# Utah H.B. 401: Geothermal Study Amendments Utah H.B. 401, Geothermal Study Amendments, is a 2026 General Session House bill sponsored by Christine F. Watkins (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-25 (Governor Signed) (as of 2026-10-14). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB401-2026GS - As of: 2026-10-14 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Utah H.B. 401 - State: Utah - Session: 2026 General Session - Title: Geothermal Study Amendments - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-27 - Last action: 2026-03-25, Governor Signed - Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Higher Education, Energy, Clean Energy, Public Utilities and Technology, Office of Energy Development - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 10 (190 yes, 14 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Utah State University geothermal impact study: benefit, low. Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah State University must study the geological and environmental impacts of geothermal energy in Utah. The study must cover subsurface conditions, development methods, and impacts near coal power plant sites. USU must finish by October 31, 2027, and report to the Public Util… - Free state park entry for veterans ends: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the law ends the pilot for free state park admission for veterans. Veterans who used this pilot now pay the normal park entrance fees. The law does not create a replacement discount or waiver. - State energy project assessment rules end 2028: mixed, medium. On January 1, 2028, the law repeals the state's Energy Project Assessment rules. Energy companies and regulators no longer follow that Part for project reviews. This may change how projects are reviewed and timed. The law does not set up a replacement process. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Christine F. Watkins (Republican), House - Cosponsor: David P. Hinkins (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate/ uncircled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension | pass | 26 | 0 | | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate/ substituted | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-05 | Senate | Senate/ circled | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-03-05 | House | House/ concurs with Senate amendment | pass | 66 | 4 | | | 2026-02-25 | Senate | Senate/ passed 2nd reading | pass | 23 | 0 | | | 2026-02-18 | Senate | Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 6 | 0 | | | 2026-02-12 | House | House/ passed 3rd reading | pass | 61 | 10 | | | 2026-02-12 | House | House/ floor amendment | fail | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-03 | House | House Comm - Favorable Recommendation | pass | 8 | 0 | | ## Actions (46) - 2026-03-25: Governor Signed - 2026-03-12: House/ to Governor (House) - 2026-03-12: House/ received enrolled bill from Printing (House) - 2026-03-11: House/ enrolled bill to Printing (House) - 2026-03-11: Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate - 2026-03-06: Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared - 2026-03-06: Bill Received from House for Enrolling - 2026-03-06: House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling (House) - 2026-03-06: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ to House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House (Senate) - 2026-03-06: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-03-05: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-03-05: House/ concurs with Senate amendment (House) - 2026-03-05: House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar (House) - 2026-03-05: House/ received from Senate (House) - 2026-03-05: Senate/ to House with amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Senate/ substituted (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Senate/ uncircled (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Senate/ circled (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-05: Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Senate/ 3nd Reading Calendar to Rules (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Senate/ 3rd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Senate/ passed 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Senate/ 2nd reading (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Senate/ committee report favorable (Senate) - 2026-02-18: Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-02-17: Senate/ to standing committee (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced) (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Senate/ received from House (Senate) - 2026-02-12: House/ to Senate (House) - 2026-02-12: House/ passed 3rd reading (House) - 2026-02-12: House/ floor amendment (House) - 2026-02-12: House/ 3rd reading (House) - 2026-02-04: House/ 2nd reading (House) - 2026-02-04: House/ committee report favorable (House) - 2026-02-03: House Comm - Favorable Recommendation - 2026-02-02: House/ to standing committee (House) - 2026-01-30: House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst (House) - 2026-01-28: House/ 1st reading (Introduced) (House) - 2026-01-28: House/ received bill from Legislative Research (House) - 2026-01-27: Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed ## Bill text - Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/HB0401.pdf) - Substitute #1, 2026-03-05: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0401S01.pdf) - Amended 2/12/2026 12:02:307, 2026-02-12: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_HB0401_2026-02-12_12-21-31.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-01-27: [PDF](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0401.pdf) ## Related bills - H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments (signed) - H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments (signed) - H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments (signed) - H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments (signed) - H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments (signed) - H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/enrolled/HB0401.pdf) - [Substitute #1 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0401S01.pdf) - [Amended 2/12/2026 12:02:307 (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/amended/AV_HB0401_2026-02-12_12-21-31.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://le.utah.gov/Session/2026/bills/introduced/HB0401.pdf) ## Related - [H.B. 136: Unlicensed Driver Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB136-2026GS) - [H.B. 101: Firearm Background Check Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB101-2026GS) - [H.B. 134: Offender Transfer Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB134-2026GS) - [H.B. 178: School Zone Speeding Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB178-2026GS) - [H.B. 94: Criminal Accounts Receivable Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB94-2026GS) - [H.B. 220: Public Safety Data Amendments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB220-2026GS) - [Utah bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah/bills) - [Utah state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/utah) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/UT-HB401-2026GS (as of 2026-10-14).