Senate advances water‑reuse bill after lawmakers warn of risks to Great Salt Lake

Senator McCall, sponsor of House Bill 349, told the Senate that the measure creates a state review pathway for water‑reuse projects and gives the state water engineer and director of water quality a formal role in approving projects. He warned lawmakers that if all proposed reuse projects move forward “it would have a significant negative impact on the Great Salt Lake,” arguing the change is intended to ensure a holistic review of reuse proposals.

The bill, which McCall described as affecting reuse projects in the Salt Lake drainage and establishing a process for approval by state officials, was amended on the floor by replacing the third substitute with a fourth substitute that moves the bill’s effective date later in the year to provide additional time for implementation planning. McCall said the longer effective date would give agencies and stakeholders more time to prepare.

With no substantive questions after the sponsor’s explanation, the Senate voted under suspension of the rules to substitute and then to pass the fourth substitute of House Bill 349. President Adams announced the bill had received 22 yay votes, 0 nay votes and 7 absent and that it would be returned to the House for further consideration.

The measure’s sponsor framed the change as balancing water reuse with protection of the Great Salt Lake and giving the Division of Water Rights and the director of water quality a clearer review role. The Senate took no further floor‑level amendments and advanced the bill under suspension of the rules.

The bill will next be considered in the House following the Senate’s action; the Senate record shows the substitution and passage and notes the new effective date included in the fourth substitute.