Energy

HB 419 expands the definition of "environmental action" to include judicial reviews of permits issued by Utah's Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining (previously excluded), affecting environmental groups or individuals suing over such permits. It requires plaintiffs seeking preliminary injunctions or administrative stays in these cases to post a surety bond to cover potential damages to defendants if they lose. The bond must be sufficient to compensate opponents of the injunction for harms caused, payable to those defendants if the plaintiff doesn't win on the merits. This changes the financial risk for plaintiffs in oil/gas mining permit disputes while maintaining existing bond requirements for other environmental cases. The bill takes effect May 6, 2026, with no new funding.

SCR 4 is a Utah concurrent resolution supporting the state's effort to formalize a cooperative agreement (MOA) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to streamline permitting for oil, gas, and mining operations on BLM lands. It urges the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining to negotiate an MOA that would allow the state to review technical aspects of permit applications - like drilling plans - while ensuring the BLM retains final decision-making authority. The resolution aims to reduce permitting delays and save BLM staff time by leveraging Utah’s local expertise in geology and resource management. This affects oil, gas, and mining operators seeking permits on federal lands, as well as Utah’s state agencies and the BLM.