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LC 3726

Repeal sunset on Water Court actions

2025 Regular Session

Repeals the sunset on Water Court actions, extending their duration and stability; affects water-right holders, courts, and budgets by removing automatic expiry.

(LC) Draft Ready for Delivery
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Bill Summary · LC 3726

Summary of LC 3726 – Repeal sunset on Water Court actions

Overview

LC 3726 is a bill focused on Water Court actions, with the stated aim of repealing a sunset provision associated with those actions. The bill is in the drafting and delivery stage (LC) and was introduced on December 14, 2024. As of February 2025, it remains in the draft/production process, with multiple status updates indicating drafting, input/proofing, and final drafting steps prior to delivery to the Assembly.

Purpose and intent

  • Primary purpose: Remove or eliminate a sunset clause that currently applies to Water Court actions. A sunset clause typically sets an automatic termination date for statutory authority, processes, or programs unless renewed. Repealing the sunset would effectively extend the lifespan or ongoing applicability of Water Court actions beyond any previously scheduled expiration.
  • Implication: By removing the sunset, Water Court actions could continue without a predefined termination date, reducing the need for future re-enactment or renewal to maintain them.

Key provisions (as implied by the title)

  • Repeal of the sunset mechanism: The bill would strike or nullify the sunset provision governing Water Court actions.
  • Continuity of authority: Water Court actions would remain in effect without automatic expiration tied to an uncertain date.
  • Legislative alignment: The repeal would require corresponding amendments to any statutes or cross-references that currently hinge on the sunset provision.

Important note: The specific text and scope of the repeal (which actions or processes are covered, any transitional provisions, and any exceptions) are not provided in the available information. The above reflects the likely substantive change inferred from the title.

Potential impact

  • Court workloads: Eliminating sunset could extend the duration of Water Court actions, potentially increasing caseloads and resource needs for the judiciary and supporting staff.
  • Legal certainty: Parties engaged in Water Court actions may experience fewer disruptions related to statutory expiry, providing more stable timelines for adjudication and relief.
  • Budget and administration: Administrative and budgeting processes may need to account for the ongoing handling of Water Court matters without a sunset-driven enddate.

Who is affected

  • Water rights holders, developers, or stakeholders involved in Water Court actions.
  • Judges, court staff, and agencies administering Water Court procedures.
  • Local governments or entities relying on Water Court decisions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: LC (Draft Ready for Delivery) with a staged drafting process.
  • Key dates:
    • Introduced: December 14, 2024
    • 2024-12-14: Drafter Assigned
    • 2025-02-02 to 2025-02-23: Series of drafting stages (On Hold, Edit, Input/Proofing, Legal Review, Ready for Delivery, Final Drafter Review)
  • Current status: Drafts progressing toward delivery to the Assembly; final text and specific provisions expected in subsequent draft releases.

Notes and considerations

  • The exact language and scope will determine the bill’s precise effects, including which Water Court actions are affected and whether any transitional provisions apply.
  • Readers seeking to understand the bill’s concrete impact should review the final drafted text once available, along with fiscal notes and any committee analyses.

If you’d like, I can update this summary with specific provisions and fiscal/impact analyses as soon as the final bill text is released.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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