House Bill 144 Summary

• Amends Idaho Code Section 42-202B to renumber and clarify definitions related to water rights, including "artesian water," "consumptive use," "digital boundary," "local public interest," "municipality," "municipal provider," "municipal purposes," "planning horizon," "reasonably anticipated future needs," and "service area."

• Amends Idaho Code Section 42-238 to require well drillers to attest that all information on well reports is accurate and that minimum well construction standards have been met at the time of signing the driller's report.

• Establishes that well construction standards must include proper sealing of casings in required annular spaces with approved materials and specifies sealing depth requirements of at least 18 feet for surface seals.

• Requires the director to provide written notice to interested persons by certified mail and publish notice in two consecutive weekly newspaper issues before designating, modifying, or removing "areas of drilling concern."

• Makes technical corrections including clarifying that well drillers shall not be required to notify the Idaho Department of Water Resources in advance of placing annular seals.