SB 23-262

Senate Bill 23-262, titled "Water Desalination Study and Report," requires the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to conduct a study on desalination facilities in California or Mexico. The study will review existing research about the challenges and benefits of building such facilities and estimate potential costs and advantages for similar projects in those regions. By July 1, 2025, the CWCB must submit its findings and recommendations to relevant Colorado legislative committees, the governor, and a federal bureau. For this fiscal year, $50,000 has been allocated from the state’s water conservation fund to cover the study's expenses. The bill is now signed into law.

Official Summary

The bill requires the Colorado water conservation board (CWCB) to perform a comprehensive literature review of existing research on the challenges and opportunities of desalination facilities in California or Mexico. The literature review must include a summary of the current status of research on desalination, including quantification of certain costs of and benefits that could be realized from the construction and perpetual operation of one or more water desalination facilities in California or Mexico, or both. On or before July 1, 2025, the CWCB must complete the study and submit a report of the CWCB's findings and recommendations to: The Colorado legislative committees of reference that consider water matters; The governor; and The bureau of reclamation in the federal department of the interior. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the bill appropriates $50,000 from the Colorado water conservation board construction fund to the department of natural resources for use by the CWCB to pay operating expenses. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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