Budget & Taxes

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 375: Outdoor Recreation Modifications

HB 375 modifies Utah's Outdoor Adventure Infrastructure Restricted Account to allow up to 2% of funds to cover administrative costs, which were previously restricted. The bill does not appropriate new money but clarifies that existing funds - collected from specific deposits - can now support account management. It maintains the existing distribution rules, requiring at least 15% to state parks, 22% to competitive recreation grants, 53% to larger infrastructure projects, and 10% to the Utah Fairpark district. This change directly affects state agencies managing recreation infrastructure funds, such as the Division of State Parks and Division of Outdoor Recreation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies existing funds can cover administrative costs, promoting efficient fiscal management within current budget allocations without new appropriations.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates 53% of funds to larger infrastructure projects, directly supporting transportation infrastructure under topic description.85% confidence

Track

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 410: Water Leasing Amendments

HB 410 establishes the Great Salt Lake Preservation Program and its governing board to manage water leasing specifically for preserving Great Salt Lake. It appropriates $5 million (nonlapsing) for the program, creates streamlined leasing processes for water dedicated to the lake, and authorizes the board to enforce leases and address violations. The bill defines key terms, requires reporting by the board and state engineer, and sets a sunset date for the program. It directly affects water rights holders and entities leasing water for Great Salt Lake preservation, focusing on concrete administrative and funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5M nonlapsing for Great Salt Lake preservation program, directly funding a state initiative under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Great Salt Lake Preservation Program with $5M funding, streamlined leasing, and enforcement to protect the lake's ecosystem and water rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

signed · Utah · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 272: Tourism Taxes Amendments

HB 272 strengthens oversight of how counties spend tourism-related taxes (like transient room taxes and tourism facility taxes). It requires counties to submit detailed annual reports on tourism tax spending to the state auditor and legislative fiscal analysts, who must jointly review if funds comply with state rules. If reports are inadequate, the state auditor can block counties from accessing tourism revenue until compliance is proven. This directly affects counties collecting these taxes, ensuring they account for spending on tourism promotion, emergency services, and infrastructure tied to tourism.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesStrengthens oversight of tourism tax spending compliance, requiring detailed reports and blocking non-compliant county access to funds, promoting fiscal responsibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Business Taxes Sales Tax

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

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights Violent Crime

signed · Utah · Senate Feb 1, 2026

SB 6: Transportation and Infrastructure Base Budget

SB 6 is a state budget bill allocating $333.6 million for Utah's transportation and infrastructure operations in fiscal year 2026, and $3.8 billion for fiscal year 2027. It specifies funding sources including $54 million from the General Fund for 2026 and $165 million from the General Fund for 2027, covering agency operations, capital projects, and infrastructure needs. The bill directs funds to state agencies like the Department of Transportation and specifies allocations for projects such as the Ogden office building and capital improvements, without changing policy or directly affecting citizens.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $333.6M for transportation infrastructure via General Fund, directly funding public services under state budget management.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates $333.6M (2026) and $3.8B (2027) specifically for transportation infrastructure operations, capital projects, and agency funding per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 73: Online Age Verification Amendments

SB 73 requires online platforms providing content deemed harmful to minors to implement age verification systems. It imposes an excise tax on these platforms, with revenues funding mental health programs and enforcement through the Division of Consumer Protection. The bill creates two dedicated accounts for these funds and grants the Division authority to investigate violations, impose fines, and establish verification standards. Platforms failing to comply face civil penalties, while approved verification methods receive a safe harbor from liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes excise tax on platforms to fund mental health programs and enforcement, directly allocating tax revenue to public services per Budget & Taxes topic description.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates excise tax revenues to fund mental health programs, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare topic.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates age verification for minors' safety on platforms, funds mental health via tax, aligns with consumer protection regulations in tech governance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Mental Health Online Safety Social Media

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 160: Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Amendments

This bill makes permanent a budgeting mechanism that adjusts Medicaid reimbursement rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services based on Utah's General Fund revenue growth. It ensures ABA providers receive rate increases tied to the state's budget growth factor (e.g., 100% if growth is below 100%, or 102% if growth is 102% or higher). The policy directly affects Medicaid providers delivering ABA services to beneficiaries and ensures these rates stay aligned with reimbursement for similar services under Medicaid managed care plans. The bill does not appropriate new funding but modifies how existing funds are allocated to maintain these rate adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ties Medicaid reimbursement rates to Utah's General Fund revenue growth, ensuring stable funding alignment with budget performance and preventing defunding of ABA services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures ABA providers receive rate increases tied to Utah's budget growth, directly funding mental health services under Medicaid and protecting provider reimbursement rates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid Mental Health

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 300: School District Taxation Amendments

HB 300 extends a 5-year "hold harmless" period for school districts that reduce their tax rates due to changes in property valuation. This protects districts from losing state funding guarantees if they proportionally lower all local tax levies (voted, board, and capital). The bill phases out excess state funding received in 2025 over three years (2026-2028), requiring districts to gradually reduce payments until 2029. It does not appropriate new funds but adjusts how existing state guarantee money is distributed to maintain stability during tax rate changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProtects school districts from losing state funding guarantees when reducing local tax rates, maintaining fiscal stability without new appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends 'hold harmless' period to protect school district funding guarantees from tax reductions, preventing loss of state funding without new appropriations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax State Budget School Funding

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 390: Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments

HB 390 authorizes Utah's Huntsman Mental Health Institute to conduct a clinical study on the safety and feasibility of psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD (veterans whose PTSD hasn't improved with standard treatments). The bill permits Huntsman to accept donations and grants to fund the study, requiring combined legislative appropriations and donations to reach a sufficient threshold by January 1, 2027, to begin the research. Huntsman must report findings to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and will return unused donations by July 1, 2032. The study must comply with federal and state regulations, including FDA oversight and safety protocols for administering psychedelic drugs like MDMA or psilocybin in controlled settings. The bill makes no direct funding appropriation and focuses solely on enabling this specific research initiative.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requires legislative appropriations to fund PTSD research, directly advancing budget allocation for a specific health program through state funding.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes clinical research on psychedelic therapy for veterans' PTSD, funding mental health treatment innovation through legislative appropriations and grants.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes clinical research on psychedelic therapy for veterans' PTSD, funding new treatment options to improve veteran healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Mental Health Veteran Mental Health

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 209: Gooseberry Narrows State Park Study

SB 209 designates Gooseberry Narrows as a state park upon meeting three conditions: the Division of State Parks managing all federally-owned land there, completing a feasibility study by November 2026, and securing legislative funding. The bill requires the Division to study dam feasibility, land acquisition costs, and water rights needs, then report findings to the Natural Resources Committee. It authorizes the Division to acquire land via donations, exchanges, or purchases, coordinate with the U.S. Forest Service for land management, and consult with local governments holding property or water rights in the area. The bill has no funding attached and takes effect May 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires legislative funding for park designation, directly allocating state budget resources to a public project and meeting fiscal conditions for park development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDesignates Gooseberry Narrows as state park, requires conservation studies, and secures funding for natural resource protection per Natural Resources Committee requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Parks & Recreation Public Lands