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26LSO-0297
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0297
Numbered
2.0
HOUSE BILL NO. HB0090
State engineer-consumptive water use study.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Strock, Allemand, Banks, Campbell, K, Johnson, Schmid and Wharff and Senator(s) Boner, French and Steinmetz
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to water; requiring the state engineer to conduct a study on water use as specified; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1
.
(a)
As used in this section:
(i)
"Consumptive water use" includes electrolysis, plasma dissociation, thermochemical splitting, the chemical dissociation of water into its elemental components or the use of water as a feedstock in the production of hydrogen fuel or other chemical compounds;
(ii)
"Hydrological cycle" means the natural process by which water circulates between the earth's surface, atmosphere and subsurface, including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration and groundwater recharge.
(b)
The state engineer shall conduct a study of the potential impacts on the state of Wyoming and water users in Wyoming from current and future consumptive water uses that remove water from the hydrological cycle as provided in this section as well as the potential impacts from large scale industrial water use.
(c)
The study required by this section shall focus on:
(i)
Large scale industrial water use by data centers or other large scale industrial water uses including carbon capture technologies. This paragraph shall not include uses that result in normal evaporation losses incidental to irrigation, reservoir operation, domestic use or industrial cooling other than large scale industrial cooling that may prevent the return of water to the hydrological cycle;
(ii)
The use of water for hydrogen production;
(iii)
Other consumptive water uses that prevent the return of water to the hydrological cycle.
(d)
The study required by this section shall include at a minimum:
(i)
An analysis of any current large scale industrial or consumptive water use occurring in Wyoming and the impact of that use on other water users;
(ii)
Recommendations on how to limit the impact of current and future large scale industrial and consumptive water use on existing and future water users in Wyoming for all beneficial uses, including but not limited to municipal, domestic, agricultural, industrial, instream flows, hydroelectric power and recreational purposes.
(e)
The results of the study required under this section along with any recommendations for legislation shall be reported to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee not later than November 1, 2026.
(f)
There is appropriated five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) from the general fund to the state engineer's office for the purpose of conducting the study required under this section. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2027. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2027. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation not be included in the state engineer's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.
Section 2
.
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)
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HB0090