HB 475: Development Planning and Coordination Amendments - Utah

Substitute #4 → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

This bill amends the Utah Code to rename the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to the Governor's Office of Economic Development and establishes a new Economic Development Council. It updates definitions related to economic development, modifies reporting requirements for various state agencies, and creates a new advisory committee for the Bears Ears Visitor Center. The changes aim to streamline economic development planning, enhance tribal engagement, and improve workforce training initiatives.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Governor's Office of Economic Development by formally establishing an Economic Development Council and updating the office's name and powers throughout the code.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity' to the 'Governor's Office of Economic Development' throughout the code.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new Economic Development Council with defined membership and duties to oversee economic development planning.

Established a Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from five specific tribes to study the feasibility of a visitor center.

Updated reporting requirements for the Governor's Office of Economic Development to include the Education and Workforce Services Interim Committee.

Updated technical college president requirements to include ongoing consultation with the Governor's Office of Economic Development on workforce needs.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified exemptions for state employees participating in retirement systems to include employees of the newly named Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill amends Utah's economic development laws to rename the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to the Governor's Office of Economic Development and establishes a new Economic Opportunity Coordinating Council to oversee strategic planning and opportunity zone applications. It also updates definitions for economic zones, creates a Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee, and modifies reporting requirements for various state agencies and retirement systems.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of economic development oversight by creating a new coordinating council and revises the name of the primary state economic development office, while also adding new committees for tribal engagement and transportation electrification.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity' to the 'Governor's Office of Economic Development' throughout the code.

Added new definitions for 'remote work opportunity' and 'significant capital investment' in the context of economic development zones.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new Economic Opportunity Coordinating Council with specific voting members from the governor, legislature, and various local authorities to coordinate statewide economic strategies.

Mandated the new council to create a working group to provide oversight for the opportunity zone application process in 2026.

Updated requirements for station area plans around public transit stations to include housing, environmental, and transportation objectives.

Modified dissolution procedures for several state authorities (port, lake, fairpark) to require the Governor's Office of Economic Development to publish notices of dissolution.

TIMELINE

Established specific reporting deadlines, including an initial report by May 31, 2026, and annual reports starting January 1, 2027.

SCOPE

Created a new Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee to explore the feasibility and location of a visitor center at Bears Ears National Monument.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated retirement system exclusions to include employees of the renamed Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Substitute #3 → Substitute #4 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's economic development laws to rename the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to the Governor's Office of Economic Development and establishes a new Economic Development Council to oversee strategic planning. It also creates a new Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee to study the feasibility of a visitor center at Bears Ears National Monument and expands reporting requirements for various state agencies.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Governor's Office of Economic Development by creating a new advisory council and adding specific duties related to tribal coordination and economic planning. It also introduces a new entity (the Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee) with its own membership and reporting requirements.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity' to the 'Governor's Office of Economic Development' throughout the code.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new Economic Development Council with defined membership, duties, and reporting requirements to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee.

Added requirements for state agencies to maintain a public database tracking project area funds and development progress.

Mandated that the Governor's Office of Economic Development coordinate with tribal governments for joint meetings regarding Native American needs.

SCOPE

Established a new Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from five specific Native American tribes to study the feasibility of a visitor center.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated retirement system exclusions to include senior staff in the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

Substitute #2 → Substitute #3 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Utah Code sections to rename the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to the Governor's Office of Economic Development and establishes a new Economic Development Council to oversee economic planning. It updates reporting requirements for various state agencies and modifies definitions related to workforce development, tax increment financing, and retirement systems to reflect the office's new name and expanded coordination roles.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Governor's Office by renaming it and creating a new council to coordinate economic development efforts, while updating the applicability of various reporting and funding rules to the new office name.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity' to the 'Governor's Office of Economic Development' throughout multiple code sections.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new Economic Development Council with specific membership requirements and duties to oversee economic planning and the opportunity zone application process.

Updated reporting requirements for various state agencies to submit data to the newly named Governor's Office of Economic Development.

TECHNICAL

Made technical and conforming changes to definitions and references in statutes regarding workforce development, tax increment financing, and retirement system exemptions.

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Utah's economic development laws to rename the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to the Governor's Office of Economic Development and establishes a new Economic Opportunity Coordinating Council to oversee opportunity zone applications. It also creates a new Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee to study the feasibility of a visitor center and modifies various reporting and retirement requirements for state agencies.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of economic development oversight by creating a new coordinating council and a specific advisory committee for the Bears Ears National Monument, while updating the name of the primary economic development office.

DEFINITION

Renamed the 'Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity' to the 'Governor's Office of Economic Development' throughout the code.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new Economic Opportunity Coordinating Council to provide oversight for the opportunity zone application process and create a working group in 2026.

Created a new Bears Ears Visitor Center Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from five Native American tribes to study the feasibility of a visitor center.

TIMELINE

Updated various deadlines and effective dates for station area plans, retirement system exclusions, and reporting requirements to align with new schedules.

TECHNICAL

Made technical and conforming changes to ensure consistency across multiple Utah Code sections regarding agency names and reporting structures.

Development Planning and Coordination Amendments

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