POLISCOPE
Back to bills
Part ofAgriculture →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.
HB 490UTAHSession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Utah directs division study on agricultural water diversions and non-agricultural use

Original title: Water Optimization Reporting Amendments

Last action · March 6, 2026: House/ filedSponsor: Doug Owens

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Proposed

Utah requires the Division of Water Resources and Division of Water Rights to study statewide water diversions classified as agricultural, reporting findings on diversion counts and non-agricultural usage to an interim committee by November 30, 2026.

Why it matters

State agencies face new reporting mandates to inventory agricultural water classifications, affecting how water tracking and optimization data are delivered to legislative committees starting May 6, 2026.

Background
  • The Agricultural Water Optimization Committee oversees research, grants, and programs designed to improve agricultural water use efficiency in Utah. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Division of Water Resources

Must conduct a statewide study on agricultural water diversions, compile annual reports, and report findings to the interim committee before November 30, 2026.

Directly affected

Division of Water Rights

Must coordinate with the Division of Water Resources to study water diversions and jointly present annual reports to legislative commissions and councils.

Directly affected

Agricultural industry

Subject to water diversion classifications, reporting requirements, and optimization grant rules overseen by the committee and state divisions.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the study on agricultural water diversions require state agencies to determine?
The Division of Water Resources and Division of Water Rights must determine the number, type, and volume of diversions classified as agricultural, as well as the volume of water diverted from those agricultural classifications for non-agricultural uses.
When is the study report due and to whom must it be delivered?
The report containing study findings and recommendations must be delivered to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee before November 30, 2026.
Does the bill appropriate any money?
No, the bill explicitly states that no money is appropriated.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

15 actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ filed
  2. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ strike enacting clause
  3. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ sent to Rules
  4. Mar 2, 2026House
    House Comm - Recommends Returned to Rules
  5. Feb 11, 2026House
    House Comm - Held
  6. Feb 9, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
Show 9 earlier actions
  1. Feb 6, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  2. Feb 6, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0490
  3. Feb 6, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0490
  4. Feb 4, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  5. Feb 4, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  6. Feb 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0490
  7. Feb 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0490
  8. Feb 4, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  9. Feb 4, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill 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

Doug OwensHouse · District 33DemocraticPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

New Agricultural Diversion Study Mandate

The legislation introduces a targeted study specifically examining whether water classified as agricultural is being diverted for non-agricultural purposes.

Division of Water ResourcesDivision of Water Rights

Connected Entities

Agricultural Water Optimization Committee, College of Agriculture and Applied Science from Utah State University, Utah Watersheds Council and 6 more
OrganizationAgricultural Water Optimization Committee“Committee established in the department to oversee research and grants.”Map →
OrganizationCollege of Agriculture and Applied Science from Utah State University“Dean or designee serves on the Agricultural Water Optimization Committee.”Map →
OrganizationUtah Watersheds Council“Receives the joint annual report under Section 73-10g-304.”Map →
OrganizationLegislative Water Development Commission“Receives the joint annual report on completed projects and saved water.”Map →
OrganizationNatural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee“Receives the study findings and recommendations before November 30, 2026.”Map →
OrganizationDivision of Water Rights“Coordinates with the Division of Water Resources on the agricultural water diver”Map →
OrganizationUtah State University“Houses the College of Agriculture and Applied Science.”Map →
OrganizationUtah Water Task Force“Receives the joint annual report from the committee, division, and Division of W”Map →
OrganizationDivision of Water Resources“Required to conduct a study on agricultural water diversions in coordination wit”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record