Honorable Robert Puente, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2542 by Puente (Relating to the application of the junior priority requirement for a water right authorizing a transfer of water from one river basin in this state to another river basin in this state.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would modify the Water Code to provide that interbasin transfers of water based on contractual sales no longer be considered junior to all other water rights in the basin. The bill's passage is not expected to result in any significant impact to state agency workloads.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Passage of the bill could result in some municipalities being able to obtain water more easily and possibly at a reduced cost, since the bill would permit transfers of water between basins otherwise prohibited under current law.