Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it serves as a simple clarification of a specific point in state statute regarding contested cases.
Public statementFloor statement at 3:44:00 Watch the statement
Wyoming2022Enacted
HB0136
Underground Water Contested Case Hearings
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 2:25 AM
In one sentence
This law changes how contested case hearings for underground water well permits work, making it so the person applying for a permit has to prove their case.
What it does
- Changes the rules for contested case hearings about underground water well permits.
- Requires applicants to provide proof that they meet all requirements for getting a permit.
- Applies these new rules to any petition to change an existing water right or application for new underground water filed after July 1, 2022.
Who it affects
- People who apply for permits to drill new wells in underground water control areas.
- Individuals trying to change existing water rights related to underground water.
Limits and unknowns
- Only applies to petitions and applications filed on or after July 1, 2022.
- Does not affect how hearings work for applications before this date.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Contested case hearing
- A formal meeting where people argue about a decision made by the state engineer regarding water permits or rights.
- Burden of proof
- The responsibility to provide evidence and prove something in a legal proceeding, such as a contested case hearing.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Bill Summary - 22LSO-0342 Bill No.: HB0136 Effective: 7/1/2022 12:00:00 AM LSO No.: 22LSO-0342 Enrolled Act No.: HEA No. 0039 Chapter No.: 104 Prime Sponsor: Eklund Catch Title: Underground water contested case hearings. Subject: Underground water control areas. Summary/Major Elements: This act specifies that the burden of proof in contested case hearings for water well permit applications in underground water control areas shall be on the applicant for the water well permit. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.
Public statements
Why lawmakers voted
Last checked Aug 8, 11:30 AM
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it clarifies that applicants for groundwater permits must bear the burden of proof in contested cases, preventing senior rights holders from being unfairly assigned this responsibility.
Public statementFloor statement at 38:36 Watch the statement
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
Recorded votes
5 roll calls
S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-0-0-02022-03-08 · Senate30 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 30
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 30
Affie EllisS08Anthony BouchardS06Bill LandenR · S27Bo BitemanR · S21Brian BonerR · S02Cale CaseR · S25Charles ScottR · S30Cheri SteinmetzR · S03Chris RothfussD · S09Dan DockstaderR · S16Dan FurphyS10David A KinskeyS22Drew A PerkinsS29Ed CooperR · S20Fred A BaldwinS14Jeff WasserburgerS23Jim AndersonR · S28John KolbR · S12Larry HicksR · S11Lynn HutchingsR · S05Mike GierauD · S17Ogden DriskillR · S01RJ KostS19Stephan PappasR · S07Tara NethercottR · S04Tim FrenchR · S18Tim SalazarR · S26Tom JamesS13Troy McKeownR · S24Wendy SchulerR · S15
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-02022-03-04 · Senate5 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
H 3rd Reading:Passed 41-16-3-0-02022-03-01 · House41 yes 16 no
- Yes
- 41
- No
- 16
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 3
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 41
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Andrea LeBeauH33Andrew W SchwartzH23Barry CragoR · H40Bob NicholasR · H08Catherine R ConnollyH13Chad BanksH17Clark D StithH48Cyrus WesternH51Dan ZwonitzerH43Danny EyreH19Ember OakleyH55Eric BarlowR · H03JD WilliamsR · H02James A RoscoeH22Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47John C EklundH10John Romero-MartinezH44John WinterR · H28Joseph E MacGuireH35Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Kevin O'HearnH59Landon BrownR · H09Lloyd LarsenR · H54Mark H BakerH60Mark S KinnerH29Marshall BurtH39Mike YinD · H16Patrick SweeneyH58Robert A ClausenH06Robert WharffR · H49Scott HeinerR · H18Shelly DuncanH05Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Thomas J WaltersH38Trey SherwoodD · H14William D HendersonH41
No 16
Art WashutR · H36Bill FortnerH52Charles J GrayH57Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Clifford M JenningsH30Dan LaursenR · H25Donald E Burkhart JrH15Evan J SimpsonH21Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04John BearR · H31Ocean AndrewR · H46Pepper OttmanR · H34RODRIG-WILLIAMSSandy NewsomeH24
H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 6-2-1-0-02022-02-24 · House6 yes 2 no
- Yes
- 6
- No
- 2
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 1
- Conflict
- 0
H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture 60-0-0-0-02022-02-18 · House60 yes 0 no
- Yes
- 60
- No
- 0
- Absent
- 0
- Excused
- 0
- Conflict
- 0
Yes 60
Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Andrea LeBeauH33Andrew W SchwartzH23Art WashutR · H36Barry CragoR · H40Bill FortnerH52Bob NicholasR · H08Catherine R ConnollyH13Chad BanksH17Charles J GrayH57Chip NeimanR · H01Christopher KnappR · H53Clarence StyvarR · H12Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Cyrus WesternH51Dan LaursenR · H25Dan ZwonitzerH43Danny EyreH19Donald E Burkhart JrH15Ember OakleyH55Eric BarlowR · H03Evan J SimpsonH21JD WilliamsR · H02James A RoscoeH22Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jeremy HaroldsonR · H04Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47John BearR · H31John C EklundH10John Romero-MartinezH44John WinterR · H28Joseph E MacGuireH35Karlee ProvenzaD · H45Kevin O'HearnH59Landon BrownR · H09Lloyd LarsenR · H54Mark H BakerH60Mark S KinnerH29Marshall BurtH39Michael D GreearH27Mike YinD · H16Ocean AndrewR · H46Patrick SweeneyH58Pepper OttmanR · H34RODRIG-WILLIAMSRobert A ClausenH06Robert WharffR · H49Sandy NewsomeH24Scott HeinerR · H18Shelly DuncanH05Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Theodore J BlackburnH42Thomas J WaltersH38Timothy P HallinanH32Trey SherwoodD · H14William D HendersonH41
Official activity
Bill history
- Assigned Chapter Number 104LSO
- Governor Signed HEA No. 0039 Governor
- S President Signed HEA No. 0039Senate
- H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0039House
- Assigned Number HEA No. 0039LSO
- S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-0-0-0Senate
- S 2nd Reading:PassedSenate
- S COW:PassedSenate
- S Placed on General FileSenate
- S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Senate
- S Introduced and Referred to S05 - AgricultureSenate
- S Received for IntroductionSenate
- H 3rd Reading:Passed 41-16-3-0-0House
- H 2nd Reading:PassedHouse
- H COW:PassedHouse
- H Placed on General FileHouse
- H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 6-2-1-0-0House
- H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture 60-0-0-0-0House
- H Received for IntroductionHouse
- Bill Number AssignedLSO
Changes
Amendments
1 stored
The amendment removes a specific line from the bill's first page, which is part of an act about underground water hearings.