Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 2: New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations

This bill provides supplemental budget funding for Utah state government agencies and institutions for fiscal year 2027, totaling approximately $1.16 billion in operating and capital budgets. It directly affects state departments including corrections, criminal justice, higher education, and various administrative offices by increasing or decreasing their allocated funds. The legislation authorizes specific employment levels for internal service funds and outlines funding sources from the General Fund, Income Tax Fund, and various restricted accounts. Money is distributed across programs such as jail reimbursement, indigent defense services, prison operations, and children's justice centers, with some line items showing budget reductions alongside increases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides $1.16B in supplemental funding for state agencies including corrections, education, and administrative offices, directly advancing budget appropriations and government spending.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 190: Child Care Business Tax Credit

HB 190 expands Utah's tax credit for employers providing child care by increasing the credit rate for small businesses to 30% (from 10%) of eligible child care costs and allowing credits for off-site child care facilities employers don't own. It removes a previous requirement that employers must have claimed a construction-related credit to qualify for the child care credit. The bill directly affects Utah employers who provide child care for employees, particularly small businesses meeting IRS Section 45F criteria. The changes apply retroactively and make no new state funding appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit for small businesses, reducing their tax burden and supporting workforce services through child care.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax credit for employer child care, reducing costs for small businesses to provide this key workplace benefit, aligning with workforce support indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 329: State Employee Maternity and Leave Amendments

HB 329 increases state employee paid leave for childbirth, adoption, and foster care. It extends postpartum recovery leave from 3 to 9 weeks and adds 9 weeks of paid leave for adopting children under six, plus 3 weeks for fostering children under six. School districts (LEAs) can apply for reimbursement through a new program if they implement similar paid leave policies for their employees, with $3 million appropriated for fiscal year 2027. The bill also updates the Breastfeeding Protection Act to include breast pump use and requires the Department of Human Resource Management to establish rules for administering these leave provisions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3 million for LEA reimbursement program, directly funding a new state budget line item to support paid leave policies for employees.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $3M for school districts to implement paid leave for staff, directly supporting educators through funding and retention benefits, aligning with education support indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases paid maternity/foster care leave and funds reimbursement, improving access to postpartum health services and aligning with breastfeeding protections.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands state employee paid leave benefits (postpartum, adoption, foster care), adds new protections, and funds LEA reimbursement programs, directly advancing worker benefits and protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 425: Local Government Fees Amendments

HB 425 restricts how Utah cities and towns can charge certain fees. It bars cities from imposing general fees for broadband internet or public safety services (like police/fire) on the public, with limited exceptions (e.g., fees for bonds issued before 2026 must end by 2027). Similarly, towns cannot charge general fees for public safety services, except for existing fees tied to agreements between towns or volunteer services, which must be renewed every three years. The bill also creates a new process for municipalities to establish transportation utility fees (for services like roads), requiring annual reviews, appeal mechanisms, and local referendums for new fees.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts local fee imposition for broadband/public safety, limiting municipal revenue sources under local taxation and fees.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBars local fees for broadband internet, reducing costs and supporting access to technology services per bill's focus on broadband fees.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

signed · Utah · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 390: Veterans PTSD Clinical Research Amendments

HB 390 authorizes Utah's Huntsman Mental Health Institute to conduct a clinical study on the safety and feasibility of psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD (veterans whose PTSD hasn't improved with standard treatments). The bill permits Huntsman to accept donations and grants to fund the study, requiring combined legislative appropriations and donations to reach a sufficient threshold by January 1, 2027, to begin the research. Huntsman must report findings to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee and will return unused donations by July 1, 2032. The study must comply with federal and state regulations, including FDA oversight and safety protocols for administering psychedelic drugs like MDMA or psilocybin in controlled settings. The bill makes no direct funding appropriation and focuses solely on enabling this specific research initiative.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill requires legislative appropriations to fund PTSD research, directly advancing budget allocation for a specific health program through state funding.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes clinical research on psychedelic therapy for veterans' PTSD, funding mental health treatment innovation through legislative appropriations and grants.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes clinical research on psychedelic therapy for veterans' PTSD, funding new treatment options to improve veteran healthcare access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 453: Unspent Funding Amendments

HB 453 creates a new "Unspent Balances Restricted Account" to manage state funds that would otherwise expire at fiscal year-end. It requires the Division of Finance to annually transfer specified percentages of unspent balances from various state accounts into this restricted account. The bill directs how money in this account can be used, though it does not appropriate new funds. This affects all state agencies and departments that hold unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year, ensuring those funds are redirected for specific purposes rather than returned to the general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates restricted account for unspent funds, directing efficient fiscal management without new appropriations, aligning with fiscal responsibility.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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passed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 235: Income Tax Revisions

HB 235 reduces Utah's corporate and individual income tax rates from 4.5% to 4.45% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. It directly affects Utah corporations and residents who pay state income tax, lowering their tax burden slightly. The bill amends three key tax code sections (59-7-104, 59-7-201, and 59-10-104) to reflect the new rate, with no new state funding required. The change applies retroactively to 2026 tax years and takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill reduces corporate and individual tax rates, weakening state revenue collection without new funding.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 170: School Board Referendum Amendments

HB 170 amends Utah's laws to establish a clearer process for school district residents to hold referendums on certain school board decisions. Specifically, it allows voters who live within a school district to petition for a vote on laws passed by their local school board that increase taxes or create new taxes, subject to limited exceptions. The bill defines key terms related to referendums and makes technical updates to existing statutes, but does not appropriate new funding or create new financial obligations. This directly affects school district residents seeking to challenge tax-related decisions through a voter referendum.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill requires voter approval for school tax increases, restricting school boards' authority to enact tax changes without public consent.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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failed · Utah · House Mar 7, 2026

HB 43: School Security Amendments

HB 43 creates Utah's School Safety Support Program to fund school safety measures like personnel, infrastructure, and emergency protocols. It directs state funding to school districts and charter schools based on enrollment (with a 20% equal share for all charters and 80% per student), requiring schools to submit safety plans and annual reports to receive funds. The bill protects this program from funding cuts during enrollment declines and adds it to existing education programs eligible for annual inflation adjustments. No new money is appropriated - funding comes from existing state education budgets. The program applies to all public schools meeting safety requirements under Utah's School Security Act.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for school safety program, protects from budget cuts, and directs appropriations toward K-12 safety measures per enrollment metrics.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state-funded school safety program with mandatory safety plans and protected funding, directly supporting school infrastructure and operations under education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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