Bill > SB157

This bill modifies the existing law regarding water withdrawal registration by adding new confidentiality provisions for the Missouri Geological Survey (MGS). The bill requires major water users to file a registration document with details about their water withdrawal, including specifics like the water source location, type, amount, and intended use. The key change is the introduction of a new confidentiality clause that generally prohibits the MGS from releasing information obtained from these registration documents to the public, even under records requests. However, the MGS can disclose aggregate county-level data about the number of major water users and total water usage. The agency may also release specific information in response to a subpoena or court order, but only to the extent necessary to comply with the legal request. Any MGS employee who intentionally discloses confidential information in violation of this provision can face disciplinary action and potentially be charged with a class A misdemeanor. This confidentiality protection specifically applies to water withdrawal information from agricultural land users, helping to protect sensitive data about water usage in the agricultural sector.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=424