House Bill 57 Summary

• Changes well driller rule adoption from mandatory ("shall") to discretionary ("may") for the Water Resource Board regarding licensing and renewal qualifications.

• Removes criminal misdemeanor penalties for drilling wells without a license and replaces them with administrative enforcement procedures through written notices of violation.

• Repeals Section 42-238b (proceedings commenced prior to a designated date), Section 42-247 (notification of specified law), and Chapter 19 Title 42 (dams and booms in the Clearwater River).

• Authorizes the Department of Water Resources Director to enforce provisions of law, rules, and regulations through administrative enforcement actions rather than criminal prosecution in Chapters 40 and 42 of water code.

• Repeals Section 42-3812 and removes criminal prosecution provisions from Section 42-3809 relating to geothermal resource development and stream channel alterations.