Environment

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 234: Rulemaking Amendments

SB 234 amends Utah's rulemaking laws to require state agencies to base environmental health and waste management rules on scientific evidence and prevent them from creating rules stricter than federal standards. It defines key terms like "best available science" and "weight of scientific evidence," and specifies that rules affecting drinking water, air quality, hazardous waste, or solid waste handling must align with federal regulations. The bill directly affects Utah state agencies responsible for drafting and implementing environmental regulations, such as the Department of Environmental Quality. It does not appropriate funds or create new taxes, focusing solely on procedural requirements for rulemaking.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentPrevents Utah from enacting stricter environmental rules than federal standards, weakening state-level protections for air/water quality and waste management.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 582: Asbestos Amendments

HB 582 modifies Utah's asbestos testing rules for residential properties with four or fewer units. It removes the general requirement for mandatory asbestos testing in these properties, except when the home was built before 1981 or testing is needed for specific materials like ceiling treatments, siding, flooring, insulation, or vermiculite. This affects homeowners, renters, and property managers of small residential buildings in Utah. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality will no longer mandate testing for most such properties, reducing administrative requirements. The bill makes technical changes to Utah Code Section 19-2-104 without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves mandatory asbestos testing for most residential properties, weakening regulatory oversight of hazardous materials under environmental protection rules.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

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 ✗ Opposes 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 No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 437: Environmental Permitting Amendments

HB 437 creates a program to expedite environmental permit reviews for certain projects. It authorizes Utah's Department of Environmental Quality and Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining to establish rules identifying eligible permits, setting review timelines (capped at a maximum number of days), and certifying qualified reviewers. This affects businesses seeking permits for projects like construction or energy development, as well as state agencies managing the permitting process. The bill does not change pollution standards but streamlines the administrative review for eligible applications, requiring final decisions within the established timeframe after expedited review.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExpedited permits may reduce environmental review rigor, prioritizing industry efficiency over protective measures.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 419: Environmental Legal Action Amendments

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.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyAffects oil/gas mining permits, requiring bonds to challenge them, hindering environmental lawsuits against fossil fuel projects, favoring fossil fuels over renewables.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRequires surety bonds for environmental lawsuits challenging permits, increasing legal barriers against enforcement of environmental protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 111: Wildlife Amendments

HB 111, titled "Wildlife Amendments," updates Utah's wildlife management laws to affect hunters, anglers, and landowners. Key changes include expanding who can verify illness/injury for license refunds (adding physician assistants and nurse practitioners), requiring published notice and governor approval for wildlife division land acquisitions, and limiting penalties for failing to report hunt data to $25. The bill also mandates that wildlife officials contact federal authorities to remove grizzly bears found in areas where they are federally protected, and it updates definitions for wolf and grizzly bear management. These changes primarily refine administrative procedures and clarify responsibilities under Utah's Wildlife Resources Act without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits penalties for failing to report hunt data to $25, weakening enforcement of wildlife management data collection critical for conservation efforts.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 313: Landscaper Certification Amendments

HB 313 updates Utah's licensing rules for landscape work. It requires the Division of Professional Licensing to define "landscape work" and specify which licensees can perform it. Landscaping licensees must complete 6 hours of continuing education every two years, including an additional 3 hours focused on water conservation (like drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation) and fire risk management (such as fire-resistant landscape designs). The bill affects current and future landscape contractors who need to renew their licenses under these new education requirements, effective May 6, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates 3 hours of water conservation education (drought-tolerant plants, efficient irrigation) for landscapers, directly promoting environmental conservation and resource protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 222: Limitation of Actions Amendments

HB 222 modifies Utah's liability rules for greenhouse gas emissions. It removes the requirement that companies must reside or do business in Utah to qualify for limited liability in climate-related lawsuits. Companies can now only be held liable if a court finds clear evidence they violated specific emissions laws or permits, and the plaintiff must identify the exact gases and prove direct harm. The bill also updates the definition of greenhouse gases to include sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, and other specific compounds.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill restricts climate lawsuit liability by requiring strict evidence of emissions violations, weakening enforcement of environmental regulations and prioritizing industry over accountability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 22: Vintage Vehicle Amendments

HB 22 creates a "classic vehicle" designation to replace the current "vintage vehicle" classification in Utah. The bill removes emissions testing requirements for vehicles under the new classic vehicle category and updates related vehicle definition codes in state law. This change directly affects owners of older vehicles currently classified as "vintage" who will now fall under the new "classic" designation. The bill also appropriates $36,400 for administrative costs related to implementing these changes.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves emissions testing requirements for classic vehicles, weakening pollution control standards under environmental regulations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment