UT HB0439

Counties, municipalities, and special districts must adopt a written plan for determining reasonable future water requirements before imposing water exactions on development, effective January 1, 2028

Local governments cannot impose water exactions if their existing water interests already exceed projected 40-year future needs, or if they lack the required written plan

The state engineer must establish rules setting standards for written water plans, including factors such as population growth estimates, drought impacts, conservation activities, per capita water needs, and potential natural disaster impacts

Water plans must be presented to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment committees before taking effect

The bill coordinates with S.B. 284 (Local Land Use Modifications) to ensure consistent water planning requirements across both pieces of legislation