SB 246 Utah Senate · 2026 General Session

Utah Homeless Services Board Amendments

SB 246 amends Utah's Homeless Services Board membership requirements to ensure local community representation when a new homeless services campus location is announced. Specifically, it requires the board to appoint a member who either lives within five miles of the campus (chosen by a community organization) or represents the west side of Salt Lake City (appointed by the Westside Coalition) within 30 days of the campus location being announced. This change directly affects the board's composition and communities near proposed campus sites. The bill makes technical adjustments to the board's structure but does not appropriate funding or alter service delivery. It focuses on procedural updates to governance rather than substantive policy changes.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 4, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the Utah Homeless Services Board by adding a specific definition for 'homeless services campus' and updating the board's membership requirements. The changes ensure that when a new campus is announced, a representative from the local community is appointed to the board within 30 days to advocate for residents. Additionally, a specific deadline of June 5, 2026, is set for appointing this representative if the campus location is announced by May 6, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new definition for 'homeless services campus' and added a specific exemption for these facilities from the list of excluded shelters in the definitions section.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'homeless services campus' that specifies it is a facility providing emergency shelter, behavioral/mental health treatment, and support services at one location.

Modified the definition of 'homeless services campus' to explicitly exclude behavioral health transition facilities, community correctional centers, correctional facilities, medical/nursing/psychiatric facilities, microshelter communities, and noncongregate or overflow shelters.

REQUIREMENT

Amended the board membership requirement to include a representative appointed by a community organization if a homeless services campus is announced or recommended.

Updated the appointment trigger to include both when a campus location is 'announced' or 'recommended'.

Added 'a state homeless services campus facility' to the list of entities included in the definition of a 'service provider'.

TIMELINE

Added a specific deadline requiring the appointment of the new community representative no later than June 5, 2026, if the campus location is announced or recommended on or before May 6, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026

How they voted

24–1

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 29

Feb 24, 2026

D Democratic6

6 Yea

100% Yea

N Forward1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican22

17 Yea 1 Nay 4

77% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ 3nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (24-1-4)

senate

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee]

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor