Housing

failed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 187: Renter Credit Reporting Amendments

SB 187 requires public funds recipients (landlords receiving state housing funds who own 50+ rental units) to offer rent reporting to tenants at lease signing and annually. Tenants can enroll or unenroll in rent reporting at any time, but must pay a fee not exceeding the actual cost of the service. If a tenant fails to pay the fee or opts out, they cannot rejoin the program for six months. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and applies only to qualifying landlords, not all rental properties.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires rent reporting for tenants, enhancing credit-building opportunities and tenant rights under housing protections for qualifying landlords receiving public funds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 161: Property Tax Modifications

HB 161 increases Utah's residential property tax exemption from 45% to 60% of a home's fair market value for primary residences, directly affecting homeowners who qualify for this exemption. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 59-2-103 to implement this change, contingent on voters approving a related constitutional amendment (H.J.R. 7) in the 2026 election. If approved, the exemption rate would take effect on January 1, 2027, reducing the taxable value of qualifying primary residences. This change applies only to properties used as primary residences for at least 183 days annually and limits exemptions to one primary residence per household.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases property tax exemption from 45% to 60% for primary residences, directly reducing tax burden on homeowners - classic tax relief provision.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases property tax exemption for primary residences, reducing housing costs for homeowners, directly advancing affordable housing affordability through tax relief.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Property Taxes

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 221: Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Amendments

SB 221 amends definitions and administrative procedures for Utah's Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones, directly affecting municipalities and planning authorities managing these zones. It redefines "base year" for property tax calculations, introduces the term "extraterritorial affordable housing," and adjusts requirements for boundary changes and project approvals. Key provisions include clarifying terms like "developable area" and modifying processes for reviewing investment zone proposals. The bill makes technical updates to Utah Code sections without adding new funding or creating new zones, focusing solely on refining existing framework language.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingIntroduces 'extraterritorial affordable housing' and adjusts project approval processes, enabling expanded housing development within transit zones per bill's focus on Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Community Development Zoning Tags Economic Development

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 103: Driver License Amendments for Unhoused Individuals

SB 103 creates a fee waiver for individuals experiencing homelessness who apply for a Utah driver license or renew/extend their license. It directly affects unhoused residents seeking to obtain or maintain a driver license by removing the standard $52 application or renewal fee. The bill requires applicants to submit written verification of homelessness from approved sources like homeless shelters, housing facilities, or the Department of Workforce Services. This change amends Utah's driver license fee structure to align with existing identification card fee waivers for unhoused individuals. The policy makes no new funding requests and applies to both new licenses and renewals/extensions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directly addresses homelessness by waiving driver license fees for unhoused individuals, removing a barrier to accessing housing-related services and stability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves financial barrier to driver's license for unhoused individuals, enabling transportation access critical for employment. Aligns with 'Workforce Services' subject and facilitates job access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 224: Vital Records Access Amendments

SB 224 amends Utah's vital records access law to allow a designated liaison for homeless youth or children (as defined under the federal McKinney-Vento Act) to obtain a minor's vital records on their behalf. This change adds homeless youth liaisons to the list of individuals permitted to access vital records, alongside immediate family members, guardians, and designated legal representatives. The bill directly affects homeless youth and children without stable housing, enabling their school or social service liaisons to help them access critical documents like birth certificates. The amendment does not alter existing rules about public access to records after specific time periods (e.g., 100 years for birth records) or other access categories.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes barrier to healthcare access by allowing liaisons to obtain vital records for homeless youth, enabling enrollment in health services and insurance per 'improves patient access' indicator.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill directly addresses homelessness by enabling liaisons for homeless youth to access vital records, aligning with McKinney-Vento Act and housing-related homelessness indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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passed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 215: Eviction Record Amendments

SB 215 would allow eviction records to be removed from public databases under two specific conditions: (1) if a case was fully dismissed with no pending appeal and at least one year has passed since dismissal, or (2) if both the tenant and landlord agreed to expunge the record and formally filed a stipulation with the court. The bill directly affects tenants whose eviction cases meet these criteria, enabling them to have the records removed from their history. Key provisions require either a court dismissal with a waiting period or a written agreement between parties filed with the court. This change aims to provide relief for individuals with dismissed cases or resolved disputes, without altering eviction procedures themselves.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill removes eviction records for tenants meeting criteria, aiding housing access and protecting tenant rights, directly supporting housing topic.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 184: Small Lots and Starter Homes Amendments

HB 184 allows property owners to request that municipalities accept "preferred land use regulations" for building starter homes or smaller residential lots, even if current zoning would normally prohibit it. The bill defines a "starter home" as a single-family home sold at or below the local average home price (with two parking spots), and sets a minimum lot size of 5,400 square feet for certain developments. Municipalities must review these requests within five business days, either approving them or denying them with written reasoning; if not denied within 30 days, the request becomes permitted. This process aims to increase housing affordability by streamlining approvals for smaller, more affordable homes without requiring additional engineering plans or design documents.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables zoning changes for affordable starter homes (at or below local average price), facilitating development that addresses housing affordability constraints.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Land Use Zoning Tags Local Government

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signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 436: Moderate Income Housing Infrastructure Amendments

HB 436 modifies reporting requirements for municipalities implementing moderate income housing strategies and adds a new transportation priority. It requires municipalities to submit detailed annual reports tracking housing strategies, new home construction, and zoning changes, with stricter compliance standards for those without public transit stations. Crucially, it grants priority consideration for transportation projects if a municipality adds 2.5% or more new residential units annually. The bill affects all "specified municipalities" defined under Utah law, with no new state funding required. It takes effect May 6, 2026, and makes technical updates to existing housing reporting codes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill incentivizes 2.5% annual residential unit growth for transportation priority, directly advancing moderate income housing development through mandatory reporting and funding incentives.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill grants priority for transportation projects when municipalities add 2.5%+ new residential units annually, directly linking housing growth to transportation project funding and approval.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Zoning Public Transit

passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 183: Sex Designation Amendments

HB 183 amends Utah state laws to replace the term "gender" with "sex" in all relevant statutes and removes protections based on gender identity. It repeals existing provisions covering gender identity in housing, employment, and crime, prohibits changes to sex designations on birth certificates, and restricts student access to privacy spaces based on biological sex. The bill also requires state agencies to use "sex" instead of "gender" in rulemaking, bars certain employees in child-related roles from having face-to-face contact with children if their work presents a different sex than their biological sex, and directs courts to consider parental opposition to a child's gender identity (conflicting with biological sex) as a factor in custody decisions. These changes directly affect transgender and gender-diverse individuals, schools, healthcare providers, and courts handling custody cases. The bill contains no funding impacts and is currently in early legislative stages.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill removes gender identity protections in crime statutes, weakening legal safeguards for transgender individuals in criminal justice contexts.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts student access to privacy spaces based on biological sex in schools, removing gender identity protections affecting K-12 educational access and curriculum policies.85% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingRepeals gender identity protections in housing, weakening tenant safeguards per bill summary.90% confidence

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failed · Utah · Senate Mar 7, 2026

SB 137: Homeless Services Board Amendments

SB 137 amends Utah's Homeless Services Board by requiring two new members with health care expertise: one appointed by University of Utah Health and one by Utah's largest non-profit hospital system with multiple hospitals. This changes the board's composition to ensure direct representation from health care providers specializing in physical or mental health. The bill makes no new services or funding changes - it only adjusts membership requirements. The board's existing structure and responsibilities remain unchanged.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds healthcare expertise to homeless services board, ensuring health provider input on services impacting health outcomes per bill's explicit membership requirement.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill amends homeless services board to include health care expertise, strengthening governance for homelessness (a core housing policy area) without new funding or services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health Homelessness

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