All Roll Calls
Yes: 189 • No: 0
UtahH.B. 2472026 General SessionHouseWALLET
Great Salt Lake Related Amendments
Sponsored By: Raymond P. Ward (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Natural ResourcesSeverance TaxRevenue and TaxationWaterGreat Salt Lake
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Higher brine shrimp royalty and reporting
If you harvest unprocessed brine shrimp eggs, you pay a per‑pound royalty. It is 3.25 cents per pound for tax years ending on or before January 31, 2026. It is 3.75 cents per pound for tax years beginning on or after February 1, 2026. You must report total pounds by February 15 after the tax year. The wildlife division sends totals to the Tax Commission by March 1, and the Tax Commission mails bills by March 30.
New severance tax and reporting for GSL operators
If you extract minerals from Great Salt Lake brine, you owe both a royalty and a severance tax. The severance rate is 7.8% if you use evaporative concentration and are not in a voluntary water‑rights agreement. It is 2.6% if you do not use evaporative concentration, or if you are in an agreement when last year’s recorded lake level was at least 4,198 feet; agreement operators pay no severance tax for years when last year’s level was below 4,198 feet. A 2.6% rate also applies to certain metalliferous compounds sold under royalty agreements entered on or after May 1, 2024. You must certify required data by December 31 each year; the state records lake level on June 15 for use the next year and sends tax data to the Tax Commission by January 15. For 2025–26, agreement operators may certify by May 15, 2026, and the state sends an update by June 1, 2026. If each quarterly installment is at least 25% of your prior‑year tax, no underpayment penalty applies for that quarter; the tax is due June 1.
Sovereign Lands Account and brine shrimp funds
The law creates the Sovereign Lands Management Account and lists its revenue sources, including sovereign‑lands income, special license plate fees, brine shrimp royalties, certain severance deposits, and related settlements. Each year, the first $125,000 of brine shrimp royalty goes to this account. In FY2027 and FY2028, the rest goes to the Species Protection Account unless that account reaches $800,000; starting July 1, 2028, the rest goes to the Sovereign Lands account. Beginning July 1, 2026, the division spends $125,000 as the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council directs and uses the remainder to lease water rights for the lake or fund projects that help brine shrimp. Extra severance‑tax revenue above the base rate is treated as first‑collected and any remainder goes to this account.
New Species Protection Account and grants
The law creates the Species Protection Account on July 1, 2026. The Legislature can use the money for species assessments, studies, wetlands mitigation, and related work. The department may award grants to local governments for these purposes if the Legislature approves it in an appropriation. Money in this account cannot fund a federally required habitat conservation plan unless the federal government pays at least one‑third of the cost.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Raymond P. Ward
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Carl R. Albrecht
Republican • House
John Arthur
Democratic • House
Stewart E. Barlow
Republican • House
Kay J. Christofferson
Republican • House
Paul A. Cutler
Republican • House
Jennifer Dailey-Provost
Democratic • House
Ariel Defay
Republican • House
Rosalba Dominguez
Democratic • House
Jake Fitisemanu
Democratic • House
Stephanie Gricius
Republican • House
Sahara Hayes
Democratic • House
Ken Ivory
Republican • House
Mike L. Kohler
Republican • House
Anthony E. Loubet
Republican • House
Matt MacPherson
Republican • House
Ashlee Matthews
Democratic • House
Verona Mauga
Democratic • House
Hoang Nguyen
Democratic • House
Clinton Okerlund
Republican • House
Doug Owens
Democratic • House
Nicholeen P. Peck
Republican • House
Scott D. Sandall
Republican • Senate
Jason E. Thompson
Republican • House
Stephen L. Whyte
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 21 • No: 0
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 67 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 2/17/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 71 • No: 0
House vote • 2/17/2026
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/5/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 13 • No: 0
House vote • 2/5/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/25/2026House/ to Governor
3/16/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/16/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/12/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/12/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/10/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/10/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/7/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/7/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
2/26/2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/26/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Substitute #5
3/4/2026
Substitute #4
3/3/2026
Substitute #3
2/25/2026
Substitute #2
2/17/2026
Substitute #1
2/5/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
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