HB0090

Requires the state engineer to conduct a study on consumptive water uses and large-scale industrial water use impacts in Wyoming, with findings reported by November 1, 2026.

• Defines 'consumptive water use' as processes that remove water from the hydrological cycle, including electrolysis, plasma dissociation, thermochemical splitting, water dissociation into elemental components, and use of water as feedstock for hydrogen fuel or chemical production. (Sec. 1(a)(i))
• Defines 'hydrological cycle' as the natural process by which water circulates between the earth's surface, atmosphere and subsurface through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration and groundwater recharge. (Sec. 1(a)(ii))
• Mandates the state engineer to study potential impacts on Wyoming and water users from current and future consumptive water uses that remove water from the hydrological cycle, as well as impacts from large-scale industrial water use. (Sec. 1(b))
• Specifies study focus areas: large-scale industrial water use by data centers or other industries including carbon capture technologies (excluding normal evaporation losses from irrigation, reservoirs, domestic use, or standard industrial cooling), hydrogen production water use, and other consumptive water uses preventing water return to the hydrological cycle. (Sec. 1(c))
• Requires the study to analyze current large-scale industrial and consumptive water use in Wyoming and its impacts on other water users. (Sec. 1(d)(i))
• Requires the study to provide recommendations on limiting impacts of current and future large-scale industrial and consumptive water use on existing and future water users across all beneficial uses including municipal, domestic, agricultural, industrial, instream flows, hydroelectric power, and recreational purposes. (Sec. 1(d)(ii))
• Requires the state engineer to report study results and legislative recommendations to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee by November 1, 2026. (Sec. 1(e))
• Appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the state engineer's office for conducting the study, available from the effective date through June 30, 2027, with unexpended funds reverting to the general fund and intent that the appropriation not be included in the state engineer's standard budget for the next fiscal biennium.