HB 386 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Immigration Amendments

HB 386 ends several existing Utah immigration programs, including the Guest Worker Program and the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program. It also removes a planned restriction on employer verification systems and eliminates a related identity theft victim account. These changes apply to employers and workers who would have been affected by the repealed programs. The bill makes no new funding commitments and focuses solely on repealing specific provisions without creating new policies.

Issues: ✗ Immigration

Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill changes the Utah immigration bill from repealing existing programs to extending and modifying them. Instead of ending the Guest Worker Program and the Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program, this version delays their implementation until July 1, 2037, and extends the Pilot Program's operation until June 30, 2042. It also shifts program administration from the Legislature to the Governor, giving the Governor authority to create the program and issue executive orders.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from elimination to expansion and delay; applicability now includes a longer-term pilot program under Governor control rather than a temporary legislative initiative.

TIMELINE

Removed the repeal of the Guest Worker Program and the Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act.

Extended the implementation date for both the Guest Worker Program and the Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program from 2026 to July 1, 2037.

Added an end date for the Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program, requiring it to cease operations on June 30, 2042.

SCOPE

Transferred program creation and administration authority from the Legislature to the Governor, allowing the Governor to set rules via executive order.

DEFINITION

Changed the bill's focus from repealing immigration laws to extending and modifying them to allow for a longer-term pilot program.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This substitute bill fundamentally reverses the original version of HB 386 by repealing the Guest Worker Program and the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act. Instead of creating new immigration pathways, the bill eliminates the planned start date for these programs and removes the associated funding accounts. It also updates legal definitions to reflect the removal of these programs and modifies record-keeping laws to exclude consumer complaints from protected status.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifts from establishing a new immigration framework to dismantling it. It no longer applies to undocumented individuals seeking permits or private employers verifying employee status under the old Guest Worker Program.

ELIGIBILITY

The Guest Worker Program and the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act are repealed, ending eligibility for undocumented individuals to obtain work permits or resident immigrant status under these specific programs.

FISCAL

The Immigration Act Restricted Account and the Identity Theft Victims Restricted Account are repealed, removing the dedicated funding sources that were intended to support the Guest Worker Program and identity theft victim compensation.

DEFINITION

Legal definitions for 'private employer' and 'status verification system' are updated to remove references to the Guest Worker Program and related federal verification systems that are no longer in effect.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for federal officers to notify local authorities before releasing an alien from custody is retained, but the context of the Guest Worker Program is removed from the statute.

TECHNICAL

The bill includes technical corrections to the Government Records Access and Management Act, specifically renumbering sections related to protected records and adjusting the classification of consumer complaints.

TIMELINE

The scheduled start date for the Guest Worker Program is eliminated, and the repeal of the Private Employer Verification Act is no longer tied to that future date.

Floor votes · House Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Business, Labor, and Commerce Committee]

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors