SB 259: Water and water rights; establishing procedures for permitting, monitoring, and reporting of groundwater use. Effective date.
SB 259 status: To Governor — Approved by Governor 05/20/2026 (updated May 29, 2026).
What this bill does
Overall score
Bill summary
OfficialThis bill creates new rules for using groundwater (water found underground). If it passes, people will need a permit to pump water from the ground and will have to report exactly how much they use. It is currently being debated in the Senate.
Key analysis
Impact analysis
Environment
Benefits
- Enhanced protection of groundwater resources
- Improved data availability for long-term sustainability
Risks
- Potential implementation challenges for state oversight agencies
Economy
Benefits
- Long-term resource security supports stable economic planning
Risks
- Increased compliance costs for water-dependent businesses
- Administrative burden on agricultural operations
Society
Benefits
- Promotes sustainable water access for local communities
Risks
- No material social impact identified beyond regulatory changes
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
lowlow
Analysis status
OpenStates summary
LegiScan returned a PDF-only document. PDF extraction is not enabled in this build, so the pipeline used a safer fallback.
Analysis based solely on a brief abstract
Where it stands
Introduced
CompleteCommittee
CompleteFloor
CompleteGovernor
CurrentApproved by Governor 05/20/2026
Enacted
UpcomingHow it affects your district
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