Welcome to the 2026 Legislative Session. This brief is a UTIA-member benefit. If there is interest in receiving this tracker please refer to becoming a member by clicking here. |
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| June Interim Session Updates |
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| | Utah Legislative Interim meetings will take place monthly through November and provide lawmakers with opportunities to review policy issues, hear presentations, and begin shaping legislation ahead of the 2027 General Session.
Below is a recap of the industry-related topics that were discussed in committees this month. |
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| | | | | Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee
State Parks Capital Projects Update & State Parks Fees The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee received an update from Scott Strong, Director, and Devan Chavez, Deputy Director, on capital projects, park improvements, and fee-setting practices.
Utah State Parks has operated under a legislative directive since 2012 to become operationally self-funded. Revenue generated through annual passes, camping reservations, overnight lodging, and day-use fees is reinvested directly into park operations, maintenance, and visitor enhancements. Since 2020, the Legislature has approved more than $318 million for State Parks capital projects and initiatives.
The presentation also reviewed State Parks’ fee-setting process, noting that fees are evaluated individually based on operational needs and market conditions. Transient room taxes and sales taxes are being generated and collected on applicable transactions. To provide predictability for visitors and park operations, fee adjustments are generally reviewed and implemented at the beginning of each calendar year rather than during peak summer travel periods of the state’s fiscal budget year. |
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| Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee
Olympic Facilities Background The Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee received an update on Olympic facility operations and ongoing state support for venue maintenance and capital improvements.
Andy Marr, Division Director for the Division of Facilities Construction and Management within the Department of Government Operations, and Colin Hilton, President and CEO of the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (UOLF), presented background on Olympic facilities and related funding.
Under SB 6, the base budget includes $3 million in ongoing pass-through funding to the UOLF for facility repairs and capital improvements. UOLF is responsible for maintaining key Olympic legacy venues, including the Utah Olympic Oval, Utah Olympic Park, and Soldier Hollow.
While the 2034 Winter Olympic Games will be primarily supported through private funding, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation system continues to rely on state pass-through dollars to preserve and maintain existing infrastructure and ensure long-term venue readiness. Recent pass-through funding to the Provo Peaks Ice Area, Weber County Sports Complex, and West Valley City’s Maverik Center was also highlighted. |
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| Legislative Audit Subcommittee
A Performance Audit of Salt Lake City Airport Cybersecurity The Legislative Audit Committee reviewed a performance audit examining cybersecurity practices at Salt Lake City International Airport following a December 2024 cyberattack. While no sensitive data was reported stolen and operational impacts were limited, auditors found the event exposed significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Salt Lake City officials agreed with many of the recommendations and highlighted improvements already made since the incident, including personnel changes, enhanced cybersecurity tools, and updated security protocols.
The audit was referred to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee as the lead committee and the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee review committee. |
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| Off-Highway Vehicle Funds The Legislative Audit Committee reviewed a performance audit of Utah’s Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Funds, which support the Off-Highway Vehicle Program and OHV Grant Program primarily through OHV registration fees and fuel tax revenues. The Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) administers the programs and is statutorily required to provide law enforcement on OHV trails.
The audit was prompted by concerns from members of the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Council that rapidly increasing law enforcement costs were reducing funding available for trail maintenance and other OHV-related purposes. While the audit found that law enforcement expenditures increased by 185% since 2021, much of that growth was attributed to improved expense tracking and the restructuring of the DOR’s dedicated law enforcement division. Auditors found that funding for trail maintenance has not declined despite the increase in law enforcement costs.
Committee members noted ongoing concerns within the OHV community that these funds were originally lobbied to be dedicated primarily to OHV trail maintenance. Joel Ferry, DNR Director, and Jason Curry, DOR Director, responded to the audit findings. Speaker Mike Schultz indicated that pending legislation would be incoming and encouraged the stakeholders to work together to identify solutions. The audit was moved on to Natural Resources-based interim committees for further review and potential legislative action. |
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| | Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee
Governor’s Office of Economic Development Jeff Moss, Commissioner, and Natalie Randall, Deputy Commissioner & Managing Director of Tourism & Film, presented on the new Utah Elevated, a strategic plan designed to guide statewide economic development over the coming decade.
Natalie highlighted the three economies of experience, creative, and innovation that provide Utah with a unique, competitive advantage. Experience Economy: Amenity-driven ecosystem, built on our visitor economy investments, that produces global recognition and our world-class lifestyle. Creative Economy: Culture and industry ecosystem, built on our film industry and cultural and community engagement that produces global exposure. Innovation Economy: Researchers, entrepreneurial ecosystem, built on targeted industry engagement. Startup State and Nucleus that produces Utah’s leadership in business creation and investments.
Note: H.B. 475 formally changed the name of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) back to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). |
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| Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee
Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Report - "Utah's Growing Share of Nonprimary Residential Property Tax" The committee received a presentation from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on their latest property tax publication “Utah’s Growing Share of Nonprimary Residential Property Tax.”
Presenters highlighted that nonprimary residential properties, including second homes and vacation properties, accounted for 8.6% of all property taxes paid in 2024, totaling approximately $481 million. This makes nonprimary residential property the third-largest property tax category, behind primary residential properties (52.6%) and business real property (21.1%).
Report Summary Growing Share - Nonprimary residential property growing as a share of property tax, assessed value and parcel counts Concentrated impacts - Concentrated in tourism-heavy counties (particularly Summit, Wasatch, and Washington) Tax rates falling faster than for primary residential property - Nonprimary residential property tends to concentrate in higher market value areas with larger tax bases and generate sufficient revenue with lower property tax rates.
Committee members expressed interest in additional research, including analysis that incorporates Utah’s special districts into future data sets. |
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| Business and Labor Interim Committee
The Business and Labor Interim Committee heard presentations from staff and stakeholders related to consumer protection issues.
Consumer Protection Issues: Ticket Pricing Rep. Norm Thurston joined Noelle and Keith Stubbs, owners of Wiseguys Comedy Clubs, to discuss challenges related to ticket resale and fraudulent chargebacks. These issues are increasingly affecting businesses that operate in card-not-present environments, including event venues, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses. |
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| Consumer Protection Issues: Unfair and Deceptive Pricing There was a brief discussion with the committee regarding HB 29, a bill addressing unfair and deceptive pricing practices. While the bill passed the House during the 2026 General Session, it stalled in the Senate. Senator Vickers, the Senate sponsor, indicated he is continuing to work with stakeholders on potential revisions and expects the conversation to continue during interim meetings, with further discussion anticipated in August. |
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