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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

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Utah bill tracker

H.B. 533: Groundwater Amendments

2026 General Session · Originating chamber: House

Saved official records and Ledger coverage. The outcome below is from the Legislature’s own step list.

What the bill does

Did not pass both chambers; the bill was filed on March 6, 2026.

This bill addresses groundwater.

  • Defines terms
  • Requires land use authorities to consider groundwater issues in approving a land use application or issuing a land use permit
  • Addresses what may be considered related to groundwater preservation
  • Requires the Utah Geological Survey or certain irrigation companies to provide information
  • Addresses scope related to water rights

The description and list come from the bill's own long title as recorded by the Legislature. Read the official bill. The Ledger takes no position on it.

Subjects: Agriculture · Land Use · Natural Resources · Department of Natural Resources · Agriculture & Food · Water · Water Conservation

How it moved

  1. · House1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
  2. · Houseto standing committeeNatural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
  3. · HouseHouse Comm - Recommends Returned to RulesNatural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
  4. · Housefiledfile for bills not passed

Steps as the Legislature recorded them; clerical and fiscal-staff entries are left out. Numbers such as 54-14-7 are yeas, nays and absent.

Fiscal note

From the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's note on 2nd Sub. H.B. 533 (Gray), dated February 18, 2026. A fiscal note estimates direct costs and revenue; it is not an appropriation.

  • State revenue: Enactment of this legislation likely will not materially impact state revenue.
  • State expenditures: Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Natural Resources $18,000 ongoing from the General Fund beginning in Fiscal Year 2027 to maintain a statewide groundwater database and provide information to local governments.
  • Local government: Enactment of this legislation could cost municipalities and counties ongoing beginning in Fiscal Year 2027 to complete technical analysis, review applications, and monitor and enforce preservation measures. The exact change in cost per municipality and county is unknown.
  • Individuals and businesses: Enactment of this legislation likely will not result in direct expenditures from tax or fee changes for Utah residents and businesses.

Bill overview

Sponsor: Mike L. Kohler

Legislature passed-list status: Not available in the saved metadata.

Passed-list membership is not a finding that a bill was signed or took effect. A bill absent from that list is not necessarily pending or defeated.

Latest recorded action

filed
Action date:

The full step list is above. Find the bill in the official session list for status, hearings and committee records.

Recorded floor votes

No floor-vote records for this bill and session are available here. This does not mean no vote occurred; consult the official bill record.

Ledger coverage

No Ledger stories with an explicit source link to this bill and session are listed here.