Why it matters

Utah is becoming a hub for AI infrastructure, and House Bill 76 ensures the state can plan appropriately as data centers expand in our desert landscape. The bill focuses on water reporting and transparency without imposing heavy regulatory burdens.

The big picture

Rep. Jill Koford, who introduced HB 76, says it’s a straightforward reporting measure requiring large data center operators to disclose water use plans before construction and report annually to Utah’s state water engineer.

• It fills gaps in what was being reported to the state water engineer
• The bill is a light touch, not heavy regulation
• Data centers are already shifting away from large water consumption, and this gives them an opportunity to tell their story

What they’re saying

Here’s what Rep. Koford says about the bill’s purpose:

“We live in a desert, we have this really valuable resource of water and we want to make sure that all of our large water users are using it in a responsible manner and we had some gaps in what was being reported to our state water engineer.”

She emphasized this is about answering public questions:

“This felt like an answer to a question that the public was asking. Where are the data centers? How much water are they diverting? What are they using? What are they returning to the system? And are they being good stewards of the water?”

On the industry’s response:

“The good news is that as a lot of people in this space know, data centers are shifting away from large consumption of water, which is good. The industry itself has been really proactive. And so for me, this bill is just an opportunity for them to tell their story and to show the public that they are great partners, that there is a place for them in our desert landscape, and that we know and recognize that they play a critical role in the AI race.”

What to expect

Rep. Koford says the bill has passed two House committee hearings with unanimous approval and is now on the third reading calendar, with a vote expected soon. After passing the House, it will head to the Senate.

She also noted: “At this point, if people are interested and they have questions, they can always reach out to me, but call your senators. We need their support to get this through and over the finish line.”

The bottom line

HB 76 allows Utah to plan appropriately for water and energy resources as AI infrastructure grows. It’s about transparency and responsible stewardship, ensuring data centers can show they’re good partners in Utah’s desert landscape while playing a critical role in the AI race.