The bill amends existing Wyoming water law to allow for private ownership of water rights specifically for instream flow purposes. Previously, only the state of Wyoming could own instream flow water rights, but the new language permits any person to own these rights. Additionally, the bill introduces provisions that allow individuals to acquire existing water rights or petition for a change of use for instream flow purposes, thereby expanding access to water rights for private entities.

The amendments include the deletion of the restriction that limited ownership of instream flow water rights to the state and the insertion of new language that enables private ownership. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that any water rights acquired and changed will be limited to a specified stream segment while maintaining the original priority date. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41-3-1002, 41-3-1007