SB 1355 Summary

• Establishes a water resources fund to be maintained in perpetuity, funded by water use assessments, legislative appropriations, gifts, grants, and investment income, with monies continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing provisions.

• Creates water use assessments on three categories: municipal water delivery systems (based on gallons delivered), agricultural irrigated acreage (reported annually by March 31), and industrial water uses on more than ten acres (reported annually by March 31).

• Requires the Department of Revenue to collect assessments from municipal water systems alongside transaction privilege taxes, with separate accounting; agricultural and industrial assessments collected by the Director of Water Resources.

• Imposes civil penalties up to $25 per month (max $150) for failure to file required water use reports by March 31 deadline, and up to $1,000 per day for violations; denies permits and licenses to violators.

• Exempts the Director of Water Resources from standard rulemaking procedures for twelve months to establish assessment rules, and designates the measure as an emergency measure effective immediately.