SB 92, the Golf Course Amendments bill, addresses water use and water management at golf courses in Utah. It directs the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University to study golf course water use statewide, identify best practices, compare Utah practices with similar climate states, estimate total water use, distinguish playing from non-playing irrigated acreage, and recommend ways to capture water savings. The institute must work with golf course owners and operators, and the final report is due to the Legislative Water Development Commission by June 30, 2028.
The bill also requires the Division of State Parks to develop a master plan for state-owned golf courses, with attention to capital facilities, water use, and conservation, and to report on that plan to legislative interim committees by November 2026. In addition, the bill amends the Government Records Access and Management Act to classify certain golf-course water data prepared for and provided to the institute as a protected record, limiting public access to that information. The bill includes technical and conforming changes and takes effect May 7, 2025.
Impact
SB 92 would add a new section to Utah Code governing golf course water-use study and planning, while also amending GRAMA’s protected-records list to shield specified golf-course water data from disclosure. The measure affects the Division of State Parks, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute at Utah State University, golf course owners and operators, and legislative water-policy committees. It does not appropriate money, but it creates reporting obligations and a confidentiality framework for data used in the study.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. It received a unanimous favorable recommendation in Senate committee and passed the Senate on second reading 23-1 and third reading 22-4, indicating broad support with some limited opposition. No committee transcript excerpts were provided, so the record reflects support in the chamber but not the specific arguments made in debate.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to center on transparency and confidentiality versus water-management planning. The bill protects certain golf-course water data from public disclosure, which may concern open-records advocates or those wary of limiting access to information about water use. At the same time, supporters likely view the protected-record provision as necessary to obtain accurate data from golf courses and to support a meaningful statewide study. Another possible area of debate is the bill’s focus on golf courses, including state-owned courses, in the context of broader water conservation priorities.