All Roll Calls
Yes: 182 • No: 28
UtahH.B. 162026 General SessionHouse
Solar Power Plant Amendments
Sponsored By: Colin W. Jack (Republican)
Signed by Governor
ElectricityEnergyPublic UtilitiesClean EnergyPublic Utilities and TechnologyUtilities Siting and Permitting
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
Solar operators must consult wildlife officials
Beginning May 6, 2026, solar plant owners or operators must consult wildlife officials about possible impacts on affected land. They must consult either the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The law sets no consultation fee or funding amount.
Less state aid for farmland solar
Utah limits state aid for solar plants with conditional use permits issued after May 6, 2026. Covered plants exceed 1 megawatt and produce electricity for sale. Aid includes state tax credits, grants, subsidies, loans, and other financial incentives. No aid is available on federally designated prime, statewide-important, locally important, or unique farmland; irrigated cropland; or class 1–4 non-irrigated cropland. Grazing land producing over 250 pounds of vegetation per acre in a normal year also gets no aid. Eligible aid is cut in half on class 5–6 non-irrigated cropland or grazing land producing 125–250 pounds per acre. Federal soil classifications and the federal Web Soil Survey determine these land categories and grazing yields. Total aid falls in proportion to the plant's overlap with restricted land. Conservation districts can recommend an exemption to Utah's Office of Energy Development. Exemptions also cover plants with grid-connection queue positions or signed commercial power agreements from before January 1, 2026. Plants that qualified for or received state incentives before May 6, 2026, are also exempt.
Solar owners must secure cleanup funding
Solar plants with conditional use permits issued after May 6, 2026, must have financial backing for cleanup and land restoration. Backing must cover estimated costs minus reasonable salvage value and be placed with the local jurisdiction or landowner. Allowed forms include bonds, parent-company guarantees, irrevocable letters of credit, and other security. A qualified third party agreed to by the local jurisdiction calculates costs; a state-registered engineer also calculates them when required. Owners need locally approved cleanup plans before construction and must update them every five years from initial commercial operation. Plans must address inflation, site restoration, vegetation, and soil, using earlier environmental surveys and permit requirements. Removal covers steel piles, concrete foundations, and buried cables to four feet deep unless local rules require otherwise. After certified written notice of problems from shutdown, abandonment, or damage, owners have 90 days to fix them. Events beyond their control allow a written repair plan with a later deadline. For end-of-life repowering, owners must complete local approvals within 18 months before cleanup duties or penalties apply, unless granted an extension.
Solar builders face local permit rules
Beginning May 6, 2026, solar builders need conditional use, grading, building, and all other required local permits before construction. Applications must explain how the location and design meet applicable standards. Before permits are issued, owners must submit site, development, and cleanup plans for local approval. Site plans must show structures, setbacks, access, utilities, drainage and easements, vegetation removal, irrigation, water routes, and agriculture protection areas. Local governments cannot unreasonably withhold approval of the plans and documents.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Colin W. Jack
Republican • House
Cosponsors
David P. Hinkins
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/20/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 61 • No: 6
Senate vote • 2/18/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/18/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 20 • No: 6
Senate vote • 2/5/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 21 • No: 7
Senate vote • 2/5/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/30/2026
Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 1/30/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 0
House vote • 1/23/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 61 • No: 8
House vote • 1/23/2026
House/ floor amendment
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 1/21/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 10 • No: 1
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
2/24/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
2/24/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
2/20/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/20/2026HouseSenate/ to House
2/20/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
2/20/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/20/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/20/2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
2/20/2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/19/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
2/18/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
2/18/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
2/18/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd reading
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/5/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/2/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/12/2026
Substitute #2
2/6/2026
Substitute #1
2/5/2026
Amended 2/2/2026 11:02:286
2/2/2026
Amended 1/30/2026 10:01:881
1/30/2026
Introduced
12/4/2025