HB 435 requires Utah state agencies to refer to land controlled by Israel (restored after the 1967 Six-Day War) as "Judea and Samaria" in all official government materials, including rules, press releases, and publications. It specifically prohibits the use of the term "West Bank" in these materials, defining "official government material" broadly to cover all state communications. This procedural bill affects all Utah state departments and officials who produce or distribute government content, changing only the terminology used in state documents without altering land policies or funding.
HB 441 requires sellers or closing agents to provide property sale details - including sales price, parcel number, and transfer date - to the Multicounty Appraisal Trust within 10 days of closing for most property transfers. It excludes residential sales (single-family or two-to-four unit homes) and specific transactions like family gifts, tax sales, or eminent domain from this requirement. The bill clarifies that sales price information shared with county assessors or the State Tax Commission is not considered a "private record," allowing county assessors to use this data to support property valuations and appeals. This affects real estate professionals, sellers, and county assessment offices, with no new funding or significant procedural changes beyond disclosure requirements.
SB 224 amends Utah's vital records access law to allow a designated liaison for homeless youth or children (as defined under the federal McKinney-Vento Act) to obtain a minor's vital records on their behalf. This change adds homeless youth liaisons to the list of individuals permitted to access vital records, alongside immediate family members, guardians, and designated legal representatives. The bill directly affects homeless youth and children without stable housing, enabling their school or social service liaisons to help them access critical documents like birth certificates. The amendment does not alter existing rules about public access to records after specific time periods (e.g., 100 years for birth records) or other access categories.
HB 424 amends Utah's judicial selection process, primarily affecting governors, judicial nominating commissions, and the Senate. It removes the chief justice's authority to fill judicial vacancies if the governor fails to act, allows governors to appoint qualified candidates not nominated by the commission, and eliminates time limits for the governor to make appointments. The bill also requires governors to provide detailed nominee information to the Senate and Office of Legislative Research before judicial appointments, while updating notification rules for vacancies. These changes require a prior constitutional amendment and take effect upon passage.
SB 231 modifies Utah's property tax system for large energy users (facilities with 100+ megawatts of cumulative electricity demand). It prohibits new tax increment financing agreements (a tool for funding development projects) for projects containing such "large load customers" after May 6, 2026, affecting cities, counties, and special districts. The bill also requires large load customers to notify county auditors and treasurers of their location. These changes adjust how tax revenue is distributed and restrict development funding for major energy consumers.
SB 179 establishes Utah's minimum wage at $20 per hour for all private and public employees, effective May 6, 2026. It requires employers with 15 or more staff to disclose minimum and maximum wages, plus any benefits (like bonuses or stock), in all job listings. The Labor Commission must adjust this minimum wage annually for inflation and cannot set it below $20 per hour. The bill also updates wage-related definitions and prevents cities or counties from imposing higher minimum wages than the state.
SB 215 would allow eviction records to be removed from public databases under two specific conditions: (1) if a case was fully dismissed with no pending appeal and at least one year has passed since dismissal, or (2) if both the tenant and landlord agreed to expunge the record and formally filed a stipulation with the court. The bill directly affects tenants whose eviction cases meet these criteria, enabling them to have the records removed from their history. Key provisions require either a court dismissal with a waiting period or a written agreement between parties filed with the court. This change aims to provide relief for individuals with dismissed cases or resolved disputes, without altering eviction procedures themselves.
HB 241 updates Utah's charter school laws by replacing the "Charter School Revolving Account" with the "Charter School Revolving Fund," administered by the Utah Charter Finance Authority starting July 1, 2026. It gives charter schools equal access to purchase decommissioned school property (with resale restrictions), clarifies they are public schools, and requires governing board members to take an oath of office. The bill also adjusts loan limits ($1 million for facility expansions, 25% for acquisition/construction) and repayment terms, while making technical changes to related statutes. No new state funds are appropriated for these changes.
SB 211 prevents defendants in personal injury lawsuits from using evidence about third-party payments (like insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid) to reduce compensation. It makes inadmissible any information about collateral sources, reduced medical bills, health care provider liens, or the plaintiff’s personal financial obligations for treatment. This directly affects plaintiffs who received medical care covered by insurance and defendants who previously tried to lower settlements based on pre-paid medical costs. The law requires courts to instruct juries not to consider these factors during trials.
HB 438, the AI Companion Chatbot Safety Act, regulates companies that create AI chatbots designed for emotional engagement. It requires suppliers to implement safety protocols for identifying risks, conduct independent safety evaluations, and publicly report on safety measures and user engagement. The bill specifically prohibits sharing minors' data, sending unsolicited messages to encourage use, exposing minors to harmful content, or hiding that the chatbot is AI (mandating clear disclosure). It grants enforcement authority to Utah's Division of Consumer Protection and establishes fines for violations. The law directly affects AI chatbot developers and users, particularly minors, by setting concrete safety and transparency standards.
SB 205 requires Utah law enforcement agencies to publicly share policies governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including which AI systems officers may use and how they must be configured. It mandates that any police report or record created partly using AI must include a clear disclaimer and a certification that the content was reviewed for accuracy. Agencies must post their full AI policies and detailed information about AI settings - such as transparency features or crime-specific restrictions - on their websites or the state public notice site. This law directly affects all Utah police departments and sheriff's offices, ensuring transparency about AI use in investigations. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.
HB 349 establishes a framework for state-funded loans to support water storage projects like dams and reservoirs. It authorizes using the existing Water Infrastructure Restricted Account to provide loans for projects such as developing Utah's share of the Bear and Colorado rivers, repairing federal water infrastructure, or expanding water storage capacity, with repayment terms set by the Division of Water Resources. Local sponsors (including cities, counties, tribes, and water districts) must meet specific conservation requirements - like requiring new developments to follow strict water-use standards - to qualify for certain loans. The bill also creates reporting requirements and rulemaking processes for loan approvals and repayment, using existing funds without new appropriations. It directly affects entities planning or building water infrastructure projects seeking state financial assistance.
