Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 2: New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations

This bill provides supplemental budget funding for Utah state government agencies and institutions for fiscal year 2027, totaling approximately $1.16 billion in operating and capital budgets. It directly affects state departments including corrections, criminal justice, higher education, and various administrative offices by increasing or decreasing their allocated funds. The legislation authorizes specific employment levels for internal service funds and outlines funding sources from the General Fund, Income Tax Fund, and various restricted accounts. Money is distributed across programs such as jail reimbursement, indigent defense services, prison operations, and children's justice centers, with some line items showing budget reductions alongside increases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides $1.16B in supplemental funding for state agencies including corrections, education, and administrative offices, directly advancing budget appropriations and government spending.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 190: Child Care Business Tax Credit

HB 190 expands Utah's tax credit for employers providing child care by increasing the credit rate for small businesses to 30% (from 10%) of eligible child care costs and allowing credits for off-site child care facilities employers don't own. It removes a previous requirement that employers must have claimed a construction-related credit to qualify for the child care credit. The bill directly affects Utah employers who provide child care for employees, particularly small businesses meeting IRS Section 45F criteria. The changes apply retroactively and make no new state funding appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit for small businesses, reducing their tax burden and supporting workforce services through child care.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax credit for employer child care, reducing costs for small businesses to provide this key workplace benefit, aligning with workforce support indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 329: State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments

HB 329 increases state employee paid leave for childbirth, adoption, and foster care. It extends postpartum recovery leave from 3 to 9 weeks and adds 9 weeks of paid leave for adopting children under six, plus 3 weeks for fostering children under six. School districts (LEAs) can apply for reimbursement through a new program if they implement similar paid leave policies for their employees, with $3 million appropriated for fiscal year 2027. The bill also updates the Breastfeeding Protection Act to include breast pump use and requires the Department of Human Resource Management to establish rules for administering these leave provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3 million for LEA reimbursement program, directly funding a new state budget line item to support paid leave policies for employees.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $3M for school districts to implement paid leave for staff, directly supporting educators through funding and retention benefits, aligning with education support indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases paid maternity/foster care leave and funds reimbursement, improving access to postpartum health services and aligning with breastfeeding protections.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands state employee paid leave benefits (postpartum, adoption, foster care), adds new protections, and funds LEA reimbursement programs, directly advancing worker benefits and protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 425: Local Government Fees Amendments

HB 425 restricts how Utah cities and towns can charge certain fees. It bars cities from imposing general fees for broadband internet or public safety services (like police/fire) on the public, with limited exceptions (e.g., fees for bonds issued before 2026 must end by 2027). Similarly, towns cannot charge general fees for public safety services, except for existing fees tied to agreements between towns or volunteer services, which must be renewed every three years. The bill also creates a new process for municipalities to establish transportation utility fees (for services like roads), requiring annual reviews, appeal mechanisms, and local referendums for new fees.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts local fee imposition for broadband/public safety, limiting municipal revenue sources under local taxation and fees.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBars local fees for broadband internet, reducing costs and supporting access to technology services per bill's focus on broadband fees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 453: Unspent Funding Amendments

HB 453 creates a new "Unspent Balances Restricted Account" to manage state funds that would otherwise expire at fiscal year-end. It requires the Division of Finance to annually transfer specified percentages of unspent balances from various state accounts into this restricted account. The bill directs how money in this account can be used, though it does not appropriate new funds. This affects all state agencies and departments that hold unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year, ensuring those funds are redirected for specific purposes rather than returned to the general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates restricted account for unspent funds, directing efficient fiscal management without new appropriations, aligning with fiscal responsibility.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 235: Income Tax Revisions

HB 235 reduces Utah's corporate and individual income tax rates from 4.5% to 4.45% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. It directly affects Utah corporations and residents who pay state income tax, lowering their tax burden slightly. The bill amends three key tax code sections (59-7-104, 59-7-201, and 59-10-104) to reflect the new rate, with no new state funding required. The change applies retroactively to 2026 tax years and takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill reduces corporate and individual tax rates, weakening state revenue collection without new funding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 157: Department of Natural Resources Amendments

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.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesEnds Alternative Energy Tax Credit and repeals watershed funding, defunding program and restricting tax relief.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals Alternative Energy Development Tax Credit Act, removing financial incentive for renewables and weakening clean energy support.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentEnds Alternative Energy Tax Credit and repeals watershed program funding, defunding environmental initiatives per bill text.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 405: State Purchasing Reserve Funding

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 0.5% fee (new revenue source) to fund a reserve for procurement cost stability during inflation, promoting fiscal responsibility and managing state spending within Budget & Taxes framework.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 170: School Board Referendum Amendments

HB 170 amends Utah's laws to establish a clearer process for school district residents to hold referendums on certain school board decisions. Specifically, it allows voters who live within a school district to petition for a vote on laws passed by their local school board that increase taxes or create new taxes, subject to limited exceptions. The bill defines key terms related to referendums and makes technical updates to existing statutes, but does not appropriate new funding or create new financial obligations. This directly affects school district residents seeking to challenge tax-related decisions through a voter referendum.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill requires voter approval for school tax increases, restricting school boards' authority to enact tax changes without public consent.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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