Senate committee backs HB 296 allowing conservancy districts to include Great Salt Lake in conservation plans

Sponsor presented HB 296 as a narrowly focused amendment that would allow conservancy districts — including Central Utah Water, Jordan Valley Water, Weber and Salt Lake Conservancy District — to list the Great Salt Lake as a consideration in their five‑year conservation plans. "This will simply allow them to put Great Salt Lake as part of their plan," the sponsor said during presentation.

The bill makes a single substantive edit (an insertion around line 70) adding a reference to a commitment of "available water to uses on Great Salt Lake," according to the sponsor. He emphasized the change is permissive, not mandatory: districts would not be required to commit water but would have the option to include the lake in their conservation planning.

A committee member asked whether water that a district committed to the lake could instead be allocated to other needs; the sponsor replied that the statute provides flexibility and that districts could direct water elsewhere if needed. No public testimony was offered.

Senator Sandle moved that the committee favorably recommend HB 296; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The bill advances to the full Senate.