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Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Utah, on the record.

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Utah bill tracker

S.B. 198: Water Project Management Amendments

2026 General Session · Originating chamber: Senate

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 creates an office within the Division of Water Resources for managing state water projects.

  • Defines terms
  • Creates the Office of Water Management (office) within the Division of Water Resources (division)
  • Establishes the duties of the office
  • Provides for a water manager to administer the office
  • Establishes the role of the water manager
  • Requires the Division of Water Resources Board to create a process for a political subdivision, special district, or state agency to nominate a water project for management by the office
  • Requires the office to: adopt a capital asset management plan; and report to two legislative committees on the capital asset management plan no later than July 1, 2030, and every five years thereafter
  • Makes technical and conforming changes

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: Natural Resources · Water Rights · Political Subdivisions (Local Issues) · Water

How it moved

  1. · Senate1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
  2. · Senateto standing committeeNatural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
  3. · SenateSenate Comm - Recommends Returned to RulesNatural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
  4. · Senatefiledfile 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 S.B. 198, dated January 28, 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 $5,000 one-time in FY 2026, $10,000 one-time in FY 2027, and $10,000 one-time in FY 2028 from the General Fund for rule making, process establishment, and to create an office inside the Division of Water Resources. The agency has indicated it can absorb these costs.
  • Local government: Enactment of this legislation likely will not result in direct, measurable costs for local governments.
  • 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: Scott D. Sandall

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.