2026 Legislative Successes

Education

Educator Compensation & Support: 
The Legislature funded a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment for higher education employees. Funding was also appropriated to cover rising health and dental insurance costs, ensuring parity with state employees.

Northern Utah Higher Education & Technical Training

• WSU secured $1 million in ongoing state appropriations to continue its associate degree tuition differential, directly supporting affordability goals.
• WSU received $500,000 for high school credentials in protective services.
• WSU successfully earned $989,800 in ongoing performance funding.
• USU received $750,000 ongoing and $750,000 one-time for the Center for Civic Excellence, alongside $1.9 million one-time for Land Management Funding.
• The Legislature approved $7 million in ongoing funding for expanded capacity across the state’s eight technical colleges, bolstering institutions like Bridgerland Technical College, Ogden-Weber Technical College and Davis Technical College.
• Research & Innovation: Aligning with the call for advanced research support, $50 million in one-time funding was passed for the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot Program via HB 373 – Higher Education Innovation, sponsored by Rep. Karen Peterson and Sen. Ann Millner.
• Talent Ready Utah received $3 million ongoing for workforce initiatives focused on Deep Technology, Energy and Artificial Intelligence.
• WSU received $6,746,800 in one-time dedicated funding to complete Phase II of the Student Services Building renovation.

K-12 Successes for Northern Utah Districts

HB 1 – Public Education Base Budget Amendments
Rep. Stephen Whyte and Sen. Heidi Balderree
Set the initial value of the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) at $4,870 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

SB 241 – Early Literacy
Sen. Ann Millner and Rep. Karen Peterson
Establishes a third-grade level reading goal for 2030 and dedicates funding to provide literacy training and paraprofessionals who support literacy.

SB 81 – Dyslexia Testing Amendments
Sen. Jen Plumb and Rep. Ariel Defay
Requires a school district or charter school to take certain actions, including individualized intervention, if a dyslexia assessment administered by a licensed individual practicing within the scope of practice for the individual’s license, indicates that a student lacks reading competency, demonstrates characteristics of dyslexia, or is lagging in acquiring a reading skill.

SB 244 – Cardiac Emergency Response Plans in Schools
Sen. Jerry Stevenson and Rep. Karen Peterson

• Requires each school to develop a cardiac emergency response plan
• Requires plans to include evidence-based core elements for emergency cardiovascular care Requires appropriate placement and maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AED)
• Requires training of appropriate school staff in first aid, CPR, and AED use
• Establishes a grant program to aid in implementing cardiac emergency response plans. The bill appropriates $200,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027

HB 393 – Early Intervention for Dyslexia Amendment
Rep. Ariel Defay and Sen. Ann Millner
Creates the Dyslexia Screening Pilot Program to: provide dyslexia related resources to district and charter schools and creates a dyslexia screener at the University of Utah College of Education and the University of Utah Education Policy Center.

Housing

SB 150 – Healthcare Providers Scope of Practice Amendments
Sen. Evan Vickers and Rep. Jim Dunnigan
Requires that the office determine whether to provide a recommendation that a regulated healthcare occupation incorporate an innovation into the regulated healthcare occupation’s practice.

SB 222 – Right to Try Amendments
Sen. Chris Wilson and Rep. Tyler Clancy
Amends provisions related to when a patient may obtain and use investigational drugs and devices to treat an illness.

HB 71 – Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments
Rep. Steve Eliason and Sen. Kirk, Cullimore
Assists enrollees in accessing behavioral health services in a timely manner and facilitates an insured obtaining behavioral health services from an out-of-network provider if an in-network provider is not available in a timely manner.

HB 97 – Medical Waste Amendments
Rep. Bridger Bolinder and Sen. Evan Vickers
Permits certain health facilities to offer the unused portion of a facility-owned medication to the patient under certain circumstances.

HB 270 – Healthcare Worker Post-Employment Amendments
Rep. Katy Hall and Sen. Brady Brammer
Reduces restrictions on licensed healthcare professionals including: an advanced practice registered nurse, a certified social worker, a clinical mental health counselor, a physical therapist, a physician, etc.

HB 339 – Street Medicine Amendments
Rep. Tyler Clancy and Sen. Keith Grover
Provides a definition for “Street medicine” that means health care provided by a licensed health care provider, who conducts patient visits outside of a health care facility, clinic, or shelter to an individual experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

HB 417 – Patient Interfacility Transportation Requirements
Rep. Sahara Hayes and Sen. Keith Grover
Requires a health care facility to allow a patient to use non-medical transportation to another health care facility under certain circumstances.

HB 527 – Pharmacy Pricing Amendments
Rep. Katy Hall and Sen. Evan Vickers
Amends provisions related to drug maximum allowable cost, including regarding lists, appeals, and claims.

HB 590 – Child Therapy Amendments
Rep. Jen Dailey Provost and Sen. Luz Escamilla
Requires certain insurers to offer a single case agreement to allow certain children leaving the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services (division) to receive mental health treatment and services from the mental health therapist providing those services while the child was in the custody of the division.

Public Health

SB 127 – Pediatric Care Amendments
Sen. Jen Plumb and Rep. Katy Hall
Requires hospital emergency departments to create policies addressing pediatric care; to have a pediatric emergency care coordinator; to conduct pediatric emergency care readiness assessments; and to report assessment results to the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services.

SB 128 – Public Alert Amendments
Sen. Jen Plumb and Rep. Tyler Clancy
Creates the Purple Alert Notification System, to be implemented and administered by the Department of Public Safety, to assist with locating missing and endangered vulnerable individuals in certain circumstances.

SB 170 – Vitamin K Amendments
Sen. Jen Plumb and Rep. Ray Ward
Stipulates that a health care provider that provides care to a mother during the birth of a child shall provide a full and clear explanation of the risks and benefits of vitamin K administration and the risks of possible adverse health outcomes for a newborn that does not receive vitamin K.

SB 311 – Medical Translation Amendments
Sen. Heidi Balderree and Rep. Steve Eliason
Requires the development of a SafeUT software application that is available in multiple languages.

HB 36 – Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program
Rep. Katy Hall and Sen. Keven Stratton
Creates a five-year pilot program known as the Gold Medal Schools Pilot Program to: promote physical activity in an eligible school; and promote healthy eating habits in an eligible school.

HB 468 – Mobile Mammography Amendments
Rep. Christine Watkins and Sen. David Hinkins
Requires a health benefit plan to cover mobile mammography screenings in certain circumstances in a rural area.

Public Safety & Justice Reform

SB 27 – Assault or Threat of Violence Amendments
Sen. Don Ipson and Rep. Matt Gwynn
Amends the offense of assault or threat of violence against a peace officer to include: assaults or threats of violence against off-duty peace officers if the actor committed the offense because of the peace officer’s status as a peace officer; and assaults or threats of violence against family members of a peace officer if the actor committed the offense because of the peace officer’s status as a peace officer.

SB 98 – Substance Use Rehabilitation Amendments
Sen. Jen Plumb and Rep. Tyler Clancy
Authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to establish, in consultation with the Department of Workforce Services, a certification program for employers to be certified as a recovery ready workplace.

SB 166 – Line-of-Duty Death Benefit Amendments
Sen. Derrin Owens and Rep. Jefferson Burton
Provides that the Local Public Safety and Firefighter Surviving Spouse Trust Fund Board of Trustees may use money in the Local Public Safety and Firefighter Surviving Spouse Trust Fund to pay for certain previously incurred employer costs related to health coverage for a surviving spouse and dependent children following a line-of-duty death.

HB 153 – Law Enforcement Officer Employment Amendments
Rep. Matt Gwynn and Sen. Mike McKell
Requires municipalities to provide certain procedures to a law enforcement officer before the municipality may terminate or otherwise significantly impact the law enforcement officer’s employment.

HB 199 – Health Data Amendments
Rep. Norm Thurston and Sen. Kirk Cullimore
Allows the Department of Health and Human Services to share data within the department and with public health authorities, local mental health authorities, and local substance use authorities.

HB 230 – Offender Amendments
Rep. Melissa Ballard and Sen. Brady Brammer
Requires a county jail to assist certain county jail inmates in obtaining a current driver license or state-issued identification; requires a substance abuse treatment program to share the results of a participant’s drug test with the participant’s supervising probation or parole officer and other specified individuals under certain conditions; requires the Driver License Division to coordinate with a county jail in providing a county inmate with a driver license certificate or a temporary regular identification card and requires the Department of Corrections to identify and provide information and resources regarding post-incarceration housing.

HB 572 – Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Amendments
Rep. Steve Eliason and Sen. Evan Vickers
Permits first responders to provide an electronic list of local mental health services to certain individuals under certain circumstances and creates a community-based peer support specialist program.

Transportation

SB 197 – Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments
Sen. Wayne Harper and Rep. Kay Christofferson
Requires the State Tax Commission, beginning in fiscal year 2028, to annually deposit 5 percent of new growth derived from state sales and use taxes into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund (TTIF).

SB 242 – Transportation Amendments
Sen. Wayne Harper and Rep. Kay Christofferson
Creates a bus replacement program funded with one-time funding of $3 million from (TTIF) and addresses FrontRunner 2X funding.

HB 425 – Local Government Fees Amendments
Rep. Karen Peterson and Sen. Brady Brammer
Authorizes a municipality or a county to impose a transportation utility fee; establishes the process and requirements for a municipality or county to impose or increase a transportation utility fee; establishes the process and requirements for a municipality or county to use the revenue generated by a transportation utility fee.

HB 492 – Transportation, Infrastructure, and Housing Amendments
Rep. Cal Roberts and Sen. Kirk Cullimore
Appropriates $100 million from the Transportation Investment Fund (TIF) to fund infrastructure loans, facilitating housing construction. Increases housing infrastructure bonds from $70 to $150 million, allowing TIF to cash flow the bonds and get money out sooner.

Business Climate & Economic Development

SB 60 – Income Tax Rate Amendments
Sen. Dan McCay and Rep. Steve Eliason
Amends the individual and the corporate income tax rate from 4.5% to 4.45%.

SB 206 – Tax Amendments
Sen. Wayne Harper and Rep. Neil Walter
Creates the Statewide Tax Administration and Technology Solutions Program.

SB 254 – Extracted Natural Resources Amendments
Sen. Ann Millner and Rep. David Shallenberger

• Facilitates faster permitting by the Department of Environmental Quality and the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining
• Modifies the tax credit for mining exploration
• Creates the State Reinvestment Restricted Account and diverts various streams of income related to severance taxes into the State Reinvestment Restricted Account and addresses property tax differentials based on critical minerals zones

HB 77 – Tax Modifications
Rep. Steve Eliason and Sen. Dan McCay

• Provides penalty provisions that apply if a producer fails to file a Form 1099 for mineral production tax withholding or fails to file the Form 1099 on time
• Modifies filing requirements applicable to producers for mineral production tax withholding
• Clarifies assessment requirements for the common areas of a condominium or community association
• Increases property valuation thresholds for which county reporting to the State Tax Commission and the Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee is required
• Modifies the definition of “indigent individual,” as applied to property tax relief, by removing language that limits a finding of extreme hardship to counties
• Allows a taxpayer to appeal a county’s denial of the taxpayer’s application for property tax relief on the basis of late filing
• Consolidates a list of all privilege tax exemptions within the privilege tax statute; consolidates certain tax credit review requirements applicable to the Utah low-income housing tax credit
• Expands the definition of “Utah unrelated business income,” as applied to corporate income tax, to include allocated income
• Modifies the taxpayer tax credit to align with federal tax changes
• Extends provisions allowing for pass-through entities to pay taxes on behalf of individuals
• Expands the definition of “short-term rental,” as applied to sales and use tax, to include rentals involving real property
• Requires a county that imposes the 1% local option sales and use tax to distribute revenue collected within a newly-incorporated municipality to that municipality for a certain period
• Increases the weight-based motor vehicle exemption for the motor vehicle rental tax; modifies the motor vehicle exemptions for the tourism, recreation, cultural, convention, and airport facilities tax to match the exemptions for the motor vehicle rental tax
• Requires a taxing entity to provide notice of the reauthorization of certain local option sales taxes to the State Tax Commission within a certain period before the reauthorization takes effect
• Prohibits the State Tax Commission from enforcing a reauthorized local option sales tax unless the taxing entity provides timely notice of the reauthorization
• Repeals obsolete tax provisions, including the income tax credit for items using cleaner burning fuels and the inheritance tax

HB 507 – State Coordination of Regional and Local Economic Development Projects Amendments
Rep. Cal Roberts and Sen. Kirk Cullimore

• Creates a process for a county or city to propose a regionally significant development zone (zone) and for a committee to approve the creation of a zone
• Authorizes a zone to capture and utilize certain forms of tax increment
• Describes how a zone will be managed, including how a community reinvestment agency (agency) will manage zone funds, prepare zone budgets, conduct zone audits, and make biennial reports

Healthcare

SB 150 – Healthcare Providers Scope of Practice Amendments
Sen. Evan Vickers and Rep. Jim Dunnigan
Requires that the office determine whether to provide a recommendation that a regulated healthcare occupation incorporate an innovation into the regulated healthcare occupation’s practice.

SB 222 – Right to Try Amendments
Sen. Chris Wilson and Rep. Tyler Clancy
Amends provisions related to when a patient may obtain and use investigational drugs and devices to treat an illness.

HB 71 – Health Provider Directory and Access Amendments
Rep. Steve Eliason and Sen. Kirk, Cullimore
Assists enrollees in accessing behavioral health services in a timely manner and facilitates an insured obtaining behavioral health services from an out-of-network provider if an in-network provider is not available in a timely manner.

HB 97 – Medical Waste Amendments
Rep. Bridger Bolinder and Sen. Evan Vickers
Permits certain health facilities to offer the unused portion of a facility-owned medication to the patient under certain circumstances.

HB 270 – Healthcare Worker Post-Employment Amendments
Rep. Katy Hall and Sen. Brady Brammer
Reduces restrictions on licensed healthcare professionals including: an advanced practice registered nurse, a certified social worker, a clinical mental health counselor, a physical therapist, a physician, etc.

HB 339 – Street Medicine Amendments
Rep. Tyler Clancy and Sen. Keith Grover
Provides a definition for “Street medicine” that means health care provided by a licensed health care provider, who conducts patient visits outside of a health care facility, clinic, or shelter to an individual experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

HB 417 – Patient Interfacility Transportation Requirements
Rep. Sahara Hayes and Sen. Keith Grover
Requires a health care facility to allow a patient to use non-medical transportation to another health care facility under certain circumstances.

HB 527 – Pharmacy Pricing Amendments
Rep. Katy Hall and Sen. Evan Vickers
Amends provisions related to drug maximum allowable cost, including regarding lists, appeals, and claims.

HB 590 – Child Therapy Amendments
Rep. Jen Dailey Provost and Sen. Luz Escamilla
Requires certain insurers to offer a single case agreement to allow certain children leaving the custody of the Division of Child and Family Services (division) to receive mental health treatment and services from the mental health therapist providing those services while the child was in the custody of the division.

Military, Aerospace & Defense

SB 90 – Occupational Licenses for Veterans and Service Members
Requires the Division of Professional Licensing, in consultation with the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, to prepare a document, spreadsheet, or other resource available to the public that details when a veteran or service member’s past skills, experience, credentials, training, or education obtained in the military are substantially equivalent to current required training or education requirements for a license and can substitute for unfulfilled licensure requirements; and accept a veteran or service member’s past substantially equivalent skills, experience, credentials, training, or education obtained while in the military when granting a license.

SB 132 – Spaceport Amendments
Sen. Jerry Stevenson and Rep. Val Peterson
Allows the Spaceport Exploration Committee to have a closed meeting or close a portion of a public meeting to discuss information that may include trade secrets and expands the scope of the supported activities that the committee may consider to include reentry operations.

SB 172 – Airport and Air Amendments
Sen. Wayne Harper and Rep. Doug Welton
Addresses vertiports and also amends law relating to airports and drones.

SCR 10 – Concurrent Resolution Emphasizing Utah’s Commitment to Advanced Air Mobility
Sen. Wayne Harper and Rep. Jon Hawkins
Recognizes Utah’s role in aerospace innovation and affirms the state’s commitment to developing and implementing Advanced Air Mobility technologies.

Natural Resources

SB 46 – Water Wise Landscaping Amendments
Sen. Keven Stratton and Rep. Casey Snider
Imposes landscaping requirements related to state government facilities.

SB 252 – Water Usage at State-owned Facilities Amendments
Sen. Stephanie Pitcher and Rep. Jill Koford
Requires a state agency to take certain actions related to irrigation and use of low-water turf; directs the Division of Facilities Construction and Management to audit irrigation systems.

HB 76 – Data Center Water Transparency Amendments
Rep. Jill Koford and Sen. Scott Sandall
Requires certain large data centers to communicate with water providers and requires reporting by operators of certain large data centers before construction and annually.

HB 296 – Water Commitment Amendments
Rep. Hoang Nguyen and Sen. Scott Sandall
Permits a commitment of available water to uses on the Great Salt Lake to be included in a water conservation plan.

HB 378 – Fugitive Dust Mitigation Amendments
Rep. Stephanie Gricius and Sen. Derrin Owens
Allows the Division of Air Quality to impose an aggregate compliance fee up to certain amounts on an aggregate operation and requires a fugitive dust facility to post informational signage that is clearly visible to the public.

HB 410 – Water Leasing Amendments
Rep. Jill Koford and Sen. Scott Sandall
Directs the Great Salt Lake commissioner to facilitate leasing of water for the Great Salt Lake.

HCR 9 – Concurrent Resolution Addressing the Great Salt Lake
Rep. Joseph Elison and Sen. Scott Sandall
Discusses the importance of the Great Salt Lake to Utah’s economy and residents and explains the lake’s decline; addresses Utah’s efforts in restoring the Great Salt Lake; and urges the federal government to provide assistance in stabilizing and restoring the Great Salt Lake.

Public Utilities, Energy & Technology

SB 21 – Geothermal Amendments
Sen. Mike McKell and Rep. Carl Albrecht
Addresses the reservation of a geothermal resource on state and institutional trust land; and modifies provisions related to ownership of geothermal resources or fluids.

SB 135 – Nuclear Reprocessing Amendments
Sen. Derrin Owens and Rep. Carl Albrecht
Authorizes the Office of Energy Development (office) to coordinate with public and private entities regarding nuclear fuel recycling facility development in the state; authorizes the office to serve as a liaison between private entities and local communities regarding nuclear fuel recycling facility development; authorizes the Utah Energy Council to provide strategic guidance and conduct preliminary assessments for nuclear fuel recycling facility development; requires the office to report on nuclear fuel recycling coordination activities as part of the office’s existing annual report; requires the council to report on nuclear fuel recycling recommendations as part of the council’s existing annual report; and authorizes the office to pursue development of a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus.

SCR 1 – Concurrent Resolution Regarding Nuclear Energy
Sen. Derrin Owens and Rep. Colin Jack
Highlights Utah’s support for nuclear energy development and deployment; and expresses Utah’s intent to pursue agreement state status for additional elements of the nuclear fuel cycle.

HB 16 – Solar Power Plant Amendments
Rep. Colin Jack and Sen. David Hinkins
Establishes eligibility criteria for state incentives for solar power plants based on land characteristics.

HB 78 – Nuclear Regulatory Amendments
Rep. Carl Albrecht and Sen. Derrin Owens
Establishes the Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office within the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control; grants rulemaking authority to the division for nuclear energy regulation; authorizes establishment and collection of fees for nuclear energy licensing and oversight; directs the division to pursue expanded Agreement State status with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and authorizes the director to enter cooperative agreements with federal agencies.

HB 401 – Geothermal Study Amendments
Rep. Christine Watkins and Sen. David Hinkins
Directs Utah State University to conduct a study on the geological and environmental impacts of geothermal energy development in the state.

HCR 1 – House Concurrent Resolution Regarding Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing
Rep. Carl Albrecht and Sen. David Hinkins
Expresses Utah’s support for the advanced nuclear industry; expresses Utah’s desire to have nuclear manufacturing done in Utah; expresses Utah’s commitment to helping technology companies overcome challenges regarding safety in manufacturing, transportation, and waste management; and signals that Utah is committed to fostering the development of technical solutions to remaining challenges.

Tourism, Outdoor Recreation & Olympics

HB 59 – Identification Verification Amendments
Rep. Steve Eliason and Sen. Evan Vickers
Reverses the 100% ID check, requiring age verification for anyone who appears 35 or younger before they can order an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant. The ongoing challenge for tourism is that restaurant licensees still face uncertainty regarding liability for serving an interdicted person who appears over the age of 35 (a status typically assigned after an extreme DUI conviction).

HB 231 – Restaurant Tax Repeal Amendments
Rep. Norm Thurston
Failed to pass the House on a 21-52 vote, which was a win for tourism. The bill removed the ability for a county to impose the restaurant tax on food items and alcoholic beverage items sold at restaurants, and on prepared foods sold at convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. Substitute versions of the bill proposed a full repeal of the tax, as well as a transition to a local option sales tax. The tourism industry continuously opposed the bill due to concerns regarding the creation of a permanent funding gap for county governments through the elimination of the tax and the lack of public process or notification in implementing a new local option sales tax. Rep. Thurston confirmed that if re-elected, he will reintroduce a restaurant tax repeal bill.

HB 597 – Alcohol Amendments
Rep. Jeff Burton
Allows international driver’s licenses, as of May 6, 2026, to be accepted as a valid form of identification to order an alcoholic beverage (previously only international passports were permitted). 

Rural Film Incentive Program
Received $2 million in ongoing funding and an additional $1 million at the end of the session. The new designation of ongoing funding is more beneficial than the previous one-time funding mechanism; however, this is significantly less than the $12 million requested and historically appropriated.

Workforce Development

SB 195 – Workforce Development
Sen. Ann Millner and Rep. Karen Peterson
Establishes the Statewide Youth Apprenticeship Governance Council to coordinate youth apprenticeship programs across state agencies and education providers.

HB 190 – Child Care Business Tax Credit
Rep. Jason Thompson and Sen. Heidi Balderree
Expands the nonrefundable corporate and individual income tax credit for employer-provided child care to apply to off-site child care facilities; increases the tax credit amount for certain small business employers, in relation to the employer’s child care expenditures; and requires the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity to develop and maintain a webpage for employers to obtain information and resources regarding the tax credits.