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 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 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 · 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