Sign Up
SF 43 Wyoming House · 2025 Regular Session

Temporary water use agreements amendments.

SF 43 extends the maximum duration for temporary water rights from two to five years (with a total cap of ten years including renewals) for uses like highway construction, railroads, and drilling projects. It requires that only the state transportation commission - not contractors - can acquire temporary water rights for public highway projects. The bill also strengthens protections for permanent water rights owners, allowing senior rights holders to stop temporary diversions if needed, and permitting junior rights holders to request shutdowns only if their water rights are actually harmed by temporary use.
Issues: ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly enables highway construction by extending water rights for transportation projects and mandates state transportation commission oversight, advancing infrastructure development.95% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Jan 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 15, 2025 Signed Mar 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 12, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Wyoming's temporary water rights laws to extend the maximum duration from two years to five years for certain uses like highway construction, drilling, and railroad work. It also adds a requirement that after a temporary transfer ends, the water must be used for its original purpose for at least 50% of the time the temporary use lasted before becoming eligible for another temporary transfer. The bill clarifies that the state engineer, not the state water commissioner, handles temporary transfer approvals and renewals.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of temporary water rights by increasing the maximum duration allowed and adding new restrictions on how long water can remain in temporary use before returning to its original purpose.
REQUIREMENT

Extended the maximum duration for temporary water rights from two years to five years for highway, railroad, and drilling operations.

Added a new requirement that after a temporary transfer expires, the water must be used for its original adjudicated or permitted purpose for at least 50% of the temporary use period before becoming eligible for another temporary transfer.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that the state engineer (not the state water commissioner) has authority to approve and renew temporary water transfers.

DEFINITION

Removed language about senior water right owners having the right to shut off junior temporary diversions, simplifying the enforcement mechanism.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of July 1, 2025, and formal enrollment as Act No. 71 of the 68th Legislature.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 20, 2025 · House Feb 24, 2025

How they voted

23–4
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 31
Jan 20, 2025
D Democratic2
2 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican29
23 Yea 2 Nay 4
79% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Mar 12, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed SEA No. 0071
legislature
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
H 3rd Reading:Passed 56-3-3-0-0
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
H COW:Passed
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 6-3-0-0-0
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Introduced
H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture
lower
Jan 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
S 3rd Reading:Passed 23-4-4-0-0
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
S COW:Passed
upper
Jan 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0
upper
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced
S Introduced and Referred to S05 - Agriculture
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.