Senate advances turf buyback incentives and a new per‑capita water metric

Senators substituted and passed two water‑related bills during a floor session that sponsors called part of the Legislature's "Water Week" agenda.

Third Substitute Senate Bill 118 (Water‑Efficient Landscaping Incentives) was presented as a continuation and expansion of last year's turf buyback program. Sponsor said the bill adds a $10 million appropriation request, allows local conservation districts to participate at a 50% match level and creates a recorded notice on property titles that would obligate payback if the land is later converted back to turf. "We actually have added a $10,000,000 ask in appropriation in this bill and we have, allowed the water districts to participate at a 50% level," the sponsor told the Senate on the floor.

Senate Bill 119 establishes a new per‑capita consumptive‑use metric that state water officials and districts can use to compare water consumption across states. Sponsor said the metric adds another tool while existing metrics will remain available.

Why it matters: SB118 targets residential landscaping choices and is intended to direct state funding to take turf out of high‑water‑use areas while safeguarding local land‑use prerogatives; SB119 aims to standardize a comparable per‑capita measure statewide. Sponsors framed both as practical steps to improve water management; supporters on the floor described SB118 as building on prior investments and giving local conservation districts a larger implementation role.

What happened on the floor: The Senate substituted SB118 with a third substitute, debated the programmatic mechanics and recorded a third‑reading passage (clerk announced 24 yea, 0 nay, 5 absent). SB119 was presented and passed for third reading (announced 22 yea, 1 nay, 6 absent). Sponsors said funding questions for SB118 will be resolved through the appropriation process after the bill's passage.

Next steps: Passed bills will be transmitted to the House for consideration; the appropriation request included in SB118 must be addressed through the budget process.