HB 578 requires local mental health authorities, the state protection agency, and specific health departments to provide information and referrals about guardianship and conservatorship resources to individuals who contact them. It also allows the Office of Public Guardian to offer training on these matters and updates advance mental health directives to include a person’s preferred guardian. The bill makes technical changes to definitions and related statutes without appropriating new funds, aiming to improve access to support for individuals managing personal affairs or decision-making capacity.
HB 573 creates a Health Care Reform Task Force to study ways Utah could collaborate with other states on health care issues. The task force includes 10 members: 3 Senate appointees (max 2 from one party), 5 House appointees (max 3 from one party), state health officials, and 2 governor-appointed members. It will examine multistate strategies for pharmacy regulations, drug purchasing, cost transparency, Medicaid, and health care workforce issues. The task force must report its findings to the Health and Human Services committee by September 1, 2027, with no state funds allocated for its operations.
SB 271 establishes a new Office of Interscholastic Activities within Utah's State Board of Education to govern high school sports and activities. This office will set rules, oversee operations, and may contract with private organizations to manage these programs. The bill also creates an advisory council to provide input and requires regular reports to the State Board and Education Interim Committee. It directly affects Utah public schools, student athletes, and school administrators by centralizing oversight of high school athletic programs under the new office.
SB 282 amends rules for large electricity contracts affecting major industrial users (defined as customers with 100+ megawatts demand). It requires these "large load customers" to prove their contracts won’t harm grid reliability or raise costs for other customers, include measurable benefits to the grid or other users, post financial security before construction starts, and submit annual reports on electricity and water use. The bill updates definitions for terms like "large load facilities" and "evaluation" to clarify these requirements. These changes apply to contracts between large customers and utilities or energy providers, with no new funding required.
HB 564 sets annual emissions limits for industrial facilities in four Utah counties (Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber) that are designated as "major nonattainment areas" for air pollution. The bill establishes specific yearly caps: 1,418 tons of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) and 8,870 tons of nitrogen oxides. These limits apply directly to point sources like factories and power plants in those counties. The law takes effect on May 6, 2026, and does not appropriate new funding.
SB 294 creates a standardized digital "Student Achievement Backpack" for Utah K-12 students, providing a unified view of their academic progress across schools and programs. It requires the system to operate without transferring or storing student data (keeping records in original school systems), using a "visualization-only interface" to show existing data securely. The bill defines who can access this profile - students, parents, teachers, and administrators - and ensures it supports personalized learning, postsecondary planning, and seamless transitions between schools. It does not replace existing school data systems or alter current reporting requirements.
HB 576 requires Utah juvenile courts to report on compliance with key child welfare case timelines (like shelter hearings, reunification services, and permanency hearings) and implement procedures for timely resolution of appeals. It directs courts to consider statutory timelines when deciding whether to extend reunification services and mandates annual reports identifying cases missing deadlines. The bill affects juvenile courts, child welfare agencies, and families involved in custody cases by adding specific reporting obligations and clarifying court procedures. These changes aim to improve system accountability without altering funding or creating new financial obligations.
HB 469 amends Utah's hemp product regulations to clarify definitions, strengthen safety rules, and update business requirements. It requires hemp retailers to verify purchasers are 21+ via ID checks, updates disposal rules for hemp-related hazardous waste, and repeals mandatory video surveillance for retailers. The bill also explicitly bans specific synthetic cannabinoids (like THCP, HHC, and THC acetates) and sets strict THC limits (under 0.3% dry weight, with additional per-serving limits). These changes directly affect hemp retailers, processors, and consumers purchasing hemp-derived products in Utah.
HB 556 modifies Utah's rules for appointing board members to special districts (like water or fire districts). It requires appointing authorities to designate an alternative board member who must serve and vote specifically when the district considers raising assessments. This ensures representation from affected property owners during assessment decisions. The bill makes technical updates to existing appointment procedures without changing district funding or creating new requirements.
HB 486 amends Utah's legal definitions related to fraudulent deeds in Section 57-31-101 of the Utah Code. It clarifies key terms like "record interest holder" (the person legally owning property with their name in county records) and "fraudulent deed" (a deed not authorized by the actual property owner). The bill directly affects property transactions, real estate professionals, and county recorders by establishing clearer standards for identifying legitimate property ownership versus fraudulent transfers. These changes are technical refinements to definitions, not new penalties or procedures, and take effect May 6, 2026.
HB 484 limits how much additional property tax revenue Utah school districts and local taxing entities can collect without voter approval, capping increases at 20% of their previous year's revenue. It requires voter approval for tax hikes exceeding this limit and eliminates a protection period that previously shielded school districts from losing state funding when lowering tax rates. The bill also phases out excess state funding over three years if a school district reduces its certified tax rate, ensuring funding aligns with current property valuations. This directly affects school districts' budgets and local tax collection processes under Utah law.
HB 515 creates the Graduate Student Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans covering the gap between federal financial aid limits and actual program costs for eligible graduate students. It directly affects students enrolled in specific non-professional graduate programs (like nursing, social work, education, or counseling) at Utah degree-granting institutions. The Utah Board of Higher Education will administer the fund, make rules for loan applications and repayment, and use repaid funds to sustain the program - requiring no new state appropriations. The fund becomes operational on July 1, 2026, with annual reports to the governor and legislature.
