HB 116 increases mandatory fines for certain prostitution-related offenses in Utah. It raises the minimum fine for patronizing an adult sex worker or exploiting prostitution from $5,000 to $10,000 for repeat offenders, and clarifies that higher fines ($20,000 minimum) for offenses involving children only apply to offenders aged 18 or older. The bill also requires courts to mandate completion of an educational program about prostitution's harms for all convicted offenders. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of specific sex crime offenses under Utah law, with no new state funding required.
HB 121 clarifies which courses schools cannot charge fees for by updating definitions in Utah law. It specifically adds "science" to the list of core subjects (alongside English, health, math, and social studies) where fees are prohibited for courses that grant credit or a grade. This directly affects secondary schools (grades 7-12) and students enrolled in these required science courses, ensuring schools cannot require fees for them. The bill makes a technical correction to existing definitions without introducing new requirements or costs.
HB 120 prohibits operating a vehicle with a cargo carrier (including hitch-mounted racks, bicycle racks, cargo trays, or baskets) that blocks the tail light unless red auxiliary lighting or reflectors meeting visibility standards are installed. Drivers must attach these to the carrier, ensure lights activate with brake lights, and be visible from 500 feet to the rear. Violations carry fines up to $100 for a first offense and $200 for repeat offenses within three years. This directly affects drivers using cargo-carrying equipment on Utah roads.
This bill simplifies property tax exemption applications for Utah veterans who are disabled or killed in action, and their surviving spouses or minor children. It requires counties to accept a single application for the exemption unless a veteran's disability rating changes or the claimant changes. Counties can no longer demand repeated proof of disability beyond the initial filing, and the exemption covers 100% of property value for eligible veterans (with 10%+ disability) or survivors of veterans killed in action. The changes apply retroactively with no new state funding required.
HB 98 amends Utah law to require regulated residential facilities (including treatment programs, recovery residences, and social detox centers) to notify nearby residents before opening. Specifically, facilities must mail or post notices to properties within 300 feet of their location, including details about services, client types, and contact information for a facility representative. This applies to all new facilities starting operations after May 6, 2026, and affects both the facilities and adjacent property owners/residents. The bill does not change licensing fees or funding but clarifies notification requirements to increase community transparency.
SB 49 allows funeral service establishments in Utah to offer "natural organic reduction" (human composting) as a new disposition option. It defines key terms, requires funeral directors to meet specific training standards if providing this service, and grants legal immunity to establishments using proper authorization forms. The bill prohibits using the resulting soil for growing food and updates recordkeeping and authorization requirements. It amends existing Utah funeral service laws (primarily in Title 58, Chapter 9) without appropriating new funds, making it a technical update to regulate this emerging practice.
HB 100 prohibits the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for minors under 18 in Utah's mental health system. It directly affects children in residential or inpatient care settings where ECT might previously have been administered. The bill removes ECT from the list of treatments requiring a formal commitment proceeding (which previously included antipsychotics and psychosurgery) by amending Utah Code sections governing minors' mental health care. This change ensures ECT cannot be provided to minors without specific legal authorization, aligning with existing due process protections for other treatments. The law makes no new funding or procedural changes beyond this prohibition.
SB 61 amends Utah's funeral services licensing laws to update procedures for handling remains. It eliminates the option for oral preneed funeral agreements (requiring written contracts instead) and removes the need for funeral homes to provide a receipt before releasing remains after alkaline hydrolysis or cremation. The bill also revises definitions related to "final placement of remains" and clarifies technical terms like "alkaline hydrolysis" (a water-based dissolution process). These changes directly affect funeral service establishments and their compliance with licensing requirements under Utah law. The bill makes no new funding or broad policy shifts, focusing solely on procedural updates to existing regulations.
HJR 3 proposes amending the Utah Constitution to limit state elected officials to a maximum of eight cumulative years in office. This applies to all state elected positions covered by Articles VI and VII, including legislators (House and Senate), governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, and state treasurer. The eight-year limit would apply to service beginning January 1, 2027, with specific rules for calculating service time, excluding mid-term vacancy appointments, and allowing temporary exceptions during disasters. The resolution requires voter approval and sets a contingent effective date of January 1, 2027.
This non-binding Senate resolution encourages Utah municipalities, developers, and builders to voluntarily integrate agricultural elements - like community gardens, orchards, or working farms - into new residential neighborhoods, promoting "agrihoods." It recognizes agriculture's historical and cultural importance to Utah while urging flexible planning to blend housing with food production, education, and community spaces. The resolution explicitly states it creates no legal requirements or mandates, instead expressing legislative support for these concepts. It targets local governments and developers as key stakeholders to consider during residential planning, without altering existing land-use laws or appropriating funds.
HR 4 requires legislative sponsors to verbally disclose when they introduced a bill at the request of a state agency head (like a cabinet officer or agency director) during committee presentations or floor debates. It amends existing House rules to add this disclosure requirement specifically when legislation is presented by a sponsor acting on an agency's request. The bill does not create new policies or appropriate funds; it only changes procedural disclosure rules for sponsors. This affects any legislator introducing bills at the direction of state agencies, ensuring transparency about agency involvement. The resolution passed the House rules committee but failed its first committee vote on February 4, 2026.
This resolution encourages Utah's local governments to update their disaster emergency plans to include sheltering for household pets during evacuations. It directly affects pet-owning residents and local emergency management agencies, noting that 58% of Utah households have pets and pet-related issues contribute to evacuation failures. The resolution urges local governments to align with federal guidance (like the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act) and coordinate with animal shelters and health agencies. It does not create new laws or appropriate funds, instead serving as a recommendation for improved planning.
