The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Utah sets water conservation rules and turf limits for state government facilities
Last action · March 26, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Stephanie Pitcher and 1 other
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
State agencies in Utah must limit lawn turf to 20% on new or reconstructed facilities, reduce outdoor water use by 25% by the end of 2026 compared to 2020 levels, and follow specific irrigation and landscaping rules.
The measure establishes mandatory water conservation requirements, irrigation system audits, and restrictions on watering hours for all state-owned buildings and higher education institutions.
- The legislation amends existing state property management statutes enacted in 2022 regarding water conservation practices at public buildings. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State agencies
State agencies and institutions of higher education must comply with turf limits, water reduction targets, restricted watering hours, and mandatory irrigation audits.
Division of Water Resources
The division is tasked with establishing uniform water use measures, granting exemptions, and posting submitted water use data on a public website.
Division of Facilities Construction and Management
The division must routinely audit landscape irrigation systems at state facilities and identify action items to achieve target distribution uniformity.
Key Facts
- State agencies that own or occupy state facilities built or reconstructed on or after May 4, 2022, cannot have more than 20% of the grounds be lawn or turf, unless exempted by the division.
- State agencies must reduce outdoor water use compared to fiscal year 2020 by at least 5% by the end of FY 2023 and by at least 25% by the end of FY 2026.
- State agencies are prohibited from watering landscapes between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. unless allowed by the division.
- State agencies must manually shut off irrigation systems during rain and wind events if automatic shutoff functions are absent.
Show all 8 facts
- State agencies must implement a leak-detection and repair program for outdoor water use.
- Landscape irrigation systems installed on or after May 6, 2026, must have a minimum distribution uniformity equaling or exceeding 75%.
- The Division of Facilities Construction and Management must routinely audit state facility irrigation systems to document distribution uniformity.
- The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new limits on lawn and turf for state facilities?
When are state agencies allowed to water outdoor landscapes?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
44 actions- Mar 26, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolledGovernor Signed
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ to Governor
- Mar 13, 2026SenateSenate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
- Mar 11, 2026SenateSenate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11, 2026Senate SecretaryEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingDraft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 38 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / EnrollingBill Received from Senate for Enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling
- Mar 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received from House
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate
- Mar 6, 2026HouseFloorHouse/ passed 3rd reading
- Mar 6, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
- Mar 5, 2026HouseHouse/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4, 2026HouseHouse/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
- Mar 4, 2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
- Mar 4, 2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
- Mar 4, 2026HouseHouse Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Mar 3, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse/ to standing committee
- Mar 3, 2026HouseIntroducedHouse/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Mar 3, 2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ to House
- Mar 3, 2026SenateFloorSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Mar 3, 2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
- Mar 2, 2026SenateSenate/ circled
- Mar 2, 2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 25, 2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ substituted
- Feb 24, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0252S01
- Feb 24, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0252S01
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
- Feb 24, 2026SenateSenate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0252S01
- Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0252S01
- Feb 17, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate/ to standing committee
- Feb 6, 2026SenateSenate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
- Feb 6, 2026ReleasedLFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0252
- Feb 6, 2026Version SponsorLFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0252
- Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroducedSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
- Feb 4, 2026SenateSenate/ received bill from Legislative Research
- Feb 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal AgencyLFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0252
- Feb 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal AnalystLFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0252
- Feb 4, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselNumbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 4, 2026Legislative Research and General CounselBill Numbered but not Distributed
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Escalating Water Reduction Mandates
The bill updates prior conservation goals by raising the required outdoor water reduction target to 25% by the end of fiscal year 2026, building upon an initial 5% target from fiscal year 2023.
Connected Entities
Sources
le.utah.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools