Idaho Legislative Report
IWUA's Legislative Committee develops and reviews proposed legislation affecting water users in Idaho. The Committee has earned a reputation for finding thoughtful, collaborative solutions to some of more challenging water issues. Over the last decade, the Committee has had a 95.86% success rate (see table below).
Legislative archives are available by contacting our office.
68th Idaho Legislature
1st Regular Session
Updated March 6, 2025
Flood Control Districts: Updating Idaho's flood control district statutes. House Action: Passed 57-13-0 Senate Action: Resources & Environment Committee Final Action: __________________________ Water Resource Board Term Limits: Setting term limits for members of the Idaho Water Resource Board. House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee Senate Action: Final Action: __________________________ Ground Water Districts: Amending the water code to (1) authorize ground water districts to create additional divisions when annexing new lands into the district; and (2) change ground water district assessment liens and delinquency entry deadlines from January to February. House Action: Passed 70-0-0 Senate Action: Resources & Environment Committee Final Action: __________________________ Irrigation District Contracts: Amending section 43-320 to allow irrigation districts to enter contracts relating to recharge activities, even if a board member / officer has an interest in the contract, so long as no profits are shared with that director / officer. House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee Senate Action: Passed 35-0-0 Final Action: __________________________ Irrigation & Drainage: Amendments to section 42-909 to include "canal company and other irrigation entity" in the list of authorized entities and to make actions under the code section discretionary. House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee Senate Action: Passed 35-0-0 Final Action: __________________________ Water Rights & Orders: Requiring notice and an opportunity for hearing before a new or updated conjunctive management methodology order is issued and that a final order be issued by December 1 of the season before the new or updated methodology order go into effect. House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee Senate Action: Passed 34-0-1 Final Action: __________________________ Cloud Seeding: Providing reporting requirements for cloud seeding in Idaho. House Action: Senate Action: 14th Order Final Action: __________________________ Irrigation District Lien Assessment Priority: Amending section 43-706, Idaho Code, to clarify that liens for irrigation district assessments have a first priority on the property assessed. Conforms section 43-706 with sections 42-906, 42-2201 and 42-5240, which all place water delivery liens in a first priority position. House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee Senate Action: Passed 34-0-1 Final Action: __________________________ Domestic Water Use: Amending various code sections relating to Idaho's domestic use exemption and the use of water in subdivisions. Specifically:
House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee Senate Action: Passed 34-0-1 Final Action: __________________________ Water Supply Bank & Forfeiture: Amending Idaho code to provide that the forfeiture clock begins anew when a water right is removed from the water supply bank. House Action: Resources & Conservation Committee Senate Action: Passed 34-0-1 Final Action: __________________________ Water Project Funding: Governor Little's "Keeping Promises" proposal for $30 million of ongoing funds for water infrastructure projects. House Action: Senate Action: Final Action: __________________________ Water Storage: Expressing support for new water storage in Idaho, with specific emphasis on Teton Dam. House Action: Senate Action: Adopted Voice Vote Final Action: __________________________ ESPA Settlement Agreement: Concurrent resolution expressing support for the 2024 ESPA Settlement Agreement and for the Water Board's efforts to update recharge goals to 350,000 acre-feet on average. House Action: Senate Action: Adopted Voice Vote Final Action: __________________________ Bill Number TBD (Support) IWRRI Funding: Funding for the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI) of $1.5 to $2.5 million. House Action: Senate Action: Final Action: Stakeholder Letter Supporting Funding __________________________ Bill Number TBD (Support) IDWR Funding: Budget request of the Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR). House Action: Senate Action: Final Action: __________________________ | IWUA Legislative CommitteeLegislative Committee Chair: Barney Metz District 1: Mike Rasmussen District 13: Carl Hayes District 14: Chad Henggeler Associate Members: Roger Warner At-large, Surface Water: Dan Davidson Ground Water Caucus: Shawn VanOrden Ground Water Caucus: Bob Turner Ground Water Caucus: Alan Jackson Ground Water Caucus: Adam Young Ground Water Caucus: T.J. Budge  |