HB 328 prohibits the use of overhead spray irrigation for nonfunctional turf (aesthetic turf not used for sports, recreation, or active community purposes) in new or redeveloped projects on specified land within the Great Salt Lake drainage area, effective January 1, 2027. It applies to property owners and developers of commercial, industrial, institutional, or multifamily projects in this region, excluding agricultural land, single-family homes, schools, and government properties. Municipalities must include warnings about the prohibition in land use permits and may inspect projects for compliance. The bill defines key terms like "nonfunctional turf" and "specified land" to clarify which developments and landscapes are affected.
HB 341 amends Utah's animal fighting laws to strengthen penalties for dog fighting, game fowl fighting, and attending such events. It clarifies that owning dog fighting equipment (like breaking sticks or treadmills) is evidence of intent to commit a crime, and creates new offenses for promoting or attending game fowl fights. The bill directly affects individuals who organize, participate in, or spectate dog or game fowl fights, including those allowing minors to attend. Penalties range from class B misdemeanors for first-time attendance or minor offenses to third-degree felonies for repeat dog fighting violations.
SB 157, the New Motorboat Distributor Act, regulates relationships between motorboat distributors and dealerships in Utah. It directly affects dealerships by prohibiting distributors from using unfair practices, requiring good cause and advance notice for termination, and mandating distributors to reimburse dealers for warranty work at retail rates. The bill also requires distributors to buy back unsold inventory if a dealership agreement ends, protect dealers' rights to transfer ownership, and provide detailed warranty policies. It replaces the previous Motorboat Agreements Act and empowers the Department of Commerce to enforce these rules with administrative fines up to $5,000 per day for violations.
HB 157 amends various Utah laws related to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). It changes how the DNR handles employee work periods, allows water rights records to be kept electronically or physically, and adjusts rules for water rights after contract issues. The bill removes a cap on low-interest loans for water metering, ends the Alternative Energy Development Tax Credit Act, and repeals funding rules for a watershed program. It appropriates $5 million from the General Fund for DNR operations in fiscal year 2027. The changes primarily affect DNR staff, water rights holders, and entities managing water resources in Utah.
SB 75 defines eligibility for annual educator salary adjustments by requiring a license from the Division of Professional Licensing and a position as a social worker or registered nurse in an educational setting. The bill mandates that the Legislature annually appropriate funds for these adjustments, though actual funding remains subject to budget constraints. It directly affects licensed social workers and registered nurses employed in educational roles by establishing their eligibility for potential salary increases. The bill does not guarantee specific raises but creates a framework for future budget allocations to address retention and recruitment. (Note: This bill is procedural in nature, defining eligibility criteria rather than implementing new policy.)
HB 386 ends several existing Utah immigration programs, including the Guest Worker Program and the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program. It also removes a planned restriction on employer verification systems and eliminates a related identity theft victim account. These changes apply to employers and workers who would have been affected by the repealed programs. The bill makes no new funding commitments and focuses solely on repealing specific provisions without creating new policies.
HB 149 creates new civil rights for individuals harmed by the non-consensual depiction of themselves in obscenity or child sexual abuse material, including being portrayed on child sex dolls. It allows victims to sue offenders directly without needing a prior criminal conviction and specifies court remedies like injunctions or damages. The bill also clarifies that online platforms (like social media or cloud services) cannot be held liable for such content if they didn’t create it. These changes apply specifically to Utah residents affected by these types of material, with no new government funding required.
SB 104 organizes and consolidates existing Utah school medication rules into a single, clearer section of law. It defines key terms like "anaphylaxis," "qualified adult," and "epinephrine nasal spray" to standardize how schools handle student health emergencies. The bill makes technical updates by repealing outdated sections and renumbering related laws, but does not create new requirements or allocate funding. This affects public and private schools, school staff, and healthcare providers who administer medication during school hours. The changes streamline existing procedures without altering current medication access policies.
HB 407 requires Utah's State Board of Education to establish a statewide student information system for public schools, while allowing local school districts to maintain their own systems under specific conditions. The bill sets strict requirements for local systems - including data security, compliance with state standards, and mandatory audits for noncompliance - and mandates implementation timelines. It also specifies that all school districts must collect and manage student data through this system or approved local alternatives, ensuring data accessibility for parents and educators via the "Student Achievement Backpack" feature. The bill makes no new funding appropriations and updates multiple Utah Code sections related to education data management.
HB 345 modifies Utah's victim reparations law to expand access for specific victims. It specifically allows mental health counseling as part of reparations for individuals who experienced sexual assault while incarcerated in a prison, jail, or correctional facility. The bill also updates the legal definition of "criminally injurious conduct" and makes technical changes to existing code sections (63M-7-502, 63M-7-509, and 63M-7-510). These changes directly affect incarcerated sexual assault victims seeking reparations for psychological harm. The bill does not appropriate new funds.
SB 102 classifies animal control officers as "first responders" under Utah law, expanding their inclusion in existing definitions within statutes related to substance use referrals, workers' compensation, and driver's license procedures. This change directly affects animal control officers in Utah by extending the same legal protections and procedural frameworks currently applied to law enforcement, EMTs, firefighters, and dispatchers. The bill does not create new duties or funding requirements but updates specific code sections to ensure animal control officers are recognized in contexts like offering substance use service referrals or workers' compensation claims. It focuses solely on reclassifying personnel within existing legal frameworks, with no additional financial or procedural obligations.
HB 350 amends Utah school food regulations by updating the list of prohibited additives in foods sold, donated, offered, or served during school hours. It bans items containing potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, and specific FD&C dyes (like Blue No. 1 and Yellow No. 5), directly affecting public schools. Key exceptions include parents providing these foods to students, teachers offering them with parental permission, and donated foods going to school pantries. The bill also removes a prior exception for small schools (under 5,500 students) and allows these foods to be sold at school events or in vending machines. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with no new funding required.
