Bill > H0676

This bill amends existing Idaho law to allow municipalities to use geothermal water for heating and cooling as a "municipal purpose," which refers to water provided by a municipality for residential, commercial, industrial, park irrigation, and related uses. Specifically, it clarifies that geothermal heating and cooling are considered municipal purposes if provided by a municipality from a low-temperature geothermal source, is non-consumptive under normal operations, and complies with other regulations. The bill also requires applications for future water needs involving geothermal heating and cooling to demonstrate how the diverted low-temperature geothermal water will be reinjected back into the aquifer. This change impacts how municipalities apply for and manage water rights, particularly for future needs, and ensures that such uses are sustainable by requiring the return of the water. The bill also declares an emergency and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.