The 2025 Utah legislative session brought some small but important victories for Great Salt Lake—and it wouldn’t have happened without the leadership of key lawmakers and public officials who stepped up to prioritize water conservation and the lake’s future.
We want to take a moment to thank the leaders who showed up for the lake this year:
Rep. Jill Koford (jkoford@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring HB446, which expands the Great Salt Lake Commissioner’s authority to lease water through market-based mechanisms. This streamlines efforts to secure water for the lake while maintaining state oversight. The bill was signed into law by Governor Cox on Mar. 24.
Rep. Casey Snider (csnider@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring HB274, HB244, and HB520:
- HB274 requires municipalities to adopt tiered, conservation-focused water pricing for both culinary and secondary water, sending clearer market signals about water use.
- HB244 establishes the Bear River Bay Waterfowl Management Area, permanently protecting over 13,000 acres of wetlands.
- HB520 integrates the GSL Commissioner’s Office into the Department of Natural Resources, creates the GSL Trust Council, and formalizes coordination for water leasing projects.
All three bills were signed into law on Mar. 24.
Rep. Doug Owens (dowens@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring HB328 and HB311 and supporting the Dust Mitigation RFA.
- HB328 would have limited overhead spray irrigation on new large developments but failed to pass out of the House.
- HB311 expands the state engineer’s authority to prevent water waste. It was signed into law Mar. 24.
- Dust Mitigation RFA: With only $150K of the $651K request granted, the state won’t have the resources to purchase and install additional monitors around Great Salt Lake, but will have enough to fund a full-time staffer dedicated to researching and analyzing dust.
Rep. David Shallenberger (dshallenberger@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring HB243, which expands the Agriculture Optimization Fund to support water efficiency research and increases cost-share funding for modern irrigation practices. It was signed into law Mar. 24.
Sen. Kevin Stratton (kstratton@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring SB305, which would have created statewide water-wise landscaping standards and model ordinances for local governments. The bill did not advance out of Senate Committee.
Sen. Nate Blouin (nblouin@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring SB131, which would have allowed water conservancy districts to plan for water delivery to sovereign lands like Great Salt Lake, integrating the lake into long-term water supply planning. The bill did not advance out of Senate committee.
Sen. Daniel McCay (dmccay@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring HB274 in the Senate and helping advance tiered water pricing reforms. And for sponsoring SB92, which would have commissioned a study on water use at Utah golf courses, but failed to be heard in a House Committee.
Sen. Brady Brammer (bbrammer@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring HB520 in the Senate, which helps clarify roles and responsibilities around the GSL Trust and formalize collaboration within DNR. It was signed into law Mar. 24.
Sen. Scott Sandall (ssandall@le.utah.gov) – for sponsoring SB80, which created a fee to fund future water quality testing requirements and encouraged municipalities to adopt tiered water pricing and metering by reducing the fee for water retailers that do so. It was signed into law Mar. 24
GSL Commissioner Brian Steed (bsteed@utah.gov) – for his year-round leadership and tireless coordination to keep Great Salt Lake at the center of policy conversations and ensure consistent progress toward long-term solutions.
Former Deputy GSL Commissioner Tim Davis (tim.davis@utah.gov) – now executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, for his continued leadership and dedication to advancing efforts to protect and restore Great Salt Lake.
We’re deeply grateful for these individuals and their efforts. The future of Great Salt Lake depends on thoughtful, committed leadership like theirs!
Want to say thank you?
A quick note of appreciation can go a long way. Here’s a simple template you can personalize and send to these leaders:
Subject: Thank you for supporting Great Salt Lake!
Dear [Leader’s Name],
Thank you for your leadership during this legislative session to protect and preserve Great Salt Lake. Your work on [bill or initiative name, if known] is a meaningful step toward the long-term well-being of the lake!
As someone who cares deeply about the future of Great Salt Lake, I’m grateful for your commitment to solutions. Please keep fighting for Utah’s water, air, ecosystems, and people.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City/Town]
We’ll be highlighting additional opportunities to support the lake and engage with your elected officials in the coming months. For now, let’s take a moment to celebrate this progress—and thank those who made it possible.