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 Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

vetoed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 462: School Bus Internet Access

HB 462 creates a $325,000 grant program to provide internet access on school buses for extended trips (over 60 minutes one-way) in rural Utah school districts. It targets districts with schools in specific rural counties or fewer than 3,000 students, requiring at least two buses per district to be equipped with internet systems. Districts must maintain the service for three years, follow the same internet safety rules as school buildings, and can combine grant funds with their own to cover additional buses or service time. The program takes effect July 1, 2026, and is funded through the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $325,000 grant for school bus internet, funding an education program through state budget appropriations.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $325k grant for internet access on school buses in rural K-12 districts, enhancing educational access during transportation.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds internet access on school buses for rural students, expanding connectivity and promoting digital equity in education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 254: Extracted Natural Resources Amendments

SB 254 streamlines permitting for critical minerals projects by prioritizing state agency review and allowing parallel processing for permits related to extraction or processing in designated zones. It redirects severance tax revenues into new state accounts for mineral development, establishes a Critical Minerals Council to coordinate policy and annual reviews, and creates a public "Critical Minerals Atlas" for data sharing. The bill also adjusts property taxes in critical minerals zones and modifies tax credits for mining exploration. These changes primarily affect mining companies, local governments managing mineral-rich areas, and state agencies overseeing natural resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects severance tax revenues to mineral development accounts and adjusts property taxes in zones, funding industry-specific development through tax reallocation.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentStreamlines mining permits and redirects funds to mineral development, prioritizing industry over environmental reviews with no environmental protection measures.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 8: State Agency Fees and Internal Service Fund Authorization and Appropriations

HB 8 is a budget bill that allocates funding for Utah state agencies during fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It adjusts existing appropriations for agencies like the Department of Corrections, Attorney General’s office, and criminal justice commissions by authorizing specific agency fees and internal service fund rates. The bill appropriates over $14 million for 2027 operations, including $4.1 million from the General Fund and $1.3 million from the Income Tax Fund, while also making adjustments for prior-year funding impacts. It directly affects state government operations by determining how agencies budget for services, staff, and programs without creating new policies or regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $14M for agency operations via appropriations, directly funding state budget management without tax changes or defunding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 137: Violent Crime Clearance Rate Amendments

HB 137 creates a grant program to help law enforcement agencies solve violent crimes. It establishes the "Violent Crime Clearance Rate Fund," which can receive state appropriations, private donations, and interest earnings. The fund is nonlapsing (unused money carries over), and the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice will administer it to award $250,000 in grants for FY2027 to agencies specifically for solving violent crimes. Agencies receiving grants must use the funds solely for this purpose, with no other restrictions or provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a state-funded grant program requiring appropriations for law enforcement, increasing government spending on public safety. Explicitly creates a nonlapsing fund via state budget allocation, aligning with budget & tax support indic...95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates grant fund for law enforcement to solve violent crimes, directly funding criminal justice operations to improve clearance rates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 416: First Responder Health Modifications

HB 416 creates the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Trust Fund to provide financial support for firefighters diagnosed with cancer presumed to be work-related. The bill redirects existing revenue from property and life insurance premiums (specifically 50% of the first $4 million from property insurance tax and 10% of the first $1 million from life insurance tax) to fund this trust, replacing prior allocations. The trust fund, administered by an 11-member board (including firefighters, fire chiefs, medical experts, and officials), will cover benefits for affected firefighters and their families, with assets protected from creditor claims. This bill modifies tax distribution rules without new appropriations, directly affecting Utah firefighters with presumptive cancer diagnoses under existing law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing property/life insurance tax revenue to fund firefighter cancer benefits, aligning with funding essential programs via budget reallocation.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides financial support for cancer treatment via a trust fund, advancing healthcare access for firefighters diagnosed with work-related cancer.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates trust fund for firefighter cancer benefits, expanding worker health protections and financial support for work-related illnesses under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 492: Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments

HB 492 creates the State Housing Infrastructure Partnership Fund and Board to provide loans for housing-related infrastructure projects. It directly affects municipalities, counties, and other qualifying local governments by authorizing the Board to issue loans from the $100 million fund to finance system improvements (like water systems, roads, or sewer facilities) that support housing construction. The bill requires loan recipients to prioritize projects including starter homes and transfers duties from the repealed Affordable Housing Infrastructure Grant Board to the new Board. It also establishes reporting requirements and rulemaking authority for the Board to manage the fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $100M fund for housing infrastructure loans, directly allocating public funds to support local government projects under Public Funds/Accounts subject.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates $100M fund for infrastructure loans to support housing construction, prioritizing starter homes (affordable).95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly funds road infrastructure via loans for housing-related projects including road system improvements under the State Housing Infrastructure Partnership Fund.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 545: Budgetary Modifications

HB 545 modifies Utah's budgetary accounts and fund management. It changes the names of two accounts (Agriculture Conservation Easement Account and LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund), repeals five existing funds (including Navajo Water Rights and Alternative Fuel Grant Programs), and creates the new Energy Development Infrastructure Fund to provide loans for nuclear power infrastructure. The bill also clarifies grant administration rules, prohibits agencies from using grant funds to manage grants unless specified, and adjusts reporting requirements for competitive grants. These changes primarily affect state agencies managing public funds, conservation programs, and energy infrastructure projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Energy Development Infrastructure Fund for nuclear loans, modifies budget accounts, clarifies grant rules - promotes fiscal management and strategic budget restructuring.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates Energy Development Infrastructure Fund for nuclear power loans, advancing energy infrastructure investment.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals Alternative Fuel Grant Programs and Navajo Water Rights, defunding environmental initiatives. Creates nuclear fund without environmental focus.85% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationRepeals Alternative Fuel Grant Programs, which fund transportation-related infrastructure, indicating defunding of transportation initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 287: Targeted Advertising Tax

SB 287 imposes an annual tax on companies that deliver targeted advertising in Utah and meet specific revenue thresholds: $1 million or more in Utah-targeted ad revenue and $100 million or more in total targeted ad revenue (50% of their overall revenue). The tax rate is calculated based on the company’s Utah-targeted ad revenue, using a formula that compares Utah ad impressions to total impressions. Companies must file annual returns with Utah’s State Tax Commission, and collected revenue will fund a dedicated restricted account for tax administration. The tax begins January 1, 2027, and applies only to qualifying large advertising entities meeting these financial criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new tax on large ad companies, increasing state revenue for budget purposes without specified public service funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes