All Roll Calls
Yes: 215 • No: 14
UtahH.B. 5452026 General SessionHouseWALLET
Budgetary Modifications
Sponsored By: Val L. Peterson (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Public Funds and AccountsPublic BudgetingEnergyLegislative OperationsLegislative OrganizationGovernment Operations (State Issues)AppropriationsGovernor's Office of Economic OpportunityGrant Programs and IncentivesState Auditor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 7 mixed.
More funding tools for energy projects
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state creates an Energy Development Infrastructure Fund to lend to public entities for nuclear power infrastructure. Loans must be secured and may not exceed 0.5% above state bond rates. The Electrical Energy Development Investment Fund becomes a special revenue fund fed by specified property tax differentials and radioactive waste‑related taxes. Subject to appropriation, the council can use it for transmission, pipelines, storage, generation, nuclear research, site selection, permitting, outreach, district energy, federal matches, workforce, incentives, and admin. The environmental department may use up to 10% of the portion from the radioactive waste expansion tax for permitting reforms.
State business loans and grants with guardrails
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state creates an Industrial Assistance Account to fund loans, grants, and other aid. Businesses must apply on the approved form, show state benefits and coordination, and spend at least $1 in‑state for each $1 of support each year. Loan applicants must show how they will repay; loans must return at least the assistance plus annual interest. The administrator may exempt targeted industries or specified quasi‑public corporations from some requirements. At year‑end, up to $50,000,000 of General Fund surplus can be set aside to match earned credits, but it cannot be used until the Legislature appropriates it.
New grants to preserve farms and open land
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state runs a new Working Farm and Ranch Account to preserve open and farm land. Local entities, the natural resources department, its units, and 501(c)(3) charities can get grants. Money can fund conservation easements or similar tools, not full ownership buys, except for parcels 20 acres or less. In counties with over 50% public land, a small fee purchase must be paired with a similar private-to-private land transfer. Recipients must provide a dollar‑for‑dollar match. The board must put working ag land first, and may give DNR up to 20% of each annual increase for wildlife or watershed work. Projects need consent from the local land use authority; if no action in 60 days, consent is assumed. That consent is not a land use decision under city or county land use acts. Grants over $1,000,000 require a report to the Legislative Management Committee before award. Each year, the board must send an itemized report of every disbursement and its conditions to two legislative subcommittees.
Public Safety restricted account and carryover
Starting July 1, 2026, the state creates a Department of Public Safety restricted account inside the Transportation Fund. It holds certain receipts, fees, appropriations, and interest. With legislative approval, the money can pay department expenses and training facility costs, and amounts above $45 of certain fees go to specified implementation. Appropriations from this account are nonlapsing, so unspent balances can carry over.
Rollback taxes locked for land preservation
From July 1, 2026, counties must deposit 100% of rollback tax funds into a special county fund for preserving or restoring open and farm land. Counties can use the money for conservation easements and similar tools. Fee purchases in public land counties are limited unless a similar private land swap happens at the same time. Eminent domain may not be used or threatened. Money can roll over, but if not spent or obligated within 10 years, the balance must go to the state Working Farm and Ranch Account.
New funding for Colorado River work
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state provides $1.64 million from the General Fund to the Office of the Governor for the Colorado River Authority of Utah for FY2027 (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027). This adds money to the authority’s line item for that year.
Some old accounts and programs repealed
The law repeals several named statutes and restricted accounts. This removes the legal authority for those specific programs and funds and winds down or shifts their activities.
Tighter rules and reports for state grants
From July 1, 2026, agencies must get a detailed budget and payment schedule before paying grants. They should not pay all funds at once unless performance is met, and final payment waits for the final report and approved deliverables. Multi‑year grants are capped at five years and need yearly progress reports. Every grant agreement must include schedule, deliverables, metrics, a legislative‑appropriation clause, and consent to audits and clawbacks. Direct award grants count only if the appropriation names the recipient class; admin costs need express approval. Competitive applicants must disclose other state funding, and cannot get overlapping grants for the same purpose and time. Agencies may spend dedicated‑credits revenue above appropriations only in limited cases with strict conditions.
Conservation division and stewardship fund created
On July 1, 2026, the state creates a Division of Conservation to staff the board, coordinate with local districts, and help manage easements. The division sunsets July 1, 2027 unless extended. The law also creates an Agriculture Conservation Easement Fund for monitoring and enforcement, funded by fees, grants, donations, and interest. Donations in that fund cannot be used to acquire easements. The Land Conservation Board must run the program, cannot use regulatory power, and must use ranking rules like named USDA programs. Key program definitions are updated starting July 1, 2026.
Grants to protect Camp Williams area
Beginning July 1, 2026, the sentinel landscape coordinating committee can seek grants from the Working Farm and Ranch Account to protect Camp Williams’ mission and support voluntary, compatible land uses. If the committee spent state money in the prior calendar year, it must send a written report by July 31 each year to the governor and two legislative committees.
New limits on account-funded land buys
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state bans using or threatening eminent domain for any purchase made with money from the LeRay McAllister account. Property owners cannot be forced to sell because account money is involved. The law also blocks splitting a parcel over 20 acres into smaller pieces just to meet the small‑parcel purchase exception. These changes add owner protections and stop gaming of the program.
Colorado River Authority fund moves
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Division of Finance may transfer $1,638,500 into the Colorado River Authority Restricted Account for FY2027. After FY2026 closeout, any balances left in that restricted account move to the Governor’s Colorado River Authority line item. If both this law and the separate Colorado River Authority Amendments become law, the related Section 34 appropriations do not take effect.
Shift in state energy funding
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state cuts $5 million from the Office of Energy Development for FY2026 (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026). At the same time, it adds $5 million to the Energy Development Infrastructure Fund for that same fiscal year. This shifts money from the office to loans or projects in the fund.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Val L. Peterson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Jerry W Stevenson
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 66 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 29 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 1
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 71 • No: 1
House vote • 2/26/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 2/20/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 7 • No: 3
House vote • 2/20/2026
House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 7 • No: 3
House vote • 2/20/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 1
House vote • 2/20/2026
House Comm - Reconsider actions
Yes: 7 • No: 3
House vote • 2/20/2026
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 9 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/25/2026House/ to Governor
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/11/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/11/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/7/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/7/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/6/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/6/2026HouseSenate/ 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
3/5/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/5/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/5/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
3/4/2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ substituted
3/4/2026SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
3/3/2026
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/11/2026
Substitute #4
3/5/2026
Substitute #3
3/3/2026
Substitute #2
2/25/2026
Substitute #1
2/19/2026
Introduced
2/11/2026
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