H.B. 473
Signed into LawColorado River Authority Amendments
HB0473S02 (Substitute)
Colorado River Authority Amendments
Introduction
Feb 4
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 11
House Floor Vote
Feb 19
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 24
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 5
Governor Signed
Mar 25
What This Bill Does
This bill addresses the Colorado River Authority of Utah.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- moves the Colorado River Authority of Utah (authority) from the governor's office to the Department of Natural Resources, including providing a transition;
- modifies the definition provision;
- amends the membership provision of the authority including modifying the appointment process;
- addresses the operation of the authority;
- expands the powers and duties of the authority;
- modifies the appointment of the river commissioner;
- repeals provision prohibiting the river commissioner from receiving compensation;
- amends provision on hiring of the authority's executive director;
- repeals the Colorado River Authority Restricted Account; and
- makes technical and conforming amendments.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Starting July 1, 2026, this bill moves the Colorado River Authority of Utah — the state body that manages Utah's interests in Colorado River water — from the Governor's Office into the Department of Natural Resources, and makes several structural changes to how the authority operates. The authority's membership expands from seven to ten members, adding the state engineer and the Department of Natural Resources executive director as nonvoting members, while removing the governor's direct representative and replacing the previous "State of Utah Area" with a newly defined Southeastern Area covering Garfield, Grand, San Juan, and Wayne counties. Beginning in 2027, area representatives will be nominated by regional water conservancy districts but appointed by the governor with Senate confirmation, replacing the prior system where those districts made appointments directly. The bill also shortens the river commissioner's term from six to four years, gives the governor authority to appoint the river commissioner with Senate consent, allows the river commissioner to receive compensation for the first time, shifts hiring authority for the authority's executive director from the chair to the Department of Natural Resources executive director, eliminates the Colorado River Authority's dedicated restricted fund, and expands the authority's powers to include entering contracts, awarding grants, leasing water rights, and funding Colorado River infrastructure.
H.B. 473
Signed into LawColorado River Authority Amendments
Current version: HB0473S02 (Substitute)
Introduction
Feb 4
House Rules
House Committee
Feb 11
House Floor Vote
Feb 19
Senate Rules
Mar 4
Senate Committee
Feb 24
Senate 2nd Reading
Mar 5
Senate 3rd Reading
Mar 5
Governor Signed
Mar 25
IntroductionFeb 4
House Rules
House CommitteeFeb 11
House Floor VoteFeb 19
Senate RulesMar 4
Senate CommitteeFeb 24
Senate 2nd ReadingMar 5
Senate 3rd ReadingMar 5
Governor SignedMar 25
What This Bill Does
This bill addresses the Colorado River Authority of Utah.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- moves the Colorado River Authority of Utah (authority) from the governor's office to the Department of Natural Resources, including providing a transition;
- modifies the definition provision;
- amends the membership provision of the authority including modifying the appointment process;
- addresses the operation of the authority;
- expands the powers and duties of the authority;
- modifies the appointment of the river commissioner;
- repeals provision prohibiting the river commissioner from receiving compensation;
- amends provision on hiring of the authority's executive director;
- repeals the Colorado River Authority Restricted Account; and
- makes technical and conforming amendments.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary. We recommend consulting the bill text for important decisions.
Starting July 1, 2026, this bill moves the Colorado River Authority of Utah — the state body that manages Utah's interests in Colorado River water — from the Governor's Office into the Department of Natural Resources, and makes several structural changes to how the authority operates. The authority's membership expands from seven to ten members, adding the state engineer and the Department of Natural Resources executive director as nonvoting members, while removing the governor's direct representative and replacing the previous "State of Utah Area" with a newly defined Southeastern Area covering Garfield, Grand, San Juan, and Wayne counties. Beginning in 2027, area representatives will be nominated by regional water conservancy districts but appointed by the governor with Senate confirmation, replacing the prior system where those districts made appointments directly. The bill also shortens the river commissioner's term from six to four years, gives the governor authority to appoint the river commissioner with Senate consent, allows the river commissioner to receive compensation for the first time, shifts hiring authority for the authority's executive director from the chair to the Department of Natural Resources executive director, eliminates the Colorado River Authority's dedicated restricted fund, and expands the authority's powers to include entering contracts, awarding grants, leasing water rights, and funding Colorado River infrastructure.
Votes
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Documents
Floor Debates
Committee Hearings
Other Versions
Subjects
Action History48
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
House/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Clerk of the House
House/ enrolled bill to Printing
Clerk of the House
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Clerk of the House
Last updated Mar 26, 2026, 9:41 PM
