross DiercksH02Saundra MeyerH49, S15Stanley L BlakeH39Thomas A LockhartH57Timothy M StubsonH56Tom Lubnau IIH31William "Jeb" StewardH47Zwonitzer

No 28

Alan C JonesH25Allen M JaggiH18Amy L EdmondsH12Bill ThompsonH60Dan DockstaderR · S16David R EdwardsH06David R MillerH55Debbie HammonsH27Deborah AldenH03Del McOmieH54Edward BuchananH04Elaine HarveyH26Erin E Mrs. MercerH53George BagbyH15Jack D Landon Jr.H30Kathleen DavisonH20Keith M GingeryH23Kevin A WhiteH45Lisa A SheppersonH58Lorraine K QuarbergH28Matt TeetersH05Pete JorgensenH16Robert A BrechtelH38Roy CoheeH35Steve HarshmanR · H37Sue E WallisH52Timothy P HallinanH32W. Patrick P GogglesH33

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Failed IntroductionHouse
  2. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  3. Bill Number AssignedLSO