Amending Temporary Water Use Agreements
In one sentence
Plain language
Official record
Bill Summary - 25LSO-0099 Bill No.: SF0043 Effective: 7/1/2025 LSO No.: 25LSO-0099 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0071 Chapter No.: 134 Prime Sponsor: Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources Interim Committee Catch Title: Temporary water use agreements amendments. Has Report: No Subject: Extending the number of years where temporary water rights may be granted. Summary/Major Elements: Existing law provides a process for a person to acquire a temporary water right by transfer for a period of two (2) years for specified purposes. This bill extends the period of a temporary water right to five (5) years. The bill also removes the specified purposes for a temporary water right and provides that a temporary water right can be acquired for temporary beneficial purposes. The bill prohibits the State Engineer from approving a temporary water right transfer if it would injuriously affect the water rights of other appropriators. The bill authorizes the State Engineer to renew a temporary water right for successive periods of not more than five (5) years and provides that the total length of a temporary water right transfer shall not exceed ten (10) years. The bill specifies that after the expiration of any temporary transfer of any irrigation water right, the water right shall be used for its adjudicated or permitted purpose for not less than fifty percent (50%) of the period for which the temporary transfer was exercised before becoming eligible for any further temporary transfers. 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
Last checked Aug 5, 2:40 AM
R · S18
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker explained that they agreed to keep an amendment regarding First Amendment protections because it did not harm the bill, and supported deleting another amendment concerning instream flows.
R · H26
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports the conference report because it retains an amendment protecting agricultural land by reverting water to its adjudicated purpose, while removing language regarding instream flow which was deemed inappropriate for a temporary water use bill.
R · S18
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker argues that a new amendment regarding expiration periods is confusing and unclear. They also state that an exception for instream flow beneficial use should be removed from the bill.
R · H06
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because it protects water rights for ranchers, arguing that including this language strengthens the bill.
R · H26
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because beneficial use of instream flow is not a temporary use and belongs solely to the state, fearing it could cause legal issues in future contested cases.
R · H47
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the amendment because similar language caused the bill to fail previously and believes instream flow rights belong to the state, not in a temporary water use agreement.
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the amendment because regulators confirmed that this year's version will not harm anyone with appropriated water rights.
R · H28
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker encourages voting for the amendment primarily to support junior water users.
R · S25
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker argues that the bill fails to address a real problem and restricts beneficial temporary water uses for industries like tourism, suggesting it should be rejected.
R · S11
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it clarifies archaic statutes regarding temporary water use changes and adds necessary limits on repetitive petitions.
R · S19
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it reduces administrative burdens by extending temporary use requests to five years instead of two.
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
7 roll calls
Official activity
Changes
7 stored
The amendment adds an exception to the purposes for which temporary water rights can be granted, specifically excluding beneficial use of instream flows identified in Wyoming Statute 41-3-1001.
The amendment adds exceptions and conditions to temporary water rights agreements in Wyoming.
The amendment adds a requirement that after a temporary water right expires, it must be used for its original purpose for at least half the time it was temporarily transferred before another temporary transfer can happen.
The amendment adds an exception to the purposes for which temporary water rights can be granted, specifically excluding beneficial use of instream flows identified in Wyoming Statute 41-3-1001.
The amendment removes specific wording from a bill about temporary water use agreements.
The amendment removes specific house amendments from a bill about temporary water use agreements.
The amendment removes certain sections related to permanent water rights and exceptions from the bill text.