SB 6 is a state budget bill allocating $333.6 million for Utah's transportation and infrastructure operations in fiscal year 2026, and $3.8 billion for fiscal year 2027. It specifies funding sources including $54 million from the General Fund for 2026 and $165 million from the General Fund for 2027, covering agency operations, capital projects, and infrastructure needs. The bill directs funds to state agencies like the Department of Transportation and specifies allocations for projects such as the Ogden office building and capital improvements, without changing policy or directly affecting citizens.
HB 6 is a state budget bill that allocates funding for Utah's criminal justice system for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It appropriates $1.35 billion for 2027 (including $949 million from the General Fund) and $27.8 million for 2026 to support agencies like the Governor's Office, Attorney General's Office, and Board of Pardons and Parole. Key provisions include funding for factual innocence payments ($95,000), jail reimbursements ($412,900), indigent defense services ($283,400), and non-lapsing funds for casework acceleration ($5 million) and children's justice centers ($1 million). The bill specifies how funds may be used and includes intent language to prevent certain appropriations from expiring at year-end.
HB 7 is the Social Services Base Budget for Utah’s fiscal years 2026 and 2027, providing $8.6 billion in total funding to state agencies, primarily the Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects programs like Child and Family Services, Medicaid, mental health services, and health care administration by allocating specific funds - such as $1.588 billion from the General Fund for 2027 and $53.38 million for legal cost reporting. Key provisions include requiring the Health and Human Services Department to report to lawmakers by May 2026 on attorney fees for child welfare services, including historical costs and funding gaps. The bill establishes concrete budget allocations for operations, capital projects, and specific initiatives without changing program eligibility or creating new requirements.
SB 1 allocates $44.5 million for Utah's public higher education institutions for fiscal year 2026 and $3.08 billion for 2027, funding operations, instruction, research, and specific programs. It directs funds from the General Fund, Income Tax Fund, and other sources to institutions like the University of Utah (including its School of Medicine, cancer research, and hospital) and Utah State University (covering veterinary medicine, dentistry, and career education). The bill specifies detailed budget breakdowns for departments such as academic support, student services, and initiatives like the Poison Control Center. This funding directly supports the day-to-day operations and strategic priorities of Utah's public universities.
HB 1 amends Utah's public education budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, primarily adjusting funding formulas and allocations. It sets the weighted pupil unit (WPU) value at $4,870 for 2026-2027, revises eligibility for career and technical education funding, and modifies emergency funding for English learners. The bill appropriates over $8.7 billion for school operations and capital budgets in 2027, including $4.8 billion from the Uniform School Fund, and adjusts tax rate calculations to support school funding. These changes directly affect Utah school districts, charter schools, and state education agencies through updated budget allocations and funding mechanisms.
SB 134 increases judicial staffing across Utah courts by adding judges to address caseloads. It raises the Utah Supreme Court from 5 to 7 justices, the Court of Appeals from 7 to 9 judges, and adjusts district court judge numbers in multiple districts (e.g., increasing the Third District from 32 to 33 judges and the Fourth District from 13 to 14 judges effective January 2027). The bill also amends rules for recruiting judges to fill vacancies and establishes new roles like associate chief justice for the Supreme Court. No new funding is allocated, and the changes take effect under a special timeline. This directly affects Utah’s court system by expanding judicial capacity.
SB 7 is a state budget bill that allocates funding for Utah's National Guard, Veterans Affairs, and legislative operations for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It appropriates $148.44 million for 2027 operations (including $76.05 million from the General Fund), covering existing programs like National Guard operations, veterans services, and legislative office support. The bill directly affects state agencies including the Utah National Guard, Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, and the Legislature’s offices, funding their ongoing operations through specific line items. It does not create new policies but provides the financial resources for current agency functions as outlined in the budget.
SB 5 is the General Government Base Budget bill for Utah's fiscal years 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) and 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It appropriates a total of $538.3 million for state agency operations in FY2026, including $387.1 million for FY2027, primarily from the General Fund and Income Tax Fund. The bill allocates specific funds to agencies like the Department of Commerce (for business licensing and AI policy development), Insurance Department (for autism coverage and fraud programs), and Tax Commission (for license plates and tax administration). These funds cover ongoing operations, system upgrades, and program activities without specifying new policy changes or eligibility criteria.
SB 2002 clarifies and updates the jurisdiction of Utah's appellate courts, specifically the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. It establishes the Supreme Court's exclusive authority in certain cases (like capital felony appeals, election disputes, and lawyer discipline), allows appeals to proceed even if attorney fee motions are unresolved in district court, and updates jurisdiction descriptions for agency decisions. This affects legal proceedings involving those specific cases, as well as litigants and courts navigating appellate pathways. The bill makes technical changes to court procedures without creating new policies or appropriating funds.
SB 2001, titled "Election Amendments," modifies Utah's election rules for the 2026 U.S. Representative race. It allows candidates to file a "notice of intent" to gather signatures before officially declaring candidacy and permits signature collection from any state resident (not just their district) for congressional petitions. The bill sets a specific filing window (March 9-13, 2026) for U.S. Representative candidates and requires them to withdraw from other offices before filing. These changes apply only to the 2026 election cycle and affect candidates seeking the U.S. House seat in Utah. No new funding is appropriated for this bill.
HB 2001 repeals H.B. 267, the 2025 General Session law that modified public sector labor union regulations in Utah. This bill has no new provisions or financial impact - it solely removes the previous legislation. The repeal takes effect on February 8, 2026, unless overridden by a two-thirds vote in both chambers (which would change the effective date). It directly affects the legal framework governing public sector unions by undoing the prior amendments. The bill was signed by the governor on December 11, 2025.
SB 1005 allows local governments in Utah (like counties or cities) to impose a new sales tax specifically to fund emergency services, such as fire and ambulance response. It sets requirements for this tax based on the rate imposed and repeals an existing tax that previously funded rural health care facilities for emergency medical services. The bill also clarifies how tax revenue will be administered, collected, and distributed, including allowing the State Tax Commission to keep a small administrative fee. No new state funds are appropriated, and the changes primarily affect local revenue options for emergency service funding.
