Utah Code tit. 73, ch. 73-27 — Legislative Water Development Commission | Utah Code (current version as served 2026-10-18) — Utah

Utah Code § 73-27-102 Legislative Water Development Commission created.

73-27-102. Legislative Water Development Commission created. (1) (a) The Legislative Water Development Commission is created to determine the state's role in the protection, conservation, and development of the state's water resources. (b) For purposes of this chapter, "commission" means the Legislative Water Development Commission. (2) (a) The commission membership shall include: (i) a minimum of two members of the Senate, appointed by the president of the Senate, with at least one member from the minority political party; (ii) a minimum of two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, with at least one member from the minority political party; and (iii) subject to Subsections (2)(b) and (c), nonvoting members, appointed by the Legislative Management Committee, from a list recommended by the cochairs of the commission described in Subsection (5). (b) If the Legislative Management Committee chooses to not appoint an individual on the list described in Subsection (2)(a)(iii), the Legislative Management Committee may ask the cochairs of the commission to submit an additional list of recommendations. (c) The Legislative Management Committee may not appoint an individual who is not recommended by the cochairs of the commission. (3) (a) The members appointed by the Legislative Management Committee under Subsection (2)(a)(iii) shall be appointed or reappointed to a two-year term. (b) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the Legislative Management Committee, in consultation with the cochairs of the commission, shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term. (4) The president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall, to the extent possible, appoint members under Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (ii) that represent both rural and urban areas of the state. (5) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed under Subsection (2)(a)(i) as a cochair of the commission. (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House of Representatives appointed under Subsection (2)(a)(ii) as a cochair of the commission. (6) What constitutes a quorum of the commission is determined in accordance with Legislative Joint Rules, Title 7, Chapter 1, Part 2, Creation and Organization of Legislative Committees, except nonvoting members of the commission described in Subsection (2)(a)(iii) may not be considered for purposes of determining a quorum. (7) (a) Compensation and expenses of a member of the commission who is a legislator are governed by Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Legislative Compensation and Expenses. (b) Commission members who are employees of the state shall receive no additional compensation. (c) Other commission members shall receive no compensation or expenses for their service on the commission. (8) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support to the commission. Amended by Chapter 119, 2025 General Session

Utah Code § 73-27-103 Duties and powers of commission.

73-27-103. Duties and powers of commission. (1) The commission shall consider and make recommendations to the Legislature and governor on the following issues: (a) how the water needs of the state's growing agricultural, municipal, and industrial sectors will be met; (b) what the impact of federal regulations and legislation will be on the ability of the state to manage and develop its compacted water rights; (c) how the state will fund water projects; (d) whether the state should become an owner and operator of water projects; (e) how the state will encourage the implementation of water conservation programs; and (f) other water issues of statewide importance. (2) The commission shall consult with the Division of Water Resources and the Board of Water Resources regarding: (a) recommendations for rules, criteria, targets, processes, and plans described in Subsection 73-10g-105(3); and (b) the scope of any request for proposals that may be issued by the Division of Water Resources and Board of Water Resources to assist in creating the rules, criteria, targets, processes, and plans described in Subsection 73-10g-105(3) . (3) The commission shall support community efforts to develop a unified, state water strategy to promote water conservation and efficiency that: (a) is consistent with Section 73-1-21; (b) is created with the aid of stakeholders including water conservancy districts created under Title 17B, Chapter 2a, Part 10, Water Conservancy District Act; (c) includes model ordinances or policies consistent with the unified, statewide water strategy that may be adopted by political subdivisions; and (d) respects different needs of different political subdivisions or geographic regions of the state. (4) The commission may: (a) form one or more working groups from the membership of the commission to consider and study the issues described in this section; (b) meet up to six times per calendar year without approval from the Legislative Management Committee; and (c) open one or more committee bill files that relate to the commission's duties under this section. Amended by Chapter 258, 2023 General Session