Transportation (Public Transit)

SB 243 amends tax increment financing rules for public transit-oriented developments in designated counties. It limits new projects to a 1/3-mile radius of transit hubs, restricts total project area to 125 noncontiguous acres, and caps the capture of property tax increases at 50% (not 80%) over a 15-year period per parcel. These changes apply specifically to projects approved under the bill's framework within a 30-year overall timeline. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Rules Committee after committee recommendations failed.

SB 291 amends Utah's student transportation rules to expand eligibility for state-funded bus service. It defines "hazardous routes" (e.g., high-speed roads without sidewalks, multi-lane highways, or dangerous intersections) and creates new eligibility: students in kindergarten-grade 6 living ≥1.5 miles from school, or students in middle school (grades 6-12) living ≥2 miles away. Crucially, it adds eligibility for students in certain counties if their walking route is hazardous, regardless of distance. The bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 to fund transportation for students on hazardous routes, requiring school districts to respond to parent petitions within 30 days. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

SB 242 amends Utah's transportation laws to affect local governments, commercial vehicle operators, and public transit agencies. It allows cities to restrict mobile food businesses on temporarily closed streets during events, requires heavier electric trucks (6,001+ lbs) to pay higher road usage fees, and exempts buses from lane restriction rules when stopping at designated stops. The bill also provides sales tax exemptions for transit construction materials, mandates local governments to report highway fund spending, and updates towing fee rules and disaster response authority for transportation agencies. These changes focus on operational flexibility, funding mechanisms, and safety adjustments without altering tax rates or creating new revenue streams.

HB 436 modifies reporting requirements for municipalities implementing moderate income housing strategies and adds a new transportation priority. It requires municipalities to submit detailed annual reports tracking housing strategies, new home construction, and zoning changes, with stricter compliance standards for those without public transit stations. Crucially, it grants priority consideration for transportation projects if a municipality adds 2.5% or more new residential units annually. The bill affects all "specified municipalities" defined under Utah law, with no new state funding required. It takes effect May 6, 2026, and makes technical updates to existing housing reporting codes.