Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 217: Local Food Amendments

SB 217 simplifies regulations for local food producers by redefining raw milk and raw milk products as "homemade food" under Utah's Home Consumption and Homemade Food Act. It removes signage requirements for direct-to-sale farmers markets, clarifies when producers can sell homemade foods at such locations, and exempts these sales from state sales tax. The bill also ensures producers retain ownership of their products sold through representatives and repeals previous Department of Agriculture regulations governing raw milk. These changes primarily affect small-scale food producers, farmers markets, and local direct-to-consumer food businesses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts homemade food sales from state sales tax, providing tax relief for small producers under Agriculture regulations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 37: Used Oil Management Act Amendments

HB 37 amends Utah's Used Oil Management Act to increase the recycling fee on lubricating oil sales starting July 1, 2026, and grants the Division of Waste Management rulemaking authority to set future fees beginning July 1, 2027. The bill requires the Division to notify the State Tax Commission 90 days before any fee change takes effect and clarifies that grant funds can be used to hire permitted transporters for curbside used oil collection programs. It directly affects lubricating oil vendors who must collect and remit the fees, and supports used oil collection programs through updated incentive payment rules. The changes take effect May 6, 2026, with the new fee structure beginning July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases recycling fee (tax) on lubricating oil sales, generating state revenue. Establishes fiscal management procedures (notification to Tax Commission, rulemaking authority) for fee adjustments, supporting budget stability.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases recycling fees for used oil, mandates proper disposal via higher costs, and clarifies grant funds for curbside collection programs to promote environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 318: Agency Fee Amendments

HB 318 modifies Utah's budget procedures for state agencies that charge other state agencies for services (internal service fund agencies). It requires these agencies to submit detailed rate data to the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget and Legislative Fiscal Analyst *before* billing other agencies, including cost breakdowns and justification for fees. The bill also mandates annual reports on actual costs and revenue for each fee charged. These changes aim to increase transparency around interagency billing without appropriating new funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates transparency in agency fee structures and cost reporting, promoting fiscal accountability within state budget procedures per subjects listed.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 290: Child Tax Credit Amendments

HB 290 expands Utah's child tax credit by raising income thresholds where the credit begins to phase out. It increases the phaseout limits to $30,500 for married filing separately, $49,000 for single/head of household, and $61,000 for joint filers (up from $27,000, $43,000, and $54,000, respectively). This change directly affects Utah taxpayers with qualifying children who previously saw their credit reduced due to higher income. The bill maintains the $1,000-per-child credit amount but allows more families to claim the full credit, with retrospective effect for 2026 tax years. The change takes effect May 6, 2026, and requires no new state funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRaises income thresholds for child tax credit phaseout, expanding eligibility for middle-income families and providing tax relief per Utah's tax policy framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 537: Olympic Ticket Sales Tax Exemption

HB 537 exempts sales of tickets for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games from Utah's sales and use tax. This directly affects ticket buyers purchasing tickets for these specific events. The bill amends existing tax code sections to add Olympic tickets as a defined exemption, making them tax-free like other listed exemptions (e.g., certain food sales or religious institution transactions). The exemption applies only to tickets for the 2034 Games and does not involve new state spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts Olympic ticket sales from tax, providing tax relief as a standard exemption per tax code amendments.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 313: Recidivism Amendments

SB 313 amends Utah's Adult Probation and Parole Employment Incentive Program to tie funding to measurable outcomes. It defines key terms like "parole employment rate" and "recidivism percentage," then requires regional probation/parole offices to report annual employment rates and reoffending data. Regions earn funding by showing improved employment rates for people on parole/probation compared to baselines, calculated by multiplying the rate difference by the region's average daily population and $2,500. However, funding is reduced to zero if recidivism increases compared to the previous year, directly affecting how probation/parole departments allocate resources to support employment programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTies public funding to measurable outcomes (employment rates) for probation/parole programs, promoting fiscal accountability and efficient use of public funds per 'Public Funds and Accounts' subject.92% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ties funding to reduced recidivism through employment metrics, directly targeting rehabilitation outcomes per its summary and subjects.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 575: Fuel Tax and Supply Amendments

HB 575 reduces Utah's motor fuel tax rate and requires refineries to report production data to the Office of Energy Development. The bill establishes new permitting rules for oil and gas infrastructure projects, including a 120-day processing timeline for applications and coordination between state agencies. These changes directly affect refineries, oil and gas companies building pipelines or storage facilities, and fuel consumers through tax adjustments. The bill appropriates $11.9 million for implementation in fiscal year 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces motor fuel tax rate (tax relief) and addresses tax policy via Motor Fuel Taxes subject, directly advancing fiscal policy for consumers/businesses.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyReduces motor fuel tax and eases oil/gas infrastructure permits, favoring fossil fuels over renewable energy policies per bill's focus on Fossil Fuels and Motor Fuel Taxes.90% confidence ✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationReduces motor fuel tax, a primary transportation funding source, without allocating funds for infrastructure maintenance or improvements.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 162: Online Sales Tax Amendments

SB 162 adds a sales tax to online digital content, including subscription-based streaming services like Netflix or Spotify. It affects companies providing digital video/audio services and their customers who purchase these subscriptions. The bill clarifies that transactions already subject to a multi-channel video service tax remain exempt from this new tax. These changes update Utah's sales tax rules for digital services without requiring new state spending.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdds sales tax on digital services, generating new state revenue without new spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility and revenue generation.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyAdds sales tax to digital services like streaming, increasing costs for tech companies and consumers, restricting market activity without advancing tech innovation or protections.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 112: Utah Exemptions Act Modifications

SB 112 modifies Utah's Exemptions Act to protect certain federal tax refunds from being seized by creditors. It specifically allows individuals with unsecured debt to keep the full amount of federal income tax refunds linked to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit, whether the refund is refundable or reduces their tax liability. This change directly affects low-income Utah residents who rely on these credits, ensuring these refunds remain exempt from collection efforts. The bill makes no other policy changes beyond this targeted exemption and technical updates to existing law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProtects EITC/Child Tax Credit refunds for low-income residents, preventing creditor seizure and providing tax relief per bill's explicit purpose.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 185: Child Welfare Parental Representation Program Amendments

SB 185 amends Utah's Child Welfare Parental Representation Program to expand support for attorneys representing parents in child welfare cases. The bill directly affects parental representation attorneys, particularly those serving indigent parents, by removing the requirement that they must be contracted with the program and allowing the program to provide education, support, and grants for indigent defense services. Key provisions include enabling the program to administer existing interdisciplinary representation services, manage its budget based on prior-year spending (instead of estimated needs), and provide guidance on attorneys' professional duties. The changes aim to streamline program operations without new state funding, effective May 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates program grants for indigent defense services, increasing government funding for legal aid under child welfare programs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes