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SF0116 • 2026

Surface water drainage utilities.

AN ACT relating to cities and towns; clarifying that cities and towns are required to comply with provisions applicable to surface water drainage utilities as specified; specifying applicability; requiring elections; and providing for an effective date.

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Senator Crum
Last action
2026-02-24
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not provide details on penalties for non-compliance or enforcement mechanisms.

Clarifying Surface Water Drainage Utilities for Cities and Towns

The bill requires cities and towns to comply with provisions related to surface water drainage utilities, specifies applicability, mandates elections for certain actions, and sets an effective date.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires cities and towns to follow rules about managing surface water runoff as if they were official utility companies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Cities and towns in Wyoming

Terms To Know

Surface water drainage utility
A company or organization responsible for managing surface water runoff, similar to a public utility.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if cities and towns do not comply with the new rules.
  • It is unclear how this will affect existing surface water management systems that were set up before July 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-24 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Failed 12-19-0-0-0

  2. 2026-02-24 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:S Bill Reconsideration Motion Passed by Roll Call 18-13-0-0-0

  3. 2026-02-24 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 17-14-0-0-0

  4. 2026-02-23 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  5. 2026-02-20 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  6. 2026-02-19 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  7. 2026-02-19 Senate

    S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  8. 2026-02-12 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary 31-0-0-0-0

  9. 2026-02-11 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  10. 2026-02-10 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
26LSO-0289
2026
STATE OF WYOMING
26LSO-0289
Introduced
2.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0116

Surface water drainage utilities.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Crum, Anderson, Boner, Gierau, Love and Nethercott and Representative(s) Andrew, Geringer and Lien

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to cities and towns; clarifying that cities and towns are required to comply with provisions applicable to surface water drainage utilities as specified; specifying applicability; requiring elections; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 15
‑
7
‑
101(a)(iii)(B) is amended to read:

15
‑
7
‑
101.

Purposes.

(a)

In addition to all other powers provided by law, any city or town may make public improvements as follows for which bonds may be issued to the contractor or be sold as provided in this chapter to:

(iii)

Take any action necessary to establish, purchase, extend, maintain and regulate a water system for supplying water to and diverting surface water runoff from its inhabitants and their property and for any other public purposes, including:

(B)

Prescribing and regulating of rates for
:

(I)

T
he use of water
;
and

(II)

The
diversion or management of surface water runoff
in compliance with the Surface Water Drainage Utility Act and after an election as required by W.S. 16
‑
10
‑
105
; and

Section 2.

(a)

Any municipality that adopted any ordinance or resolution for the collection of fees, costs or taxes for the diversion or management of surface water prior to July 1, 2026 and that did not hold an election pursuant to W.S. 16
‑
10
‑
105 for the approval of the means of financing the surface water diversion or management system shall:

(i)

Hold an election as required by W.S. 16
‑
10
‑
105 not later than July 1, 2027;

(ii)

If the electors do not adopt the proposition submitted under paragraph (i) of this subsection, the municipality shall cease the collection of any fees, costs or taxes for financing the surface water diversion or management system not later than sixty (60) days following the results of the election.

Section 3
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(END)

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SF0116