HB 202 amends Utah's Acupuncture Licensing Act to create a new pathway for becoming a licensed acupuncturist. It allows applicants to either provide current NCCAOM certification or complete a specific 2-year curriculum meeting detailed hour requirements (including 450 hours of theory, 500 clinical hours, and 225 biomedical hours). The bill directly affects individuals seeking acupuncture licensure in Utah by offering an alternative to the existing exam-based process. These changes take effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.
HB 156 allows patients to use their own blood or blood from a designated donor (like a family member) for transfusions, unless it's an emergency, there's insufficient time to arrange it, or the healthcare facility already has a process for patient-provided blood. It prohibits healthcare facilities from blocking this option and provides liability protection for providers if injuries occur from using such blood, unless the provider was grossly negligent. The bill directly affects patients needing transfusions and Utah healthcare facilities, taking effect in May 2026. It defines key terms and aligns with federal blood collection laws, with no funding impact.
HB 335 exempts law enforcement officers in county sheriff's offices holding ranks of lieutenant or higher from competitive hiring requirements under county merit systems, career service, or civil service rules. This change directly affects sheriff's office personnel at or above the lieutenant rank, allowing their positions to bypass standard competitive hiring processes. The bill clarifies that these officers are no longer subject to the same civil service regulations as other county employees. It also includes technical updates to related Utah Code sections without appropriating new funds.
HB 193 prohibits Utah government entities from using public funds to pay for certain surgical procedures related to transitioning from one's biological sex (defined as primary or secondary sex characteristic procedures). It requires government insurance plans that previously covered such transition procedures before May 6, 2026, to offer equivalent coverage for procedures to reverse those changes ("detransitioning"), to the extent possible. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and does not appropriate new funds or affect private insurance. It directly impacts state and local government agencies, school districts, and other public entities using public money for health coverage.
HB 347 requires Utah school districts to notify nearby residents before installing new artificial turf on school athletic fields. Specifically, school boards must send written notice to properties within 200 feet of the installation site at least 30 days before a public meeting, including details like location, size, materials, and intended use. They must also post the notice online 60 days in advance and allow public comment at the meeting. This applies only to new installations - not repairs or replacements - and does not change environmental requirements or create new legal rights.
HB 212 establishes a formal process for creating new counties in Utah, primarily affecting municipalities in large counties (population over 1 million) seeking to secede. It requires petitioning municipalities to meet population thresholds (at least one-third of the county's population), complete a feasibility study, and propose boundaries that avoid dividing cities or leaving the original county unable to function. The bill ensures new counties maintain the same local sales tax rates for transportation as the seceding county and clarifies how property taxes and debts will be handled during the transition. These changes aim to make county formation more structured and financially responsible while protecting the viability of both the new and remaining counties.
HB 363 requires municipalities holding prescriptive water easements to file detailed notices with county recorders about the easement's use and location. It allows cities to take control of easements if owners intend to abandon them, and permits converting easement use after mailing notices to affected landowners, waiting 120 days, and ensuring the change doesn't burden landowners, interfere with other easements, or expand the easement size. The bill directly affects municipalities managing water infrastructure and landowners whose properties are subject to these easements. It makes procedural changes to existing law without altering water rights or requiring new funding.
SB 176 requires Utah state agencies to purchase electric-powered landscape maintenance equipment when replacing old gasoline-powered equipment for routine outdoor care (like mowing or trimming) on state government grounds. It applies specifically to properties in counties classified as first or second class with less than 50,000 square feet of maintained grounds. Exceptions allow exemptions if electric equipment is impractical due to terrain features or during emergencies. The law takes effect on May 6, 2026, and does not appropriate new funding.
SB 78 modifies Utah's property tax relief programs, effective 2027, primarily affecting renters, homeowners, and elderly property owners. It expands eligibility for a renter's credit and adds a two-year recency requirement for homeowner credits and indigent abatements, while prohibiting multiple forms of relief (with exceptions). Key changes include removing annual inflation adjustments for homeowner credits, extending delinquency periods to 10 years for seniors 70+, and setting a 6% interest rate for seniors 65+. The bill also requires counties to provide clearer information about deferral programs and tax relief options on official notices.
SB 97 limits how much surplus funds cities and counties can accumulate in their general funds (capping it at 25% of annual revenue) and changes residential property tax rules. It restricts property tax exemptions to one primary residence per household, requires homeowners to reapply for exemptions if ownership changes or eligibility is questioned, and creates a presumption that business-owned property doesn't qualify for residential exemptions. The bill also prohibits using property tax revenue for capital improvement reserves after a set date and adjusts how property value increases are counted for tax calculations. These changes directly affect local governments managing tax revenues and homeowners seeking property tax exemptions.
SB 187 requires public funds recipients (landlords receiving state housing funds who own 50+ rental units) to offer rent reporting to tenants at lease signing and annually. Tenants can enroll or unenroll in rent reporting at any time, but must pay a fee not exceeding the actual cost of the service. If a tenant fails to pay the fee or opts out, they cannot rejoin the program for six months. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and applies only to qualifying landlords, not all rental properties.
HB 411 requires Utah's attorney general to petition the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by December 31, 2026, to establish a three-digit dialing code for the National Human Trafficking Hotline. This would simplify access for Utah residents seeking help with human trafficking or reporting suspected cases, as the hotline currently uses a 10-digit number. If approved, the attorney general would coordinate with phone providers and run public education campaigns about the new dialing code. The bill explicitly states Utah cannot control phone numbering resources or mandate call routing, operating strictly within federal authority. This change aims to improve accessibility to a federally operated hotline without altering its existing structure.
