SB 224 amends Utah's vital records access law to allow a designated liaison for homeless youth or children (as defined under the federal McKinney-Vento Act) to obtain a minor's vital records on their behalf. This change adds homeless youth liaisons to the list of individuals permitted to access vital records, alongside immediate family members, guardians, and designated legal representatives. The bill directly affects homeless youth and children without stable housing, enabling their school or social service liaisons to help them access critical documents like birth certificates. The amendment does not alter existing rules about public access to records after specific time periods (e.g., 100 years for birth records) or other access categories.
SB 231 modifies Utah's property tax system for large energy users (facilities with 100+ megawatts of cumulative electricity demand). It prohibits new tax increment financing agreements (a tool for funding development projects) for projects containing such "large load customers" after May 6, 2026, affecting cities, counties, and special districts. The bill also requires large load customers to notify county auditors and treasurers of their location. These changes adjust how tax revenue is distributed and restrict development funding for major energy consumers.
SB 215 would allow eviction records to be removed from public databases under two specific conditions: (1) if a case was fully dismissed with no pending appeal and at least one year has passed since dismissal, or (2) if both the tenant and landlord agreed to expunge the record and formally filed a stipulation with the court. The bill directly affects tenants whose eviction cases meet these criteria, enabling them to have the records removed from their history. Key provisions require either a court dismissal with a waiting period or a written agreement between parties filed with the court. This change aims to provide relief for individuals with dismissed cases or resolved disputes, without altering eviction procedures themselves.
SB 205 requires Utah law enforcement agencies to publicly share policies governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including which AI systems officers may use and how they must be configured. It mandates that any police report or record created partly using AI must include a clear disclaimer and a certification that the content was reviewed for accuracy. Agencies must post their full AI policies and detailed information about AI settings - such as transparency features or crime-specific restrictions - on their websites or the state public notice site. This law directly affects all Utah police departments and sheriff's offices, ensuring transparency about AI use in investigations. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.
HB 349 establishes a framework for state-funded loans to support water storage projects like dams and reservoirs. It authorizes using the existing Water Infrastructure Restricted Account to provide loans for projects such as developing Utah's share of the Bear and Colorado rivers, repairing federal water infrastructure, or expanding water storage capacity, with repayment terms set by the Division of Water Resources. Local sponsors (including cities, counties, tribes, and water districts) must meet specific conservation requirements - like requiring new developments to follow strict water-use standards - to qualify for certain loans. The bill also creates reporting requirements and rulemaking processes for loan approvals and repayment, using existing funds without new appropriations. It directly affects entities planning or building water infrastructure projects seeking state financial assistance.
HB 439 requires counties, municipalities, and special districts to adopt written plans by January 1, 2028, outlining how they will meet future public water needs before imposing water-related development fees. The bill mandates that these plans be based on actual projected water requirements, replacing current calculation methods that relied on less specific standards. It also directs the state engineer to create rules for these plans and ensures transparency by requiring municipalities to publicly share their fee calculation methods. This change directly affects local governments and developers, as it standardizes how water fees are determined for new projects. The bill makes no changes to funding and focuses solely on planning requirements for water fee assessments.
HB 387 modifies Utah's regulations for kratom products. It requires kratom processors and retailers to register with the Department of Agriculture and Food, bans products containing synthetic alkaloids or exceeding 2% 7-hydroxymitragynine, and mandates labeling with specific alkaloid content. The bill also raises the minimum purchase age to 21 and imposes fines up to $5,000 for violations like selling unregistered or mislabeled products. If all kratom alkaloids are classified as controlled substances under state law, the entire bill would become inactive.
HB 14 extends the expiration date for Utah's Behavior Analyst Licensing Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. This change ensures the law governing behavior analyst licensure remains in effect for an additional decade, preventing its automatic repeal. The bill includes minor technical adjustments to the relevant code but does not alter licensing requirements for behavior analysts. This extension directly affects behavior analysts and the state's regulatory process for their professional licensing.
HB 28 extends the expiration dates for several health-related programs and committees under Utah's Department of Health and Human Services. It specifically delays the sunset (repeal) of programs like the Rare Disease Advisory Council Grant Program, Newborn Hearing Screening Committee, Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Grant Program, and Behavioral Health Receiving Center Grant Program, pushing their expiration dates from 2026 to 2036 or later. The bill amends Utah Code sections to adjust these repeal deadlines without creating new programs or appropriating funds. These changes directly affect the ongoing operation of these advisory bodies and grant initiatives, allowing them to continue functioning past their original expiration dates.
This bill extends the expiration date for the Utah Commission on Aging from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2031. It directly affects the Utah Commission on Aging by giving the body five additional years to continue its work before its statutory termination. The bill makes only a technical change to the commission's sunset date in Utah Code, with no new programs or funding. This is a routine procedural amendment to delay the commission's automatic repeal, requiring no additional legislative action.
HB 29 amends Utah's consumer protection laws to require businesses to clearly disclose the total price of products - including all hidden fees, government charges, and shipping costs - in advertisements and offers. This directly affects suppliers (businesses selling goods or services) by prohibiting misleading pricing practices and mandating upfront transparency. The bill establishes the Division of Consumer Protection as the enforcing body, granting it authority to impose fines up to $2,500 per violation and seek court remedies for noncompliance. It defines key terms like "total price" and "mandatory ancillary charge" to ensure consistent application of the new disclosure rules.
SB 11 extends the repeal date for the Land Use and Eminent Domain Advisory Board from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036, and requires legislative review before the board's authority ends. This directly affects the advisory board, which provides guidance on land use and eminent domain issues in Utah. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 63I-1-213 to delay the board's termination and adds a requirement for lawmakers to review the board's future before its repeal. The change does not alter other existing repeal dates or create new programs.
