HB 50 amends Utah's child protection ombudsman system to better support parents and children in state custody cases. It requires the ombudsman to accept complaints from parents directly, provide clear rights information on their website, and submit annual reports to legislative committees. The bill also mandates that police or child welfare workers inform parents about the ombudsman when removing a child into protective custody. These changes aim to increase transparency and accessibility for families navigating child welfare proceedings, without altering funding or creating new programs.
HB 79 amends Utah's Governmental Immunity Act to expand legal protection for government entities and employees. It explicitly grants immunity from lawsuits when responding to disasters or providing emergency medical services (including by first responders), clarifying that this protection isn't limited to specific emergency types. The bill affects government employees performing these duties, ensuring they cannot be sued for actions taken during disaster response or emergency medical care. These changes are technical amendments to existing immunity provisions with no new funding or significant policy shifts.
HB 55 requires schools and government agencies contracting with education technology vendors to include specific privacy clauses in their agreements. It mandates that if a vendor illegally sells student data (violating state or federal law), the school must notify the vendor within 30 days and terminate the contract if the violation isn’t fixed within another 30 days. The bill also prohibits vendors from charging fees or seeking damages for contract termination due to privacy violations and repeals a prior provision allowing vendors to respond to student feedback requests. This directly affects schools, their ed tech vendors, and student data privacy protections under Utah law.
HB 66 extends the repeal date for Utah's Soil Health Program from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. This amendment directly affects the program itself, which supports agricultural practices that improve soil quality and sustainability for Utah farmers and ranchers. The bill changes Section 63I-1-204 of Utah Code to delay the program's termination by 10 years. No new funding is appropriated, and the change only modifies the program's scheduled end date without altering its current structure or operations. The bill passed unanimously and takes effect May 6, 2026.
HB 75 amends Utah's education laws to better support American Indian and Alaska Native students. It defines "American Indian and Alaska Native concentrated schools" (those with ≥29% Native students), expands grant eligibility for schools serving these students (prioritizing certain counties), and requires the state board to adopt a specific education plan by 2027. The bill mandates annual reporting to the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee on grant use, program effectiveness, and plan implementation. It updates existing grant rules and creates new reporting requirements without appropriating new funds. The policy directly affects Utah schools with significant Native student populations and tribal communities through improved resource targeting and accountability.
HB 392 creates a "three-judge panel" process for specific civil cases in Utah district courts involving state entities or officials. It requires that when the attorney general, governor, or Legislature is a party, a panel of three randomly selected district judges (each from a different judicial district) must hear the case instead of a single judge. The Utah Supreme Court gains exclusive authority to review decisions from these panels, and standard venue rules no longer apply to such cases. This applies only to civil actions where state entities or officials are involved, with no new funding or policy changes for the public.
SB 140 adjusts Utah election procedures by modifying the lieutenant governor's deadline for creating the master ballot position list and aligning the signature submission deadline for U.S. Representative candidates with other similar candidates. It updates two code sections: one specifying how election officials order candidates on ballots using a randomized alphabet system, and another clarifying the timeline for candidates to gather signatures to qualify for the primary ballot. The bill directly affects candidates running for U.S. Representative and election officials managing ballot ordering. These changes ensure consistency with prior election law (S.B. 2001) and streamline the qualification process for federal candidates.
HCR 1 is a non-binding resolution expressing Utah's support for the advanced nuclear manufacturing industry and declaring the state's desire to host such manufacturing. It commits Utah to helping technology companies address safety challenges in nuclear manufacturing, transportation, and waste management, while welcoming innovative nuclear firms to the state. The resolution does not create new laws, appropriate funds, or directly affect specific entities, but signals legislative backing for the industry's development.
HB 47 requires all vehicle owners to maintain liability insurance *while operating* a vehicle on Utah highways (not just when registered). This directly affects all drivers, including nonresidents who stay in Utah over 90 days, who must meet Utah's insurance requirements during their stay. The bill amends Utah Code Section 41-12a-301 to clarify that insurance must be active whenever a vehicle is driven on public roads, with exceptions for off-highway vehicles, e-bikes, scooters, and school buses under specific conditions. It does not appropriate funds or change existing registration fees. The key change shifts the requirement from registration to active operation.
This concurrent resolution commemorates the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks in 2026. It honors victims, first responders, and those affected by the attacks while encouraging Utah schools and local governments to hold educational events and ceremonies. The resolution urges public and private schools to conduct age-appropriate activities to foster understanding of the day's significance. It has no funding impact and serves solely as a commemorative statement, not a new law.
HB 5 is a funding bill that allocates $1.3 billion in state funds for Utah's Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality agencies for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It directly affects the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, providing specific appropriations for its programs like Animal Industry, Invasive Species Mitigation, Plant Industry, and Marketing. The bill details funding sources (including General Fund and Income Tax Fund) and includes limited provisions for non-lapsing funds to cover specific operational needs like equipment, training, and projects. It does not create new policies but authorizes spending for existing agency operations.
SB 4 is a base budget appropriation bill that allocates funding for Utah state government operations during fiscal years 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) and 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It provides a total of $1.82 billion for operating and capital budgets in fiscal year 2027, including $220.8 million from the General Fund, and specifies funding for state agencies like the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. The bill details specific allocations for agency programs, such as tourism marketing, economic development grants, and cultural services, with most funds coming from state revenue sources. This budget bill directly affects state agencies by funding their ongoing operations and programs for the upcoming fiscal years.
