The Utah House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee approved a substitute recommendation for H.B. 76 on January 22, 2026, advancing legislation that would implement new water reporting requirements for large data centers across the state.
Committee Approval of H.B. 76S01
During its meeting on January 22, 2026, at the 110 Senate Building, the committee voted 8-0 to pass the substitute recommendation for H.B. 76, titled Data Center Water Policy Amendments. The vote included support from committee members Peter Cutler, David Fiefia, Luke Hansen, James Hawkins, Victor Mauga, George Miller, David Owens, and Timothy Shelley. Two members, Christopher Jack and Daniel Shallenberger, were absent during the proceedings.
Increased Transparency for Water Use
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Jill Koford of Weber County, seeks to change how large-scale data centers interact with local water providers and state agencies. According to Breathe Utah, the bill was recommended by the Legislative Water Development Commission and focuses on requiring these facilities to demonstrate exactly where they will obtain their water supplies.
While the bill does not authorize new water rights or impose direct limits on total water use, it aims to increase accountability through more rigorous reporting. The requirements include advance communication with water providers, detailed reporting of both projected and actual water usage, and the public disclosure of non-proprietary data.
Legislative History and Floor Votes
The legislative path for H.B. 76 has involved several significant milestones throughout the early 2026 session. Following its initial movement, the bill passed its third reading in the House on January 28 with a vote of 72-0-3. In the Senate, the bill faced a period of intense scrutiny; during a session on March 5, it initially failed its second and third reading with a vote of 13-15-1, but was subsequently reconsidered and passed with a vote of 19-5-5.
The bill finally reached House concurrence on March 5 with a vote of 62-2-11. Earlier in the session, the Senate Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the measure on March 3.
Impact on Great Salt Lake
Advocacy groups like Breathe Utah have identified potential indirect benefits for Utah's air quality and the Great Salt Lake. Because large data centers often utilize evaporative cooling, their water consumption can significantly impact downstream flows in the Lake's watershed. By requiring reporting on water sourcing, reuse, and discharge practices, the bill provides state agencies with better information to manage cumulative impacts that affect lake levels.
Maintaining stable inflows to the Great Salt Lake is a critical component of managing dust pollution along the Wasatch Front. As lakebed exposure increases, so does the source of fine particulate matter that degrades regional air quality. Proponents suggest that improved transparency could help discourage speculative or poorly planned developments in water-stressed areas and may indirectly encourage the adoption of more efficient cooling technologies.
Future Planning Implications
Despite the potential for environmental benefits, observers note that the ultimate impact of H.B. 76 remains to be determined. Because the bill does not explicitly cap water use or mandate specific reuse protocols, its success in promoting conservation depends on how the newly generated data is utilized by state agencies and local governments in future land-use and water-planning decisions.
