Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 296: Water Commitment Amendments

HB 296 amends Utah's water conservation plan requirements to allow water providers (like utilities and water districts) to include commitments for water uses on the Great Salt Lake within their conservation plans. The bill adds "the commitment of available water to uses on the Great Salt Lake" as an optional provision that providers may incorporate into their plans. It makes technical updates to existing code without appropriating funds or changing core requirements for water conservation goals, public notice, or plan submissions. This change specifically enables water providers to formally account for Great Salt Lake water needs in their conservation strategies. The bill does not alter the mandatory elements of water conservation plans, such as public hearings, five-year updates, or regional conservation goals.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allows water providers to optionally include Great Salt Lake water commitments in conservation plans, directly supporting natural resource protection and water conservation goals.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 The bill repeals an outdated section and has no budget impact.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 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 No ✓ 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

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 401: Geothermal Study Amendments

HB 401 directs Utah's Office of Energy Development to study whether geothermal energy facilities can be developed at or near existing or retired coal power plants. The study must assess underground heat levels, infrastructure suitability, potential electricity output, costs, and economic impacts for each site, with results published online by December 31, 2027. The office must report annually to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee before November meetings. This procedural bill affects the Office of Energy Development and coal plant sites, but does not fund construction or alter energy regulations.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates study of geothermal development at coal sites, promoting renewable energy assessment for potential infrastructure expansion.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentStudies geothermal energy development at coal sites, promoting clean energy research as a step toward environmental protection and reduced emissions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports 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 No ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 30: Wildlife Management Area Amendments

HB 30 creates the Wildlife Management Area Stewardship Fund, funded by voluntary contributions, to support habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and volunteer coordination in state wildlife areas. It repeals the previous requirement for hunting or fishing licenses to access these areas and instead mandates that recreational users (non-hunting, non-fishing visitors) in certain counties complete an approved educational video and obtain digital verification for entry. Exceptions include highway travel within the areas, participation in educational programs, or existing property rights. The bill directly affects non-hunting, non-fishing visitors and the Division of Wildlife Resources, which will manage the fund and oversee the educational requirements.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Wildlife Management Area Stewardship Fund to directly support habitat restoration, conservation, and volunteer coordination in state wildlife areas.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 16: Solar Power Plant Amendments

HB 16 establishes new rules for utility-scale solar power plants in Utah, affecting developers planning projects permitted after May 6, 2026. It ties state financial incentives to land characteristics: projects on protected farmland (prime, irrigated, or high-capacity cropland) lose full incentives, while those on less productive land may qualify for partial support. The bill also requires wildlife impact consultations, mandates decommissioning plans with financial assurance (like bonds or letters of credit), and sets site restoration standards. Existing projects with pre-2026 agreements or permits are exempt from these new rules.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyTies state incentives to solar projects on less productive land, promoting renewable energy development while adding environmental safeguards.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes solar energy development with environmental safeguards: requires wildlife consultations, decommissioning plans, and ties incentives to land use protecting farmland, advancing clean energy while conserving resources.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 37: Used Oil Management Act Amendments

HB 37 amends Utah's Used Oil Management Act to increase the recycling fee on lubricating oil sales starting July 1, 2026, and grants the Division of Waste Management rulemaking authority to set future fees beginning July 1, 2027. The bill requires the Division to notify the State Tax Commission 90 days before any fee change takes effect and clarifies that grant funds can be used to hire permitted transporters for curbside used oil collection programs. It directly affects lubricating oil vendors who must collect and remit the fees, and supports used oil collection programs through updated incentive payment rules. The changes take effect May 6, 2026, with the new fee structure beginning July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases recycling fee (tax) on lubricating oil sales, generating state revenue. Establishes fiscal management procedures (notification to Tax Commission, rulemaking authority) for fee adjustments, supporting budget stability.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases recycling fees for used oil, mandates proper disposal via higher costs, and clarifies grant funds for curbside collection programs to promote environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment