Senator Hinkins substitutes SB125 to narrow Salt Lake Basin metering rules and raise caps for secondary water users

SALT LAKE CITY — On Day 21 the Utah Senate revisited Senate Bill 125 and Senator Hinkins offered a first substitute focused on water-metering distinctions tied to the Great Salt Lake Basin.

Hinkins told colleagues he met with the Department of Natural Resources and Joel Ferry and that the substitute seeks to treat the Great Salt Lake Basin differently from the rest of the state. "We're metering all the water but ... the big concern is the Great Salt Lake Basin," he said, arguing the measure should be less restrictive on metering in basins that do not flow into the Great Salt Lake and that more state funding available should be used to help the lake (SEG 465–474; SEG 468–482).

Key changes described on the floor included raising caps for certain secondary water users: Hinkins said the cap for large secondary users would change from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 and mid-level users from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 (as stated by Senator Hinkins on the floor) (SEG 483–488).

The sponsor asked the body to "circle" the bill so senators could read the substitute text for a few days before further action; the motion to circle was adopted (SEG 489–498). No final vote on the substance of the substitute was recorded on the floor during this session.

Why it matters

The substitute aims to preserve flexibility in water management across basins while concentrating conservation and resources in the Great Salt Lake Basin. The numerical caps cited by the sponsor will alter thresholds for which users face certain metering or funding rules; the bill’s final text and fiscal note will determine the specific regulatory and funding effects.

What’s next

The bill was circled for additional review by senators and may be brought back later on the second-reading calendar for further action. Lawmakers and stakeholders should consult the substitute text and the Department of Natural Resources for implementation details.

Quote

"We're metering all the water but we're really the big concern is the Great Salt Lake Basin," Senator Hinkins said during his explanation of the substitute.