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Wyoming2018Did Not Pass

SF0073

Permits for Small Underground Water Wells

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would simplify permit applications and remove metering requirements for small water wells that produce 25 gallons per minute or less.

What it does

  • Removes the requirement for a detailed description of proposed use in applications for wells producing 25 gallons per minute or less.
  • Prevents the state engineer from requiring meters on wells producing 25 gallons per minute or less used for domestic, stock, miscellaneous, or shelterbelt purposes.
  • States that existing permits for these small wells do not require metering if they meet the new criteria.
  • Allows the state engineer to use meters only to verify if a well produces more than 25 gallons per minute.
  • States that using a well for domestic, stock, miscellaneous, or shelterbelt purposes does not require additional legal adjudication if the well produces 25 gallons per minute or less.
  • Sets an effective date of July 1, 2018, for these changes.

Who it affects

  • People who apply for permits to drill or use underground water wells in Wyoming.
  • The state engineer, who issues water permits and sets conditions.
  • Owners of existing wells that produce 25 gallons per minute or less.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the 2018 session, so these changes were not enacted.
  • The bill does not apply if the changes would violate any water compact entered into before the effective date.

Plain language

Terms to know

Adjudication
A legal process to determine water rights.
Domestic, stock, or miscellaneous use
Using water for household needs, animals, or other small-scale purposes.
Shelterbelt
A row of trees or shrubs planted to protect land from wind or dust.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Sep 12, 10:57 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker explains the bill is needed because tens of thousands of existing wells are in violation of current water law, and it seeks to grandfather those permits while establishing a universal permit for future wells.

Public statementFloor statement at 36:00 Watch the statement

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

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

4 roll calls

H09 - Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 7-2-0-0-02018-03-05 · House7 yes 2 no
Yes
7
No
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 7

Carl R LoucksH59Charles J GrayH57Danny EyreH19Michael D GreearH27Robert A ClausenH06Tyler E LindholmH01William D HendersonH41

No 2

James W ByrdH44Thomas D CrankH18
S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-0-0-02018-02-27 · Senate30 yes 0 no
Yes
30
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 30

Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06BEBOUT PRESBill LandenR · S27Brian BonerR · S02Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Curtis MeierS03Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Fred A BaldwinS14Fred M EmerichS05Glenn W MonizS10Henry R CoeS18Jeff WasserburgerS23Jim AndersonR · S28John HastertS13Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17Liisa L Anselmi-DaltonS12Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Ogden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Ray R PetersonS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Wyatt AgarS20
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02018-02-21 · Senate5 yes 0 no
Yes
5
No
0
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 5

Curtis MeierS03Fred M EmerichS05Glenn W MonizS10Larry HicksR · S11Paul R BarnardS15
S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture 28-0-1-1-02018-02-14 · Senate28 yes 0 no
Yes
28
No
0
Absent
1
Excused
1
Conflict
0

Yes 28

Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06Bill LandenR · S27Brian BonerR · S02Bruce Burns Jr.S21Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Chris RothfussD · S09Curtis MeierS03Dan DockstaderR · S16David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Fred A BaldwinS14Fred M EmerichS05Glenn W MonizS10Henry R CoeS18Jeff WasserburgerS23Jim AndersonR · S28John HastertS13Larry HicksR · S11Leland G ChristensenS17Liisa L Anselmi-DaltonS12Michael J Mr. Von FlaternS24Ogden DriskillR · S01Paul R BarnardS15Ray R PetersonS19Tara NethercottR · S04Wyatt AgarS20

Absent 1

BEBOUT PRES

Excused 1

Stephan PappasR · S07

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Did Not Consider in CoWHouse
  2. H COWHouse
  3. H Placed on General FileHouse
  4. H09 - Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 7-2-0-0-0House
  5. H Introduced and Referred to H09 - MineralsHouse
  6. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  7. S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-0-0-0Senate
  8. S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
  9. S COW:PassedSenate
  10. S Placed on General FileSenate
  11. S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
  12. S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture 28-0-1-1-0Senate
  13. S Received for IntroductionSenate
  14. Bill Number AssignedLSO

Changes

Amendments

1 stored

SF0073SS001

Adopted Standing Committee by SAgriculture