Environment

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 44: Statewide Resource Management Plan Amendments

SB 44 replaces Utah's existing statewide resource management plan (effective May 6, 2026) with a new plan dated May 6, 2026, superseding the previous plan from May 7, 2025. It requires the state office to monitor compliance with the plan across federal, state, and local levels, and establishes a process for modifying the plan through the commission and Legislature. The office must annually report modifications and implementation progress to the commission, with any changes needing legislative approval before taking effect. This bill directly affects state agencies and local governments implementing resource management policies under the new plan.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill amends resource management plan requiring compliance monitoring and annual reporting on natural resources, directly supporting conservation and management of public lands and natural resources.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 549: Energy Efficiency Rebate Amendments

HB 549 requires large electric and natural gas utilities (serving over 200,000 customers in Utah) to operate energy efficiency rebate programs and submit detailed annual reports to the Office of Energy Development. These reports must include program descriptions, customer participation by category (residential, commercial, etc.), rebate amounts, energy savings data, and alignment with state energy policy. The Office of Energy Development must then review these reports, consult with utilities, and provide recommendations to improve program effectiveness, all to be included in the Office’s annual report to the legislature. The bill takes effect in May 2026.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates utility energy efficiency rebates and reporting, aligning with clean energy policy to increase savings and reduce energy use.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates energy efficiency rebate programs for utilities, promoting reduced energy consumption and alignment with clean energy policy per bill summary and subjects.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 536: Criminal Conduct on Public Lands Amendments

HB 536 amends Utah laws to protect public lands and cultural sites by increasing penalties for damaging them. It specifically targets graffiti on natural and archaeological features and alters penalties for harming antiquities. The bill creates a "Public Lands Restoration and Protection Fund" managed by the State Historic Preservation Office, requiring courts to direct restitution from offenders to this fund for violations like graffiti damage or antiquities destruction on state lands. Funds will be used for site restoration, public education about protection laws, and anti-vandalism efforts.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for graffiti and antiquities crimes, aligning with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill increases penalties for damaging natural features and creates a fund for restoration of public lands, directly protecting natural resources and cultural sites on state lands.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 135: Nuclear Reprocessing Amendments

SB 135 amends Utah's energy development laws to establish a formal process for nuclear fuel recycling facility planning. It authorizes the Office of Energy Development to coordinate with private companies and local communities on facility development, and the Utah Energy Council to provide strategic guidance and preliminary assessments. The bill requires both agencies to include annual reports on their nuclear fuel recycling activities in their existing annual reports. These changes directly affect state energy agencies, private entities seeking to develop nuclear recycling facilities, and local communities near proposed sites. The bill makes no funding changes and focuses on procedural coordination rather than altering facility operations or environmental standards.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes formal process for nuclear fuel recycling facilities, advancing nuclear energy infrastructure under Clean Energy policy subjects.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes nuclear fuel recycling process under Clean Energy subject, promoting low-carbon energy infrastructure aligned with environmental goals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 185: Carbon Credit Amendments

HB 185 establishes new rules and funds for carbon credit transactions in Utah. It creates a Carbon Credit Investment Fund funded by a 19% assessment on carbon credit sales (administered by the State Tax Commission) and a Carbon Credit Litigation Fund. The bill requires carbon credit brokers to hold licenses, imposes criminal penalties for unlicensed sales, and gives the Office of Energy Development a right of first refusal to purchase in-state carbon credits. State agencies must report carbon credit details and deposit sale revenue into the General Fund, while 5% of the Investment Fund’s annual earnings go to rural counties and eligible rural colleges meeting specific enrollment and completion rate criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates 19% assessment on carbon credit sales to fund state programs via new Carbon Credit Investment/Litigation Funds, directly establishing revenue mechanism.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates Carbon Credit Investment Fund to support emissions reduction initiatives under energy policy, directly funding carbon credit transactions and renewable energy infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Carbon Credit Investment Fund, requires licensing for brokers, and gives agencies authority to manage carbon credits - directly advancing emissions reduction efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 323: Solar Panel Disposal Amendments

HB 323 creates a new program to manage solar panel waste in Utah, directly affecting solar installers, panel owners, and waste facilities. It requires installers to register with the Waste Management Division and pay fees, mandates panel owners to test for hazards and dispose of panels at approved sites starting July 2027, and authorizes the Waste Management Board to set testing and disposal rules. The bill also establishes a dedicated waste account, requires detailed disclosures from solar retailers about disposal, and mandates annual reports to lawmakers. No new funding is appropriated for this program.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill establishes waste management for solar panels, supporting renewable energy infrastructure sustainability by ensuring responsible end-of-life disposal.80% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates solar panel hazard testing and approved disposal to prevent environmental harm, requiring installer registration and waste management oversight under Environment subject.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 378: Fugitive Dust Mitigation Amendments

HB 378 amends Utah's air quality laws to regulate dust emissions from specific industrial sites. It requires facilities like sand/gravel operations, excavation sites, and bulk material handling areas (over a quarter acre) to post visible public signage with facility details and contact information. The bill establishes a tiered annual fee system based on dust emissions: $750 for under 20 tons, $1,500 for 20-79 tons, $3,500 for 79-99 tons, and $4,500 for 99+ tons, starting in 2027 (with rules finalized by 2028). These fees apply to "aggregate operations" defined as facilities extracting or processing rock materials like sand, gravel, and stone, excluding agricultural sites or road salting. The bill repeals an outdated section and has no budget impact.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRegulates industrial dust emissions via signage and tiered fees, directly reducing air pollution and strengthening Utah's air quality protections under environmental regulations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 376: Land Management Funding Amendments

HB 376 creates the Utah Forest Restoration Institute at Utah State University to improve forest and watershed health. The institute will conduct research, develop wildfire risk mitigation strategies, and coordinate with the existing Watershed Restoration Initiative to fund projects, including emergency requests after natural disasters. The bill appropriates $3.8 million from the Income Tax Fund for fiscal year 2027 to support these efforts. It requires the institute to monitor project effectiveness, review funding requests, and submit annual reports to legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $3.8M from Income Tax Fund to fund forest/watershed programs, strengthening public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds research and projects to improve forest/watershed health, directly advancing environmental protection through conservation and natural resource management.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 187: Water Amendments

HB 187 modifies Utah water law to protect water rights in the Colorado River's lower basin. It exempts water conservancy districts from losing rights after seven years of nonuse (a standard rule), prohibits certain changes to instream flow applications in the lower basin, and aligns with another bill (H.B. 348) on dedicated water. The bill directly affects water conservancy districts managing water resources in the lower basin, ensuring they retain rights during planning or drought. It makes technical adjustments to existing statutes without new funding or broad policy shifts.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill protects water rights for conservation, prevents loss during drought, and aligns with water conservation goals in lower basin management.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment