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

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 236: Truth in Taxation Amendments

HB 236 requires local governments (like cities and school districts) proposing property tax increases to follow specific transparency steps. It mandates that these entities make a public statement about considering a tax hike before approval and submit two budgets: one without the proposed tax revenue and another including it if approved. The bill also clarifies the State Tax Commission's power to reject increases that don't meet these requirements. This directly affects how local taxing entities plan and present property tax changes, aiming to increase public accountability without new funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPromotes fiscal responsibility through transparency requirements for local property tax increases, ensuring accountability in budgeting processes.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 410: Water Leasing Amendments

HB 410 establishes the Great Salt Lake Preservation Program and its governing board to manage water leasing specifically for preserving Great Salt Lake. It appropriates $5 million (nonlapsing) for the program, creates streamlined leasing processes for water dedicated to the lake, and authorizes the board to enforce leases and address violations. The bill defines key terms, requires reporting by the board and state engineer, and sets a sunset date for the program. It directly affects water rights holders and entities leasing water for Great Salt Lake preservation, focusing on concrete administrative and funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5M nonlapsing for Great Salt Lake preservation program, directly funding a state initiative under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes Great Salt Lake Preservation Program with $5M funding, streamlined leasing, and enforcement to protect the lake's ecosystem and water rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 447: Tobacco Amendments

HB 447 allows remote sales (online, phone, mail) of cigars and pipe tobacco in Utah while establishing new regulatory requirements. It directly affects remote sellers of these products, requiring them to obtain licenses, post bonds, collect state taxes, and comply with reporting rules. The bill creates specific licensing and tax collection mechanisms for these transactions, with criminal penalties for non-compliance. It does not appropriate new funds and updates Utah's tobacco tax code to include these remote sales channels. The law applies to all consumers purchasing cigars or pipe tobacco online within Utah.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires remote tobacco sellers to collect state taxes, updating tax code to close revenue gaps, promoting fiscal responsibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted other

signed · Utah · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 16: Tax Credit Review Process Amendments

SB 16 amends the process for agricultural businesses to claim tax refunds on motor fuel used for nonhighway farming activities. It requires claimants to retain original invoices as proof and limits each business to one annual refund claim. The bill specifies that refunds are processed only after commission approval of the claim. This directly affects farmers and agricultural operations purchasing fuel for off-highway use, streamlining their existing refund procedure without creating new tax credits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends tax credit process to require proof and limit claims, closing potential loopholes for fiscal responsibility without creating new tax credits.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes