State engineer-surface and ground water study.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify exact details about future appropriations beyond the initial $500,000 for the study.

State Engineer's Groundwater Study

This law requires the State Engineer to conduct a groundwater study every ten years in counties with designated control areas or corrective controls, and report findings.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the State Engineer to conduct a groundwater study at least once every ten years in counties with designated groundwater control areas or where corrective controls have been ordered by the state engineer.
• The study must assess the effects of corrective measures, compare natural water recharge to usage from the aquifer, and predict future impacts of development on the aquifer.
• Allows for mapping, modeling, and drilling monitoring wells as part of the study process.
• Requires public reporting of study results within 60 days after completion.
• Appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to cover initial study costs.

Who It Names or Affects

• The State Engineer and their office
• Counties with designated groundwater control areas or corrective controls ordered by the state engineer

Terms To Know

Aquifer

An underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, sediment, or soil from which groundwater can be extracted using a well.

Recharge

The process by which water is added to an aquifer through natural processes such as rainfall and snowmelt.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies in specific counties with designated control areas or corrective controls.
• Funding for the study may be limited if not available annually.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0223

Bill No.:

SF0050

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0223

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0047

Chapter No.:

70

Prime Sponsor:

Love

Catch Title:

State engineer-surface and ground water study.

Has Report:

Yes

Subject:

State engineer-surface and ground water study.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill requires the State Engineer to conduct a groundwater study at least once every ten (10) years in counties with designated groundwater control areas or where the state engineer has ordered corrective controls.

The study shall assess the effects of corrective controls, the recharge of the aquifer compared to consumption from the aquifer and shall determine the impacts of future development on the aquifer.

The study may include mapping, modeling and drilling of monitoring wells as part of the study.

Requires public reporting of study results and submission of a report to the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee within sixty (60) days of completion of the study.

Appropriates funds to the State Engineer's Office for the initial study and requires the initial study to be completed not later than June 30, 2030.

Comments:

Requires a report to the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee not later than sixty (60) days after the study is completed.

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

26LSO-0223

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0050

ENROLLED ACT NO. 47,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to water; requiring the state engineer to conduct a groundwater study in control areas as specified; requiring reports; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 41
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3
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939 is created to read:

41
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3
‑
939.

Groundwater study to assess corrective controls within groundwater control areas.

Subject to available funding, not less than once every ten (10) years the state engineer shall conduct a groundwater study in each county that has a control area designated by the board of control under W.S. 41
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3
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912 and where the state engineer has ordered one (1) or more corrective controls under W.S. 41-3-915. The study under this section shall assess the effect of the ordered corrective controls, assess recharge of the aquifer compared to water consumption from that aquifer and assess the impact of future development on the aquifer. The study under this section may include mapping, modeling and the drilling of monitoring wells. The state engineer may conduct a study under this section in counties without a control area if deemed necessary by the state engineer. The results of each study conducted under this section shall be made public by the state engineer and shall be reported to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee not later than sixty (60) days after the study is completed.

Section 2
.

The initial study required under W.S. 41
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3
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939 as created by section 1 of this act shall be completed not later than June 30, 2030. There is appropriated five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) from the general fund to the state engineer's office for purposes of conducting the study required by W.S. 41
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3
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939 as created by section 1 of this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2031. 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, 2031. 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 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(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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