Bill would give military water rights in emergency

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Sen. Ralph Okerlund, R-Monroe, will present a bill to the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee on Tuesday that would give military facilities such as Hill Air Force Base priority for the use of water during a water shortage emergency.

Okerlund said the bill would address an oversight of last year's Legislature, which passed a law that gives priority to agencies and organizations that provide culinary water. "Just about the time we got it passed, we heard from the military folks and they said, 'How about us? We provide water as well,' " Okerlund said. "This bill just adds them to the list."

The committee meets at 2 p.m.

Matthew D. LaPlante