The bill amends Wyoming Statute 41-3-101 to clarify the definition of beneficial use of water. It establishes that a water right is a right to use state water, acquired through beneficial application in accordance with state laws and regulations. The bill removes previous language that specified certain beneficial uses and instead introduces new provisions that explicitly recognize the extraction of heat from water and the storage of water for drought contingency and interstate water compact compliance as additional beneficial uses, subject to prior rights.

The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2023. The amendments aim to enhance the legal framework surrounding water rights in Wyoming by ensuring that the storage of water for specific purposes is formally acknowledged as a beneficial use, thereby aligning state law with contemporary water management needs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41-3-101