SB 135 amends Utah's energy development laws to establish a formal process for nuclear fuel recycling facility planning. It authorizes the Office of Energy Development to coordinate with private companies and local communities on facility development, and the Utah Energy Council to provide strategic guidance and preliminary assessments. The bill requires both agencies to include annual reports on their nuclear fuel recycling activities in their existing annual reports. These changes directly affect state energy agencies, private entities seeking to develop nuclear recycling facilities, and local communities near proposed sites. The bill makes no funding changes and focuses on procedural coordination rather than altering facility operations or environmental standards.
HB 128 removes the requirement for drivers to use turn signals when entering, navigating, or exiting roundabouts in Utah. This change directly affects all drivers using roundabouts statewide by simplifying a previously mandated signaling step. The bill amends Utah Code Section 41-6a-804 to explicitly exempt roundabouts from standard turn-signal rules, while maintaining other signaling requirements for lane changes and turns elsewhere. It makes no changes to vehicle safety standards or penalties for other traffic violations. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, after legislative passage.
HB 337 increases taxes on cigarettes and changes how taxes are calculated for other nicotine products. It raises the cigarette tax rate and shifts taxation for moist snuff and alternative nicotine products from a weight-based system to a percentage of the manufacturer's sales price. The bill also repeals tax reductions previously available for certain modified-risk tobacco products. These changes directly affect tobacco manufacturers, retailers, and consumers who purchase these products in Utah.
HB 238 requires Utah's Public Service Commission to actively participate in regional electricity markets (like regional transmission organizations and independent system operators) when Utah utilities are members. It mandates the Commission to access market data, contract for independent analysis of impacts, and submit annual reports to the legislature by November 30 each year detailing costs, burdens on Utah customers, and regional reliance on Utah infrastructure. The bill also requires the Commission to notify lawmakers within 30 days if denied access to data or processes available to other states. These provisions directly affect Utah's electricity customers and utilities by enhancing transparency and accountability in regional energy markets. The bill takes effect May 6, 2026.
HB 185 establishes new rules and funds for carbon credit transactions in Utah. It creates a Carbon Credit Investment Fund funded by a 19% assessment on carbon credit sales (administered by the State Tax Commission) and a Carbon Credit Litigation Fund. The bill requires carbon credit brokers to hold licenses, imposes criminal penalties for unlicensed sales, and gives the Office of Energy Development a right of first refusal to purchase in-state carbon credits. State agencies must report carbon credit details and deposit sale revenue into the General Fund, while 5% of the Investment Fund’s annual earnings go to rural counties and eligible rural colleges meeting specific enrollment and completion rate criteria.
SB 174 allows health care providers, institutions, and payers in Utah to refuse participation in certain medical services (like pregnancy termination disposal) based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. It requires providers who refuse such services to notify their institution and prohibits retaliation, discrimination, or adverse actions against them for exercising this right. The bill also shields these individuals from civil, criminal, or administrative liability and mandates health care payers to disclose services they won’t cover due to conscience objections. It defines key terms like "conscience" and "adverse action" to clarify protections and enforcement mechanisms. The bill makes no changes to funding and applies to all covered health care entities under Utah law.
HB 204 requires Utah colleges and universities to reasonably accommodate students' sincerely held religious or conscience-based requests, such as excusing absences from exams or offering alternative assignments. It mandates institutions to establish clear policies for handling these requests, including requiring prior notice from students, maintaining confidentiality, and designating neutral reviewers for denied requests. Accommodations cannot fundamentally alter course requirements or negatively impact academic standards. The bill also requires institutions to publish their policies online and coordinate with related legislation (S.B. 207).
HB 312 requires Utah public schools to implement "spiral instruction" on foundational U.S. civics documents (including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Federalist Papers) for all K-12 students. Starting in the 2028-2029 school year, schools must teach these documents repeatedly through the grades, with content growing more complex each year to build deeper understanding of their historical context, principles, and relevance to current events. The State Board of Education must develop core standards ensuring this instruction aligns with students' developmental levels and integrates with existing social studies curricula. This policy directly affects all Utah public school districts and their K-12 students, with no new state funding allocated.
HB 251 clarifies procedures for submitting and verifying historical water claims on homestead parcels in Utah. It creates a rebuttable presumption that water use on homesteads is valid unless challenged, streamlining the process for landowners with longstanding, unrecorded water rights. The bill defines key terms, requires specific documentation for claims (like engineering surveys), and sets clear steps for the state engineer to review claims and handle disputes. This directly affects Utah homeowners and farmers who have used water on homestead property without formal permits but lack recorded water rights.
HB 389 amends Utah's medical cannabis laws to simplify licensing for processors, allowing them to make cannabinoid (hemp) products without an extra license. It creates a new fee on medical cannabis purchases for enforcement, moves oversight of the medical cannabis program to the Department of Agriculture and Food, and allows low-THC products (under 0.3% THC) to be sold by pharmacies. The bill also enables patients to get medical cannabis cards via virtual doctor visits and renames the licensing board to the Specialized Product Authority Licensing Board. These changes directly affect medical cannabis processors, pharmacies, patients, and state agencies managing the program.
SB 209 designates Gooseberry Narrows as a state park upon meeting three conditions: the Division of State Parks managing all federally-owned land there, completing a feasibility study by November 2026, and securing legislative funding. The bill requires the Division to study dam feasibility, land acquisition costs, and water rights needs, then report findings to the Natural Resources Committee. It authorizes the Division to acquire land via donations, exchanges, or purchases, coordinate with the U.S. Forest Service for land management, and consult with local governments holding property or water rights in the area. The bill has no funding attached and takes effect May 2026.
HB 323 creates a new program to manage solar panel waste in Utah, directly affecting solar installers, panel owners, and waste facilities. It requires installers to register with the Waste Management Division and pay fees, mandates panel owners to test for hazards and dispose of panels at approved sites starting July 2027, and authorizes the Waste Management Board to set testing and disposal rules. The bill also establishes a dedicated waste account, requires detailed disclosures from solar retailers about disposal, and mandates annual reports to lawmakers. No new funding is appropriated for this program.
