Aurora Water Agricultural Water Rights Bill
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and numbers may be misheard.
- What: Aurora Water wants to sponsor a 2027 state bill keeping decisions on changing agricultural water rights to municipal or industrial use in water court, outside the Arkansas River Valley (Water Division 2), rather than extending the process created by House Bill 26-1340 statewide.
- Why: HB26-1340 relies on third-party verification of land revegetation chosen by local jurisdictions. Aurora Water fears higher costs for ratepayers, longer timelines, and a de facto veto or delay power for local counties and cities over its water acquisitions, including through local 1041 permitting.
- Where it stands: a state representative has agreed to sponsor (draft language shared and embargoed); three other legislators asked for meetings after the November elections. The committee gave verbal approval to proceed.
- Next: meetings with legislators after the election; the committee asked to see drafts. See Mike Foster.
Sources
- 2026-10-15 - Federal, State & Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee (video and transcript, 2026-10-15)
Discussion time
About 7 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 - Federal, State & Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee | 7 |
Log
- 2026-10-15 - Federal, State & Intergovernmental Relations Policy Committee - Mike Foster presented; the chair and both members agreed to let Aurora Water tell the sponsor to start drafting.