Water and water rights; establishing procedures for permitting, monitoring, and reporting of groundwater use. Effective date.
What it does: On the version voted May 6, 2026: Requires the Water Resources Board to audit usage reports, investigate waste complaints and impose progressive fines for overuse. Treats groundwater use for data-center evaporative cooling as waste, issuing permits only for low-consumption, recirculating cooling systems. (AI-written summary of the bill; the official record shows the exact version voted)
Question before the chamber: Energy And Natural Resources Oversight Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs
A yes vote recommended that the House pass SB 259 in a committee substitute requiring meters on permitted groundwater wells, phased in over eight years, and barring data centers from using groundwater in open-air evaporative cooling. (AI-written)
The tally
Yes 8 · No 6 · Not voting 0
Bar: green = yes, brown = no, striped = not voting.
| Party | Yes | No | Not voting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Republicans | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Most Democrats voted yes; most Republicans voted no. 5 members voted against their party’s majority.
Voted against their party’s majority
- Anthony MooreR57Yes
- John PfeifferR38Yes
- Ken LuttrellR37Yes
- Mike DobrinskiR59Yes
- Rusty CornwellR6Yes
The full roll (14)
Yes 8
No 6
- Brad BolesR51
- Jim GregoR17
- John GeorgeR36
- Kenton PatzkowskyR61
- Mark ChapmanR12
- Rick WestR3
“Not voting” is a recorded non-vote, not a reason for the absence. Parties come from public rosters; how we count.