All Roll Calls
Yes: 145 • No: 22
UtahH.B. 1112026 General SessionHouseWALLET
Wildlife Amendments
Sponsored By: Bridger Bolinder (Republican)
Signed by Governor
EnvironmentNatural ResourcesDepartment of Natural ResourcesWildlifeEasementsLaw Enforcement and Criminal JusticeAeronauticsWeaponsHuntingReal PropertyNew Rulemaking AuthorityOccupational and Professional Licensing
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 6 costs, 1 mixed.
Wildlife offenders must repay investigation costs
People convicted of covered wildlife or guide-and-outfitter offenses must repay documented operational expenses from the investigation. This also applies to qualifying guilty or no-contest pleas held in abeyance and qualifying diversion agreements. Covered offenses include unlawful taking, possession, or wanton destruction of protected wildlife and guide-and-outfitter violations. The payment depends on documented expenses and goes to the Poaching Mitigation Fund.
Easier medical proof for free fishing
Utah residents seeking free fishing licenses for intellectual disability or terminal illness can use more medical providers for verification. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners can verify these conditions, along with physicians. Residents with an intellectual disability must not already qualify to fish without a license. Residents with terminal illness must have less than five years to live and qualify for state-administered low-income public assistance.
More providers can verify license refunds
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners can now verify illness or injury for wildlife license, certificate, or permit refunds. Physicians can still provide verification. The illness or injury must prevent use, and the license, certificate, or permit must be unused. You must surrender it before the season ends.
Registration relief for outdoor service businesses
The law removes separate resident and nonresident spotter registrations and their related fees. It also gives outfitter businesses another way to meet the hunting or fishing license requirement. At least one person designated by the business must hold the right license for the activity.
Online notice before wildlife land purchases
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah wildlife officials must post online notice before acquiring privately held real property. Notice must appear on the division's website and a public legal notice website, replacing newspaper notice. The governor must approve the acquisition. These requirements cover purchases, donations, and other ways of acquiring title.
Utah must prevent grizzly bear establishment
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah wildlife officials must request immediate federal removal of grizzlies found where they are federally listed. The state must prevent grizzlies from becoming established anywhere in Utah until they are fully delisted and outside federal control statewide. Lawfully captive grizzlies that are restrained are exempt.
Wildlife payments fund anti-poaching work
The law creates the Poaching Mitigation Fund, supported by investigation repayments, wildlife restitution, legislative appropriations, and fund earnings. The Division of Law Enforcement uses it for anti-poaching work, including education, detection equipment, projects, and training. Beginning May 6, 2026, wildlife restitution goes into this fund. This replaces the earlier direction for the Division of Wildlife Resources to spend restitution on specified anti-poaching activities.
Hunters can face reporting penalties
The division can adopt rules requiring hunting license or permit holders to report hunt information. Any reporting requirement and penalty must be set by rule. A monetary penalty cannot exceed $25. The law itself does not impose an immediate reporting requirement.
Hunters face limits on hired help
For protected-wildlife hunts on public land, hired service providers must be registered and in good standing. Usually, no more than two people can provide regulated services; once-in-a-lifetime or limited-entry big game hunts allow three. Hunters cannot simultaneously use another outfitter for the same species and sex. Paid tasks unrelated to taking wildlife, including help after tagging, do not count toward the limit. Taking protected wildlife while providing or participating in illegal guide services, or knowingly hiring them, is also prohibited.
Registration rules for guides and outfitters
Covered guides and outfitters on public lands must register each year; regulation starts at $100 in compensation. A guide works for or is linked to an outfitter. Annual fees follow Utah's fee-setting process and vary by residency, provider type, and wildlife served; these amendments do not set dollar amounts. People and businesses cannot use guide or outfitter titles without registration or provide unsafe, false, or misleading services. Registrants must update contact information within 30 days after a change. Registration fees, appropriations, and fund earnings support the Division of Law Enforcement's guide and outfitter program.
Pilots face escalating wildlife crime penalties
Beginning May 6, 2026, pilots face penalties for knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly flying when it results in unlawful wildlife taking or locating from the aircraft. A first offense is a class B misdemeanor; a second is a class A misdemeanor. A third or later offense is a third-degree felony. The division can also revoke specified wildlife licenses, tags, certificates, or permits.
Weapon users face wildlife-area shooting limits
Beginning May 6, 2026, dangerous-weapon discharge is restricted in waterfowl and wildlife management areas near specified structures. The restriction covers locations within 300 feet of homes, dwellings, other buildings, or structures where domestic animals are kept or fed. Written permission from the property owner or person in charge allows discharge under this provision.
State park golf-course shooting restriction narrows
Beginning May 6, 2026, golf courses leave the list of state park locations covered by this improper-discharge restriction. This removes that specific limit for weapon users and removes the protection it provided at those golf courses. Other listed locations remain covered. The change does not remove other weapon laws.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Bridger Bolinder
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Calvin R. Musselman
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/6/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 50 • No: 15
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 18 • No: 5
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 3 • No: 1
House vote • 2/6/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 65 • No: 1
House vote • 2/6/2026
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 1/28/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 9 • 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
3/11/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/11/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/11/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/11/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/10/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/10/2026SenateHouse/ 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/ uncircled
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ circled
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ uncircled
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ circled
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/6/2026SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/5/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Substitute #2
3/6/2026
Amended 2/6/2026 16:02:469
2/6/2026
Substitute #1
1/23/2026
Introduced
12/29/2025