HB 63 creates a new process for livestock water right claims in Utah, specifically for water used to water livestock from existing surface sources. It defines "sub-basin livestock watering claims" requiring landowners to map and get state engineer approval for geographically limited sub-basins (not impairing other rights), while restricting claims to historically used water levels without increasing total usage. The bill allows ranchers to build small ponds (≤900 sq ft) without permits but requires approval for large ponds (>900 sq ft) and dam safety compliance. It directly affects livestock water right holders on private or public grazing land with documented historical watering practices, ensuring no net increase in water use beyond past levels.
HB 51 amends Utah's adoption laws to update rules for child-placing adoption agencies and clarify rights for birth and adoptive parents. It modifies agency licensing, advertising, and reporting requirements; sets clear limits on permissible adoption fees; and specifies that birth mothers traveling to Utah for adoption can be transported from other states or countries. The bill also clarifies that birth parents may revoke adoption consent only under limited circumstances and adds provisions for mental health therapy support for birth parents. These changes directly affect adoption agencies, birth parents, and adoptive families by improving transparency and standardizing processes. The bill makes no changes to funding or court procedures.
This concurrent resolution authorizes the Utah Sentencing Commission's existing adult sentencing and supervision length guidelines and juvenile disposition guidelines, which were submitted for review. It does not create new rules but formally approves guidelines already developed by the Commission for use in criminal and juvenile cases. The resolution fulfills a legal requirement under Utah Code Section 63M-7-406 that mandates annual legislative authorization of these guidelines. It directly affects how courts apply sentencing recommendations but does not alter the guidelines themselves.
HB 41 amends Utah's State Construction Code to adopt the 2024 edition of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC), updating wildfire protection standards for buildings in fire-prone areas. This directly affects builders, property owners, and local governments enforcing construction codes in Utah, requiring compliance with the new national wildfire safety standards. The bill makes technical updates to existing code references and deletes a specific section (Section 602 in IWUIC), with the changes taking effect July 1, 2026. No new funding is appropriated, and the bill primarily updates code references without altering core requirements.
HB 72 requires Utah law enforcement to complete cryptocurrency investigation training and mandates prosecuting agencies to certify at least one digital asset specialist. It imposes licensing, registration, and consumer protection rules on virtual currency kiosk operators, including daily transaction limits of $1,000 per customer, a 3% fee cap, mandatory blockchain fraud analysis, and clear disclosure requirements. Kiosks must display multilingual fraud warnings and provide detailed transaction receipts in the customer’s chosen language. The bill also requires law enforcement agencies to report cryptocurrency investigation data to a state commission, which must publish annual legislative summaries.
HB 69 amends Utah's Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen enforcement for public water systems violating safety standards. It directly affects water systems serving communities (especially those over 10,000 people) that repeatedly fail to comply with safety rules. The bill adds key mechanisms: courts can now appoint receivers to manage corrective actions for serious health risks, and force owners to sell the system if divestiture is needed for long-term compliance. These changes apply to existing violations, not new standards, and require no new funding. The bill passed unanimously in committee and is pending Senate action, with an effective date of May 6, 2026.
HB 87, titled "Animal Crime Victim Amendments," modifies Utah's legal process for animals held due to abuse or criminal involvement. The bill creates a court review process during ongoing criminal cases to allow temporary release or transfer of such animals, requires notice to owners before custody changes, and permits courts to order owners to pay shelter costs or complete animal cruelty prevention programs. It also establishes clear procedures for court hearings on animal ownership, including allowing owners to present their case, and sets guidelines for placing animals if ownership is transferred. This directly affects animals in shelters linked to crimes, their owners, law enforcement officers, and courts handling these cases.
HB 111, titled "Wildlife Amendments," updates Utah's wildlife management laws to affect hunters, anglers, and landowners. Key changes include expanding who can verify illness/injury for license refunds (adding physician assistants and nurse practitioners), requiring published notice and governor approval for wildlife division land acquisitions, and limiting penalties for failing to report hunt data to $25. The bill also mandates that wildlife officials contact federal authorities to remove grizzly bears found in areas where they are federally protected, and it updates definitions for wolf and grizzly bear management. These changes primarily refine administrative procedures and clarify responsibilities under Utah's Wildlife Resources Act without appropriating new funds.
HB 54 requires all Utah watercraft operators (motorboats and sailboats) to complete an annual safety course before operating on state waters. The course covers personal flotation devices, operating under the influence, safe navigation, and invasive species prevention, and must be completed in under 20 minutes. Operators must carry proof of current completion (valid until December 31 of the year they complete it), and rental businesses cannot lease watercraft without verifying this proof. Violations are classified as infractions, and the law takes effect January 1, 2027. The bill does not replace existing personal watercraft safety requirements.
HB 48 updates Utah's definitions and reporting requirements for recidivism in both adult and juvenile justice systems. It broadens how "recidivism" is measured to include misdemeanor arrests involving force (not just prison returns) and defines juvenile recidivism for data reporting. The bill removes the ban on placing minors in adult correctional facilities as an alternative to detention and allows prosecutors to request changes to where minors tried as adults are housed. These changes affect the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections, and juvenile justice programs by requiring updated data collection methods and reporting standards.
HB 68 creates a new Division of Housing within the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, replacing the previous Housing and Community Development Division. It renames that division to the Community Development Division, repeals the Commission on Housing Affordability, and requires the new Division's deputy director to coordinate with the Utah Housing Corporation (UHC) under specific circumstances. The bill also reorganizes housing-related code sections, defines key terms, and makes technical changes to existing laws, all without appropriating new state funds. This restructuring directly affects state housing agencies, the UHC, and the oversight of affordable housing programs in Utah. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026.
This resolution expresses Utah's intent to pursue state-level regulation of nuclear energy processes (like waste handling or reactor operations) not prohibited by federal law, and asks the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to clarify which parts of the nuclear fuel cycle are federally reserved versus subject to state control. It does not create new laws but formally states the legislature's position on regulatory jurisdiction. The resolution was referred to a committee for review in January 2026 and is currently pending further action. It directly addresses the NRC and Utah's future regulatory approach to nuclear energy.
