HB 429 creates a formal process for counties or cities to withdraw from garbage disposal districts (special districts handling trash collection and disposal). It requires a feasibility study, public hearing, and resolution before withdrawal, while prohibiting new debt or bonds during the process. Property in withdrawn areas may still pay taxes to cover the district’s existing debts. The bill specifically applies to trash-focused districts and defines key terms like "feasibility study" and "incur a financial obligation."
HB 408 requires social media platforms to let users transfer portions of their personal data - including connections, content, and interactions - to other platforms within five business days. It mandates real-time data sharing when users switch services, requires explicit user consent before sharing comments or interactions during transfers, and protects platforms from penalties for temporary technical issues if they make good-faith fixes. The bill clarifies that platforms must provide data in a portable, usable format but exempts them from sharing internal algorithms, derived data, or proprietary formats that lack industry standards. This directly affects Utah social media users and platforms operating in the state, focusing on user control over their digital data.
HB 236 requires local governments (like cities and school districts) proposing property tax increases to follow specific transparency steps. It mandates that these entities make a public statement about considering a tax hike before approval and submit two budgets: one without the proposed tax revenue and another including it if approved. The bill also clarifies the State Tax Commission's power to reject increases that don't meet these requirements. This directly affects how local taxing entities plan and present property tax changes, aiming to increase public accountability without new funding.
SB 191 codifies Utah's existing rules for impound lots and introduces a new requirement: towing operators removed from a county's towing rotation in first or second-class counties must wait 180 days before rejoining. The bill affects towing companies operating in these counties by creating a mandatory waiting period for re-joining rotations after removal. Key provisions include standardizing impound lot signage, storage requirements, and procedures for retrieving items from impounded vehicles, while also clarifying when vehicles can be seized without a warrant. The bill makes technical updates to Utah Code sections governing impound lot standards but does not appropriate new funds.
HB 410 establishes the Great Salt Lake Preservation Program and its governing board to manage water leasing specifically for preserving Great Salt Lake. It appropriates $5 million (nonlapsing) for the program, creates streamlined leasing processes for water dedicated to the lake, and authorizes the board to enforce leases and address violations. The bill defines key terms, requires reporting by the board and state engineer, and sets a sunset date for the program. It directly affects water rights holders and entities leasing water for Great Salt Lake preservation, focusing on concrete administrative and funding mechanisms.
HB 311 amends Utah's election law to change which forms of identification are valid for voting and update procedures for verifying signatures on mailed ballots. It requires poll workers to compare signatures on mail-in ballot return envelopes with voter registration records if they suspect a signature mismatch, rather than automatically rejecting ballots based solely on missing driver's license digits. If signatures match, the ballot is counted; if not, the vote is disallowed. This directly affects Utah voters who submit ballots by mail, altering how their signatures are verified during the voting process.
SB 183 prohibits law enforcement officers or their agents from tampering with, repositioning, or disabling privately or commercially owned surveillance cameras without specific authorization. The law allows exceptions when the camera owner consents, a court issues a warrant beforehand, or during urgent emergencies - requiring officers to notify owners within 24 hours or obtain a court order as soon as possible after the emergency ends. This directly affects camera owners (including businesses and residents) and law enforcement agencies operating in Utah. The bill creates two new Utah Code sections (53-25-1201 and 53-25-1202) and excludes trail cameras from its provisions. It takes effect on May 6, 2026.
HB 222 modifies Utah's liability rules for greenhouse gas emissions. It removes the requirement that companies must reside or do business in Utah to qualify for limited liability in climate-related lawsuits. Companies can now only be held liable if a court finds clear evidence they violated specific emissions laws or permits, and the plaintiff must identify the exact gases and prove direct harm. The bill also updates the definition of greenhouse gases to include sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, and other specific compounds.
HB 265 requires businesses to register non-nicotine inhalation products and substances (primarily cannabinoid-based products like CBD vaporizers) and imposes civil penalties for selling unregistered items. It creates a new criminal offense for illegally distributing cannabinoid inhalation products while clarifying that cannabinoid products do not include electronic cigarettes. The bill defines key terms like "cannabinoid product" and "artificially derived cannabinoid" to distinguish legal products from restricted substances. This applies directly to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of these products in Utah, aiming to regulate the market under updated definitions.
HB 447 allows remote sales (online, phone, mail) of cigars and pipe tobacco in Utah while establishing new regulatory requirements. It directly affects remote sellers of these products, requiring them to obtain licenses, post bonds, collect state taxes, and comply with reporting rules. The bill creates specific licensing and tax collection mechanisms for these transactions, with criminal penalties for non-compliance. It does not appropriate new funds and updates Utah's tobacco tax code to include these remote sales channels. The law applies to all consumers purchasing cigars or pipe tobacco online within Utah.
HB 420 modifies Utah's process for filling vacant municipal positions, such as mayors or city council seats, affecting local city councils. It requires councils to appoint a qualified resident within 30 days of a vacancy, provide 14 days of public notice, and interview candidates before voting. If no candidate wins a majority in the initial vote, the two top candidates face a second vote, with ties broken by a coin toss conducted by the municipal clerk. If councils fail to act, the lieutenant governor then directs them to comply, and the governor may step in after 45 days if still unresolved. The bill makes no policy changes but streamlines procedural steps for filling vacancies.
SB 206 transfers key responsibilities from Utah's Multicounty Appraisal Trust (MCAT) to a newly established "fund manager." This includes managing the statewide property tax system, valuing telecommunications property, resolving disagreements between the State Tax Commission and counties about tax orders, and participating in a heavy equipment rental fee study. The bill creates the fund manager role, gives the State Tax Commission authority to set rules for the property tax system, and allows counties to opt out of using the statewide system. It also moves MCAT's existing property, assets, and remaining funds to the new fund manager, with no new state funding required.
