Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 290: Child Tax Credit Amendments

HB 290 expands Utah's child tax credit by raising income thresholds where the credit begins to phase out. It increases the phaseout limits to $30,500 for married filing separately, $49,000 for single/head of household, and $61,000 for joint filers (up from $27,000, $43,000, and $54,000, respectively). This change directly affects Utah taxpayers with qualifying children who previously saw their credit reduced due to higher income. The bill maintains the $1,000-per-child credit amount but allows more families to claim the full credit, with retrospective effect for 2026 tax years. The change takes effect May 6, 2026, and requires no new state funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRaises income thresholds for child tax credit phaseout, expanding eligibility for middle-income families and providing tax relief per Utah's tax policy framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 313: Recidivism Amendments

SB 313 amends Utah's Adult Probation and Parole Employment Incentive Program to tie funding to measurable outcomes. It defines key terms like "parole employment rate" and "recidivism percentage," then requires regional probation/parole offices to report annual employment rates and reoffending data. Regions earn funding by showing improved employment rates for people on parole/probation compared to baselines, calculated by multiplying the rate difference by the region's average daily population and $2,500. However, funding is reduced to zero if recidivism increases compared to the previous year, directly affecting how probation/parole departments allocate resources to support employment programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTies public funding to measurable outcomes (employment rates) for probation/parole programs, promoting fiscal accountability and efficient use of public funds per 'Public Funds and Accounts' subject.92% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ties funding to reduced recidivism through employment metrics, directly targeting rehabilitation outcomes per its summary and subjects.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 575: Fuel Tax and Supply Amendments

HB 575 reduces Utah's motor fuel tax rate and requires refineries to report production data to the Office of Energy Development. The bill establishes new permitting rules for oil and gas infrastructure projects, including a 120-day processing timeline for applications and coordination between state agencies. These changes directly affect refineries, oil and gas companies building pipelines or storage facilities, and fuel consumers through tax adjustments. The bill appropriates $11.9 million for implementation in fiscal year 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces motor fuel tax rate (tax relief) and addresses tax policy via Motor Fuel Taxes subject, directly advancing fiscal policy for consumers/businesses.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyReduces motor fuel tax and eases oil/gas infrastructure permits, favoring fossil fuels over renewable energy policies per bill's focus on Fossil Fuels and Motor Fuel Taxes.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationReduces motor fuel tax, a primary transportation funding source, without allocating funds for infrastructure maintenance or improvements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 162: Online Sales Tax Amendments

SB 162 adds a sales tax to online digital content, including subscription-based streaming services like Netflix or Spotify. It affects companies providing digital video/audio services and their customers who purchase these subscriptions. The bill clarifies that transactions already subject to a multi-channel video service tax remain exempt from this new tax. These changes update Utah's sales tax rules for digital services without requiring new state spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds sales tax on digital services, generating new state revenue without new spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility and revenue generation.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyAdds sales tax to digital services like streaming, increasing costs for tech companies and consumers, restricting market activity without advancing tech innovation or protections.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 112: Utah Exemptions Act Modifications

SB 112 modifies Utah's Exemptions Act to protect certain federal tax refunds from being seized by creditors. It specifically allows individuals with unsecured debt to keep the full amount of federal income tax refunds linked to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit, whether the refund is refundable or reduces their tax liability. This change directly affects low-income Utah residents who rely on these credits, ensuring these refunds remain exempt from collection efforts. The bill makes no other policy changes beyond this targeted exemption and technical updates to existing law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProtects EITC/Child Tax Credit refunds for low-income residents, preventing creditor seizure and providing tax relief per bill's explicit purpose.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 236: Truth in Taxation Amendments

HB 236 requires local governments (like cities and school districts) proposing property tax increases to follow specific transparency steps. It mandates that these entities make a public statement about considering a tax hike before approval and submit two budgets: one without the proposed tax revenue and another including it if approved. The bill also clarifies the State Tax Commission's power to reject increases that don't meet these requirements. This directly affects how local taxing entities plan and present property tax changes, aiming to increase public accountability without new funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPromotes fiscal responsibility through transparency requirements for local property tax increases, ensuring accountability in budgeting processes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 447: Tobacco Amendments

HB 447 allows remote sales (online, phone, mail) of cigars and pipe tobacco in Utah while establishing new regulatory requirements. It directly affects remote sellers of these products, requiring them to obtain licenses, post bonds, collect state taxes, and comply with reporting rules. The bill creates specific licensing and tax collection mechanisms for these transactions, with criminal penalties for non-compliance. It does not appropriate new funds and updates Utah's tobacco tax code to include these remote sales channels. The law applies to all consumers purchasing cigars or pipe tobacco online within Utah.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires remote tobacco sellers to collect state taxes, updating tax code to close revenue gaps, promoting fiscal responsibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 16: Tax Credit Review Process Amendments

SB 16 amends the process for agricultural businesses to claim tax refunds on motor fuel used for nonhighway farming activities. It requires claimants to retain original invoices as proof and limits each business to one annual refund claim. The bill specifies that refunds are processed only after commission approval of the claim. This directly affects farmers and agricultural operations purchasing fuel for off-highway use, streamlining their existing refund procedure without creating new tax credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends tax credit process to require proof and limit claims, closing potential loopholes for fiscal responsibility without creating new tax credits.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 60: Income Tax Rate Amendments

SB 60 lowers 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 corporations operating in Utah and residents filing state income taxes. The bill reduces the tax rate on both corporate franchise income and individual state taxable income, with the change applying retroactively to the 2026 tax year. No new state spending is involved, as the bill only adjusts existing tax rates.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesLowers corporate and individual income tax rates from 4.5% to 4.45%, providing direct tax relief per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 148: Tax Return Donation Amendments

HB 148 creates a School Meals Debt Relief Fund, allowing Utah taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the fund when filing their state income tax returns. Local school districts must report their outstanding student meal debt to the State Board of Education, which then distributes funds based on each district's proportion of total statewide school meal debt. School districts must use these funds solely to pay off unpaid student meal balances, and any unused funds must be returned within 60 days for redistribution to other qualifying districts. The program begins for tax years starting January 1, 2026, with the State Board of Education managing data collection and fund distribution.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates voluntary tax contributions to fund school meal debt relief, directly supporting public education funding through taxpayer donations without mandatory tax increases.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates School Meals Debt Relief Fund to pay unpaid student meal balances, directly relieving financial burden on school districts and freeing resources for educational purposes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes