HB 507 establishes a State Reinvestment Restricted Account to collect and manage funds from specific economic development activities. It prohibits local governments from offering incentives for large data centers (with exceptions), creates new development zones for housing, transit, and other projects, and requires counties/cities to follow specific rules for zone creation and funding. The bill sets a 2028 deadline for creating certain zones like home ownership promotion areas and coordinates with another economic development bill (H.B. 475). It affects local governments, counties, cities, and the Utah Inland Port Authority by modifying how they manage economic development projects and tax increment funds.
HB 544 requires Utah counties to accept and process plan review applications for single-family dwellings on "qualifying parcels" (land created before county land use ordinances or meeting specific zoning and development criteria) that are not part of a subdivision. The bill mandates counties to review such applications if the proposed building meets setback requirements, utility approvals, health department reviews (where required), and street frontage dedication. It directly affects landowners seeking to build single-family homes on qualifying parcels and counties that must now follow these standardized review procedures. The bill does not require counties to provide infrastructure or alter existing land use authority, focusing solely on streamlining the application process for eligible parcels.
HCR 14 is a Utah legislative resolution urging Congress to allow limited transfers of specific federally managed lands for affordable housing. It requests that Congress authorize the sale or exchange of unreserved federal lands located near existing communities and infrastructure (like roads and utilities) to support moderate-income housing development. The resolution emphasizes that such land transfers must prioritize responsible stewardship and avoid expanding development into remote or environmentally sensitive areas. It does not create new laws or allocate funds, but formally asks Utah's congressional delegation to support this approach. The resolution directly affects federal land management policy and Utah's housing strategy for moderate-income residents.
HB 568 limits local governments in Utah from imposing impact fees exceeding $50,000 for any single type of public facility (like parks or roads) on development projects. It directly affects developers paying these fees and local governments setting them, ensuring fees cannot exceed this cap for a specific facility type. The bill amends Utah law to prohibit fees above $50,000 per facility type while maintaining existing exemptions, such as no fees for school districts on parks or for certain state-owned developments. This change aims to cap development costs for specific infrastructure needs without creating new fees.
HB 478 updates Utah's landlord-tenant laws to clarify obligations for both landlords and renters. It requires landlords to provide 60 days' written notice before rent increases (except for month-to-month leases or low-income housing), disclose all fees and rent estimates upfront in writing, and limit late fees to $75 or 10% of rent, whichever is greater. The bill also mandates written move-in inspections and specifies that landlords must detail all non-rent costs (like utilities) before a lease is signed. These changes directly affect all residential landlords and renters in Utah by standardizing communication and financial disclosures in rental agreements.
SB 246 amends Utah's Homeless Services Board membership requirements to ensure local community representation when a new homeless services campus location is announced. Specifically, it requires the board to appoint a member who either lives within five miles of the campus (chosen by a community organization) or represents the west side of Salt Lake City (appointed by the Westside Coalition) within 30 days of the campus location being announced. This change directly affects the board's composition and communities near proposed campus sites. The bill makes technical adjustments to the board's structure but does not appropriate funding or alter service delivery. It focuses on procedural updates to governance rather than substantive policy changes.
HB 596 revises definitions and organizational structures related to Utah's homelessness services. It creates the Mitigation Fund Task Force and reorganizes advisory boards (renaming "Shelter Cities Advisory Board" to "Shelter Cities Coordinating Council" and similarly for counties). The bill establishes a Homeless Services Restricted Account to assist counties with homelessness programs and allows funds from leased property to cover operational costs. It makes no new funding appropriations but clarifies how existing resources can be used for homelessness services, primarily affecting counties, homeless service providers, and local governments managing shelters.
HB 506 amends Utah's assisted living facility regulations to protect residents by limiting when facilities can discharge or transfer them and creating a formal appeals process. It requires facilities to provide written notice of discharge/transfers, allows residents or their representatives to appeal to the state department within 30 days, and prohibits discharge during an appeal unless health/safety is at immediate risk. The bill specifies five allowable reasons for discharge (e.g., facility closure, resident safety threat, or failure to pay) and mandates a hearing within 30 days (or 7 days for expedited requests) before a decision is made. These changes directly affect assisted living residents and their representatives, ensuring greater transparency and due process in facility decisions.
SB 187 requires public funds recipients (landlords receiving state housing funds who own 50+ rental units) to offer rent reporting to tenants at lease signing and annually. Tenants can enroll or unenroll in rent reporting at any time, but must pay a fee not exceeding the actual cost of the service. If a tenant fails to pay the fee or opts out, they cannot rejoin the program for six months. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026, and applies only to qualifying landlords, not all rental properties.
HB 161 increases Utah's residential property tax exemption from 45% to 60% of a home's fair market value for primary residences, directly affecting homeowners who qualify for this exemption. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 59-2-103 to implement this change, contingent on voters approving a related constitutional amendment (H.J.R. 7) in the 2026 election. If approved, the exemption rate would take effect on January 1, 2027, reducing the taxable value of qualifying primary residences. This change applies only to properties used as primary residences for at least 183 days annually and limits exemptions to one primary residence per household.
