All Roll Calls
Yes: 114 • No: 10
UtahH.B. 3942025 General SessionHouseWALLET
Statutory Intent Amendments
Sponsored By: Jordan D. Teuscher (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Statutory ConstructionLegislative OperationsGovernment Operations (State Issues)
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
14 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 2 costs, 7 mixed.
Extra crash claim payments have caps
For accidents on or after March 30, 2010, underinsured motorist insurers must pay awards exceeding the average of the claimant’s first written demand and the insurer’s first written response. Payment under this rule cannot exceed the policy limit plus $15,000. Insurers must also pay up to $5,000 in specified arbitration or litigation costs. After an arbitration award, you must submit a sworn cost statement within five days.
Tuition waivers for older residents, veterans
Utah residents age 62 or older, or qualifying veterans, can enroll tuition-free in public college classes with extra space. Students must qualify for the regularly scheduled class and follow enrollment rules. Tuition and other charges are waived, but a board-set quarterly registration fee remains payable.
Crash benefits protected, with coverage exclusions
Workers’ compensation and specified uninsured-employer benefits cannot reduce an otherwise covered uninsured motorist payment. Health insurers can seek repayment only after the injured person is fully compensated. Coverage generally excludes injuries while committing a felony or the specified vehicle-registration violation, or knowingly riding in a vehicle violating that law. People under 18 can still recover medical and funeral costs. Officers injured while performing their duties are also exempt from these exclusions.
Crash claimants face strict disclosure deadlines
For accidents on or after March 30, 2010, uninsured and underinsured motorist claimants must submit required information within 30 days of choosing arbitration or filing suit. This includes a written demand, supporting records, and signed authorizations. Underinsured claims require sworn disclosures covering providers, insurers, employers, and liens for the specified five-year period. You have 10 days to answer a reasonable request for missing provider or insurer information, or explain your legal or factual objection. Arbitration disclosure deadlines pause while that request is disputed. Missing the underinsured claim disclosure deadline bars recovery of costs and above-limit payments under the related award rule; rebuttal evidence is excluded.
Crash payment deadlines and lien deductions
For underinsured motorist claims from accidents on or after March 30, 2010, insurers have up to 60 days after receiving required materials to respond and offer what they determine is owed. State or federal repayment liens reduce the offer, including liens tied to Medicare, Medicaid, or Utah CHIP benefits. Until a lien amount is established, the deduction equals twice the medical expenses subject to that lien. You can accept less than policy limits as full or partial payment; partial payments count against the final recovery. A policy-limit offer must be accepted as full payment.
Limits on uninsured crash claim recovery
For a no-contact crash, you must prove the uninsured vehicle existed with clear and convincing evidence beyond your testimony. You generally cannot add together uninsured motorist limits for multiple vehicles. Exceptions allow pedestrians and people using qualifying non-owned vehicles to draw on another policy. Eligible claimants can add their highest named-insured or family-member limit to coverage on the occupied vehicle. A dependent minor whose parents live apart can use one policy per household when injured in a qualifying non-owned vehicle. Payments are shared proportionally and cannot exceed total damages. Lawsuits must begin within four years after the loss begins; this rule covers claims not already time-barred on May 14, 2019.
Land access and school trusts protected
Utah must ensure continued access to private and public lands for the public good. At the same time, the state must protect schoolchildren’s trust holdings against loss. The law does not create a specific access program or individual payment.
Utah must protect victims and witnesses
Utah must treat crime victims and witnesses with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity. The state must protect their rights under the victims’ rights law at least as vigorously as criminal defendants’ rights.
Emergency budget funds face tighter limits
Utah can release contingency budget funds only for unforeseeable emergencies. Agencies and the governor cannot use them to fix poor budgeting. Spending must also have an existing appropriation or authorization.
Mineral revenue prioritizes resource-affected communities
Utah directs federal mineral lease receipts and specified mineral lease bonuses toward public facilities and services. Uses include planning, construction, and maintenance. Communities designated as affected by covered resource development receive priority, subject to federal spending limits.
County audits lose legislative intent review
County performance audits can check whether managers and staff follow laws, local ordinances, and policies. Legislative intent is no longer expressly listed as an audit topic. This narrows the stated scope of county oversight without directly changing household payments.
Utilities must fund state regulatory costs
Regulated utilities must fund state utility regulators and related attorney general expenses. The funding cap is the greater of $50 or 0.3% of gross operating revenue for utilities other than electrical cooperatives. For electrical cooperatives, the percentage is 0.15%. The provision does not establish a household utility bill increase.
Crash arbitration offers choices and limits
Uninsured motorist claimants can choose arbitration or court, subject to policy terms, and combine claims against multiple insurers in one hearing. After choosing court, switching to arbitration requires the insurer’s written consent. A new trial over an uninsured arbitration award requires corruption, fraud, or other undue means. The complaint must be filed and served within 20 days after service of the award, and cost-shifting rules apply. For underinsured claims from accidents on or after March 30, 2010, claimants can also combine insurers in one hearing. In arbitration over remaining underinsured claims after an initial payment, parties cannot disclose that payment before the award or reveal policy limits to arbitrators.
State controls local sales tax enforcement
The Utah State Tax Commission has sole authority to administer and enforce local option sales and use taxes. Counties, cities, and towns cannot interfere with that work. They can join a hearing or appeal only when it may significantly reduce their own revenue. This provision does not directly change tax rates or household tax bills.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Jordan D. Teuscher
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Calvin R. Musselman
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/7/2025
Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
Yes: 20 • No: 7
Senate vote • 2/26/2025
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 4 • No: 2
Senate vote • 2/24/2025
Senate Comm - Held
Yes: 4 • No: 1
House vote • 2/14/2025
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 71 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2025
House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2025
House Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2025
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/25/2025House/ to Governor
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/17/2025HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/14/2025HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/14/2025Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/11/2025Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/11/2025House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/7/2025HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/7/2025HouseSenate/ to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
3/7/2025SenateSenate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
3/5/2025SenateSenate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
2/26/2025SenateSenate/ committee report favorable
2/26/2025SenateSenate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/26/2025SenateSenate Comm - Held
2/24/2025SenateSenate/ to standing committee
2/19/2025SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/18/2025SenateSenate/ received from House
2/14/2025SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/14/2025HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/14/2025HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/14/2025House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/14/2025
Substitute #1
2/11/2025
Introduced
2/3/2025