HB 133 requires individuals who use deadly force to report the incident to 911 or law enforcement within 24 hours to qualify for a pretrial hearing on whether their force was justified. If reported within that timeframe, the defendant automatically meets the initial requirement to argue justification at the hearing, shifting the burden to the state to prove the force was unjustified. The bill amends Utah Code Section 76-2-309 to establish this reporting rule and applies to most cases, with exceptions for law enforcement officers acting lawfully, minor offenses, or cases where force caused death without a timely report. The law will take effect on May 6, 2026.
HB 237 amends Utah's stalking law to strengthen protections for victims and increase penalties for offenders. It specifically adds a second-degree felony penalty when an offender unlawfully enters a victim's dwelling during stalking, and clarifies definitions like "course of conduct" to include digital harassment (e.g., texts, social media). The bill directly affects stalking victims and individuals convicted of stalking, making unlawful dwelling entry a more severe offense. These changes update existing statutes without new funding or broad procedural shifts.
HB 231 repeals Utah counties' authority to tax food and alcoholic beverages sold at restaurants, as well as "customized prepared food" sold at convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. It allows counties to instead impose a tax on other taxable transactions (like non-food items) at a rate that generates equivalent revenue. The bill directly affects restaurants, convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores that sell prepared food for immediate consumption. It makes no new spending and shifts the tax base without changing overall revenue levels for counties.
HJR 5 proposes to amend Utah's constitution to change how judges are appointed. It would let the Governor appoint any qualified judge without needing the Judicial Nominating Commission's list, remove the 30-day deadline for appointments, and eliminate the Chief Justice's power to fill vacancies if the Governor delays. The Senate would still need to approve appointments within 60 days. If approved by voters, these changes would take effect January 1, 2027.
HB 233 clarifies the distinction between two categories of non-traditional education students in Utah: "home-based students" and "home school students." It creates specific definitions, stating that a "home-based student" uses public funds (like scholarship programs or state online courses) while a "home school student" receives parent-led instruction without public funding. The bill amends multiple education codes to ensure consistent terminology across laws, affecting how Utah categorizes students in scholarship programs versus parent-directed home schooling. No new funding or eligibility changes are introduced - only precise language updates to avoid confusion in existing policies.
HB 155 requires Utah residential water suppliers to adopt a three-tiered rate structure by July 2027, designed to encourage water conservation. The tiers must include: one block for efficient indoor use, one for efficient indoor/outdoor use, and one for wasteful use, with higher rates for increased usage. Suppliers must include water conservation efforts in the highest usage tier's rate calculation and provide clear billing details to customers. The bill applies to residential customers primarily served by retail water suppliers, with specific requirements for rate transparency and conservation funding. It does not appropriate new funds but modifies existing rate-setting rules under Utah Code Section 73-10-32.5.
HB 266 designates a specific segment of Route 198 in Utah County - from Main Street in Payson to Main Street in Santaquin - as the "Sgt. Billy D. Hooser Memorial Highway." The bill requires Utah's Department of Transportation to update official highway maps to reflect this name and install commemorative signs along the route. This is a commemorative naming bill with no funding or policy changes beyond the highway designation. It takes effect on May 6, 2026, and directly affects the identified highway segment in Utah County.
HR 5 creates a new "Family and Social Services" standing committee in the Utah House of Representatives to review related legislation. This committee, now listed as item (4) in the amended committee structure, will directly affect how bills concerning family welfare, childcare, and social programs are processed. The resolution also makes minor technical adjustments to committee numbering and lists, aligning with other existing committees. The changes take effect on May 6, 2026, with no funding impact.
HB 244 protects employees and job applicants who voluntarily cooperate with law enforcement. It prohibits employers from asking employees not to cooperate, penalizing them for cooperating, or refusing to hire them based on this choice. Employees who face retaliation can sue for damages or court orders under the new law. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and applies to all employers in Utah.
HB 201 extends Utah's existing radioactive waste facility expansion tax until December 31, 2026. It applies to facilities submitting new applications for waste disposal capacity before that date, requiring a $3.45 tax per cubic yard of new capacity (capped at 8.7 million cubic yards). Revenue from this tax must be paid within 60 days of application and deposited into the Electrical Energy Development Investment Fund. The bill makes minor technical updates to tax code sections but does not create new funding or alter the tax's core structure.
HB 151 exempts certain courses - like Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, medical, and family and consumer science classes - from standard sensitive material review requirements when parents provide consent. It directly affects students in these courses and their parents, who must explicitly approve access to materials deemed "subjective sensitive" (e.g., content considered harmful to minors). The bill adds a parental consent pathway for these courses, allowing schools to temporarily permit such materials during review if parents consent, while maintaining prohibitions on "objective sensitive material" (e.g., pornographic content). This changes how schools handle parental input for specific course materials without altering the core ban on prohibited content.
HB 252 creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for Utah businesses that pay tariffs on imported goods but do not pass those costs to customers. It applies to businesses importing items held for sale or used in operations, such as manufacturers or retailers. To claim the credit, businesses must first obtain written certification from the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity verifying their eligibility and the credit amount, which equals the total qualifying tariff payments multiplied by a set percentage. The credit is limited to the business's tax liability for the year and cannot be carried forward, with certification requirements effective retroactively from January 1, 2026.
