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SF0082 • 2025

Omnibus water bill-planning.

AN ACT relating to water development projects; authorizing specified level I and level II studies; providing appropriations; requiring reports; providing for the reversion of unexpended funds; authorizing unobligated funds to be used to complete other designated projects as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Water
Last action
2025-02-27
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
2/27/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The effectiveness of the studies in addressing Wyoming's water needs remains uncertain, but this is an interpretation rather than a fact stated in the bill.

Water Development Projects Act

This law authorizes and funds studies for new water development projects, rehabilitation of existing systems, and feasibility studies for dams and reservoirs.

What This Bill Does

  • Authorizes the Water Development Commission to conduct Level I reconnaissance studies for new water development projects in Crook County and a statewide UW Water Research Program.
  • Provides funding from water development accounts I, II, and III for these studies.
  • Requires the commission to submit reports on each study before the 2027 legislative session.
  • Authorizes leftover funds from one project to be used to complete another listed project.
  • Reverts any unspent or unobligated funds back to their respective accounts by July 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Water Development Commission
  • Residents and businesses in Crook County and Albany, Carbon, and Platte Counties

Terms To Know

Level I reconnaissance studies
Initial surveys to assess the feasibility of new water development projects.
Rehabilitation
Improving or restoring existing water systems.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how much funding is available for each project beyond what is listed.
  • It is unclear if the funds will be sufficient to complete all planned studies and projects.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-27 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 56

  2. 2025-02-27 Governor

    Governor Signed SEA No. 0026

  3. 2025-02-24 House

    H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0026

  4. 2025-02-24 Senate

    S President Signed SEA No. 0026

  5. 2025-02-24 LSO

    Assigned Number SEA No. 0026

  6. 2025-02-24 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 60-0-2-0-0

  7. 2025-02-21 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2025-02-20 House

    H COW:Passed

  9. 2025-02-19 House

    H Placed on General File

  10. 2025-02-19 House

    H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0

  11. 2025-02-18 House

    S02 - Appropriations:Rerefer to H02 - Appropriations

  12. 2025-02-18 House

    H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  13. 2025-02-12 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture

  14. 2025-02-03 House

    H Received for Introduction

  15. 2025-02-03 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0

  16. 2025-01-31 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  17. 2025-01-30 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  18. 2025-01-24 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  19. 2025-01-24 Senate

    S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  20. 2025-01-21 Senate

    :Rerefer to S02 - Appropriations

  21. 2025-01-21 Senate

    S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  22. 2025-01-15 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture

  23. 2025-01-06 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  24. 2025-01-02 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 25LSO-0451

Bill No.:

SF0082

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

25LSO-0451

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0026

Chapter No.:

56

Prime Sponsor:

Select Water Committee

Catch Title:

Omnibus water bill-planning.

Has Report:

Yes

Subject:

Provides authorization and funding for water development program studies.

Summary/Major Elements:

Authorizes and provides funding for specified Wyoming Water Development Program reconnaissance (Level I) and feasibility (Level II) studies.

Comments:

See also the companion bill, 2025 House Bill 0117, Omnibus water bill-construction.

Requires the Water Development Commission to provide a report to the Legislature for each of the funded reconnaissance and feasibility studies.

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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
25LSO-0451

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0082

ENROLLED ACT NO. 26,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2025 General Session

AN ACT relating to water development projects; authorizing specified level I and level II studies; providing appropriations; requiring reports; providing for the reversion of unexpended funds; authorizing unobligated funds to be used to complete other designated projects as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

[2025-2026 WATER PROGRAM]
[AUTHORIZED LEVEL I AND LEVEL II STUDIES]

Section 1
.

LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES – NEW DEVELOPMENT
. The following sums of money are appropriated from water development account I, as created by W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
124(a)(i), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following reconnaissance studies as defined in W.S. 41-2-114. Funds appropriated under this section for a particular project that are in excess of the actual amount necessary to complete the study may, subject to the review and recommendation of the select water committee, be expended by the commission to complete the reconnaissance study for any other project listed in this section. Appropriated funds not expended or obligated prior to July 1, 2028 shall revert to water development account I. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on each of the following studies prior to the 2027 legislative session:

[LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES - NEW DEVELOPMENT]

Project

Location

Appropriation

Hulett Water Master Plan

Crook County

$166,000
UW Water Research Program

Statewide

$368,998
Total appropriation for Section 1

$534,998

Section 2.

LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES – REHABILITATION
. The following sums of money are appropriated from water development account II, as created by W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
124(a)(ii), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following reconnaissance studies as defined in W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
114. Funds appropriated under this section for a particular project that are in excess of the actual amount necessary to complete the study may, subject to the review and recommendation of the select water committee, be expended by the commission to complete the reconnaissance study for any other project listed in this section. Appropriated funds not expended or obligated prior to July 1, 2028 shall revert to water development account II. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on each of the following studies prior to the 2027 legislative session.

[LEVEL I RECONNAISSANCE STUDIES - REHABILITATION]

Project

Location

Appropriation

Pioneer Canal Lake Hattie

Irrigation District Master Plan

Albany County

$236,000
Smith's Fork Irrigation District
Master Plan

Lincoln County

$272,000
Wheatland Irrigation District

Albany, Carbon,
Master Plan

Platte Counties

$472,000
Total appropriation for Section 2

$980,000

Section 3.

LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES – DAMS AND RESERVOIRS
. The following sums of money are appropriated from water development account III, as created by W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
124(a)(iii), to the water development commission to be expended to conduct the following feasibility studies as defined in W.S. 41
‑
2
‑
114. Appropriated funds not expended or obligated prior to July 1, 2028 shall revert to water development account III. The commission shall submit a report to the legislature on each of the following studies prior to the 2027 legislative session.

[LEVEL II FEASIBILITY STUDIES – DAMS AND RESERVOIRS]

Project

Location

Appropriation

Middle Popo Agie River
Storage Study

Fremont County

$551,000
Total appropriation for Section 3

$551,000

Section 4.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

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