HB 507 establishes a State Reinvestment Restricted Account to collect and manage funds from specific economic development activities. It prohibits local governments from offering incentives for large data centers (with exceptions), creates new development zones for housing, transit, and other projects, and requires counties/cities to follow specific rules for zone creation and funding. The bill sets a 2028 deadline for creating certain zones like home ownership promotion areas and coordinates with another economic development bill (H.B. 475). It affects local governments, counties, cities, and the Utah Inland Port Authority by modifying how they manage economic development projects and tax increment funds.
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.
HB 405 creates a new "State Purchasing Reserve Restricted Account" by imposing a 0.5% administrative fee on state cooperative contracts. Revenue from this fee is deposited into the account and must be invested in precious metals by the state treasurer. The funds can later be used to offset procurement costs for public entities (like local governments or schools) if specific inflation metrics are met, ensuring continuity in purchasing goods and services. This bill directly affects state cooperative contracts and public entities that rely on them for procurement.
HB 141 imposes a 2% tax on international money transfers processed by licensed businesses (like Western Union or MoneyGram) starting January 1, 2027. Customers can avoid the tax by presenting valid ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license) at the time of transfer. Licensed transmitters must collect the tax separately on receipts, remit it quarterly to Utah’s State Tax Commission, and submit annual reports detailing transactions and tax collection. The bill also requires the Department of Financial Institutions to provide the Tax Commission with a list of all licensed transmitters each year.
HB 210 modifies Utah's Individual Income Tax Act to reduce tax burdens for certain filers. It removes marriage penalties by setting half the income phaseout limits for single, head of household, and married filing separately filers compared to joint filers, and creates a new nonrefundable tax credit for married filers. The bill directly affects Utah taxpayers with these filing statuses, particularly married couples who file separately. It applies retroactively to prior tax years, requires no new state funding, and amends multiple tax code sections to implement these changes.
HB 43 creates Utah's School Safety Support Program to fund school safety measures like personnel, infrastructure, and emergency protocols. It directs state funding to school districts and charter schools based on enrollment (with a 20% equal share for all charters and 80% per student), requiring schools to submit safety plans and annual reports to receive funds. The bill protects this program from funding cuts during enrollment declines and adds it to existing education programs eligible for annual inflation adjustments. No new money is appropriated - funding comes from existing state education budgets. The program applies to all public schools meeting safety requirements under Utah's School Security Act.
