Land, Water, and Air Bills Passed During the 2023 Utah Legislative Session
Agriculture
HB114 S1 | Theft Defense Amendments
Albrecht (2/9/2023)
This bill provides that it is not a defense to theft of livestock that the livestock is sick, injured, or a liability to the owner.
HB169 | Urban Farming Assessment Act Amendments
Peterson K (2/10/2023)
This bill provides that a county may limit an authorization of urban farming to either cultivating crops or engaging in livestock production or may allow both.
HB221 S1 | Fodder Production Systems Grant Program
Birkeland (2/10/2023)
This bill expands the environmental improvement projects for which grants may be awarded.
HB257 S1 | Greenbelt Mentor Amendments
Kyle (2/10/2023)
This bill requires a county or commission to waive the acreage requirement for agricultural assessment if the assessed property fails to meet the acreage requirement because of a qualified utility or governmental entity exercising eminent domain or threatening eminent domain.
HB371 S4 | Working Farm and Ranch Protection Fund
Snider (2/27/2023)
This bill renames the LeRay McAllister Critical Land Conservation Program; establishes the LeRay McAllister Working Farm and Ranch Fund; addresses county use of rollback taxes; and addresses county use of rollback tax funds.
HB397 | Urban Farming Assessment Amendments
Kohler (3/2/2023)
This bill provides that a portion of land withdrawn from assessment under the Farmland
Assessment Act is not subject to a rollback tax if the land is eligible for, and the owner applies for, assessment under the Urban Farming Assessment Act; establishes a renewal application under the Urban Farming Assessment Act; for property that was previously assessed under the Farmland Assessment Act, addresses eligibility and application of the rollback tax under the Urban Farming Assessment Act.
SB9 | Agricultural Advisory Board Sunset Extension
Sandall (2/1/2023)
This bill extends the sunset date of the Agricultural Advisory Board from 2023 to 2028.
SB187 S4 | State Fair Park Amendments
Sandall (3/3/2023)
This bill provides for the dissolution of the Utah State Fair Corporation; creates the State Fair Park Authority as a successor entity to the Utah State Fair Corporation, with similar but modified duties; authorizes the Authority to impose a special event sales tax; requires the State Tax Commission to distribute to the authority certain sales tax revenue generated from a hotel on fair park land; makes property on state fair park land subject to the privilege tax and provides for revenue from the tax and from personal property tax to be paid to the Authority; modifies provisions relating to the operation, maintenance, construction, and modification of buildings and facilities on state fair park land; authorizes the Authority to issue bonds and enacts provisions relating to the bonds;.
Agricultural and Domestic Animals
HB184 S1 | Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program
Albrecht (3/1/2023)
This bill creates the Veterinarian Education Loan Repayment Program within the
Department of Agriculture and Food; specifies the program's duties; specifies what a
qualified veterinarian must do to be eligible for payment from the program; authorizes
the use of program funding for certain program administration costs; requires annual
reporting by the program; authorizes rulemaking to administer the program; designates
program funding as nonlapsing.
HB187 | Veterinary Practice Amendments
Kohler (2/21/2023)
This bill exempts certain individuals who test a bovine for pregnancy from the
requirement to be licensed under the Veterinary Practice Act.
HB523 | Egg Retailer Amendments
Wilcox (3/1/2023)
This bill addresses exemptions from regulations for the sale of shell eggs.
SB61 S1 | Livestock Collision Amendments
Owens (3/2/2023)
This bill requires a railroad to report livestock strikes; clarifies liability for damages to livestock caused by railroad operations; creates a process for a livestock owner to be compensated for livestock damaged by a railroad; provides an appeal process regarding the actual fair market value of damaged livestock; modifies and clarifies requirements regarding a railroad's duty to construct and maintain fencing along railroad rights-of-way; requires each railroad to pay a fee based on mileage to cover damages to livestock caused by railroad operations; allows the Department of Agriculture and Food to pay for costs of administration and staff salary related to the administration of livestock damage claims from fees paid by railroads; grants rulemaking authority to the Department of Agriculture and Food regarding compensation for livestock damaged by a railroad; prohibits a railroad from entering into an indemnification agreement related to damages to livestock.
SB108 S3 | Animals Shelter Revisions
McKell (2/16/2023)
This bill addresses the methods by which an animal shelter or animal control officer may euthanize an animal; requires an animal shelter that euthanizes animals to adopt a euthanasia policy and training program; and makes technical changes.
SB113 S2 | Local Agricultural Amendments
Sandall (2/15/2023)
This bill, except for certain exceptions, prohibits a municipality or a county from adopting or enforcing an ordinance or other regulation that prohibits or effectively prohibits the operation of an animal enterprise or the use of a working animal.
SB259 S1 | Department of Agriculture and Food Amendments
Owens (3/3/2023)
This bill addresses changes to the state veterinarian responsibilities; provides labeling requirements for pet treats; modifies labeling requirements for seed; creates a restricted account; and makes technical and conforming changes.
Air
HB220 S4 | Emissions Reduction Amendments
Stoddard (3/3/2023)
This bill requires the Division of Air Quality (division) to conduct an inventory related to
certain emissions; requires the division to complete an emissions reduction plan for certain emissions; requires the division to recommend state standards limiting halogen emissions; requires the division to publish the inventory, plan, and recommendations on the division's website; and requires the division to report on the inventory, plan, and recommendations.
HB319 | Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project Amendments
Chew (2/16/2023)
This bill repeals the sunset date for the Uintah Basin Air Quality Research Project.
SCR2 | Concurrent Resolution Regarding the Environmental Impact of Vehicle Idling
Fillmore (2/16/2023)
This resolution provides data on fuel expended idling compared with restarting an engine; encourages Utahns to turn off their engines, especially in areas where sensitive populations congregate; and encourages certain businesses, organizations, and entities to place signs educating drivers on the fuel savings of restarting an engine instead of idling.
Energy and Mining
HB144 S1 | High Cost Infrastructure Development Tax Credit Amendments
Albrecht (3/3/2023)
This bill provides that the corporate high cost infrastructure development tax credit does not automatically expire for lack of use before the 2027 tax year; modifies the definition of "high cost infrastructure project" to include the storage or production of all fuels; defines an "underground mine infrastructure project"; adds an "underground mine infrastructure project" to the definition of "infrastructure" for purposes of being eligible for a high cost infrastructure development income tax credit; includes severance tax revenue in the calculation of the taxpayer's high cost infrastructure development tax credit; and provides that a high cost infrastructure project that begins in the taxable year before an applicant makes a tax credit application is eligible for a tax credit.
HB321 | Mineral Lease Amendments
Christofferson (2/22/2023)
This bill introduces an online option for the disclosure of a mineral lease application; and modifies the deadline for disclosing an application.
HB425 S4 | Energy Security Amendments
Ivory (3/2/2023)
This bill modifies provisions related to the regulation of energy. It requires a project entity to provide notice to the Legislative Management Committee 180 days prior to: the disposal or sale of any project entity asset; and the decommissioning of a coal-powered electrical generation facility. It requires the Office of Energy Development to: conduct a study of a project entity; and report the results of the study to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee. It also modifies the state energy policy to promote the state's energy independence by: promoting the use of energy resources generated within the state; and promoting the use of clean energy sources by considering the emissions of an energy resource throughout the entire life cycle of the energy resource; provides legislative findings; requires a qualified utility to inform the Office of the Attorney General when a proposed federal regulation would result in the early retirement of an electrical generation facility; authorizes the Office of the Attorney General to take any action to defend the state's interests with respect to electricity generation by a qualified utility facing a proposed federal regulation that would result in the early retirement of an electrical generation facility.
SB62 S1 | Hydrogen Amendments
Hinkins (2/15/2023)
This bill directs the Department of Natural Resources to establish a hydrogen advisory
council within the Office of Energy Development which may advise on issues related to hydrogen.
Hunting and Firearms
HB219 S2 | Firearms Regulations
Lisonbee (2/2/2023)
This bill declares the state's commitment to the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution; and declares that the state and its political subdivisions will not enforce federal regulations that purport to restrict or ban certain firearms, ammunition, or firearms accessories.
HB226 S3 | Sale of a Firearm Amendments
Maloy (3/1/2023)
This bill directs the Bureau of Criminal Identification to create an online process that allows an individual involved in the sale of a firearm to determine if the other party to the
sale has a valid concealed carry permit or the firearm has been reported as stolen; and
includes a sunset date.
HB237 | Hunting Mentor Amendments
Albrecht (2/10/2023)
This bill creates a hunting mentor program; describes the circumstances under which a minor may use an adult's permit under the program.
HB341 | Electronic Stamp Designation
Bolinder (3/2/2023)
This bill authorizes the Division of Wildlife Resources (division) to provide for the purchase of an electronic duck stamp on the division's website; requires the payment of a fee for the purchase of an electronic duck stamp on the division's website.
HB461 S2 | Airport Firearm Possession Amendments
Gricius (3/2/2023)
This bill provides when a firearm that was seized as part of a criminal offense at an airport may be returned to the firearm's owner; modifies the offense of possession of a dangerous weapon at an airport; restricts the ability of a prosecutor to seek the forfeiture of a firearm under certain circumstances; and makes technical and conforming changes.
Land
HB261 S3 | Fire Related Amendments
Snider (2/1/2023)
This bill addresses prescribed fires, pile burns, and nonfull suppression events on private land; provides for transfers to the Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund; modifies procedures related to closed fire seasons; addresses when burning is allowed, including addressing when permits are required, notice requirements, criminal penalties, and liability; addresses the Wildland Fire Suppression Fund; enacts provisions related to wildland-urban interface fire prevention, preparedness, and mitigation.
HB396 S1 | Paleontological Resources Amendments
Elison (3/3/2023)
This bill modifies provisions related to paleontological resources and collections. It provides that a city of the first or second class that has a paleontology museum may retain, curate, and manage specimens, collections, and paleontological resources recovered on lands owned or controlled by the city.
SB75 S2 | Sand and Gravel Sales Tax Amendments
Sandall (2/16/2023)
This bill distributes the local sales and use tax revenue from sales made by ready-mix
concrete manufacturers to each county, city, and town with a sand and gravel extraction site within its boundaries; specifies a formula by which the State Tax Commission apportions the revenue; requires the county, city, or town to use the revenue for class B and class C roads; provides direction related to sourcing in-state sales made by certain establishments.
Outdoor Recreation
HB55 | Off-Highway Vehicle Registration Requirements
Albrecht (2/2/2023)
This bill exempts a snowmobile from the requirement to obtain and display a license
plate for an off-highway vehicle and amends provisions related to off-highway vehicle
safety courses.
HB93 | Outdoor Recreation Modifications
Stratton (2/17/2023)
This bill increases the amount that may be used each fiscal year for the Recreation
Restoration Infrastructure Grant Program; amends the types of entities that are eligible to receive an infrastructure grant through the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Grant Program.
HB224 | Outdoor Recreation Initiative
Stenquist (2/10/2023)
This bill creates the Recreation Coordinated Investment Initiative; grants rulemaking authority; requires reporting; and addresses funding of the initiative.
HB299 S4 | Boating Amendments
Snider (3/2/2023)
This bill diverts a portion of the uniform fee on certain vessels to fund boating related grants; creates the Utah Boating Grant Account; provides for the administration of a grant program by the Office of Outdoor Recreation related to the Utah Boating Grant Account; addresses boating safety requirements.
HB384 S3 | Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Amendments
Stenquist (3/2/3034)
This bill amends the Outdoor Adventure Infrastructure Restricted Account and the
makeup of the Outdoor Adventure Commission.
Management
HB30 | Wildlife Resources Code Recodification
Snider (2/9/2023)
This bill clarifies rulemaking authority; addresses compensation of employees; clarifies delegation to employees of use of fireworks; clarifies review by regional advisory councils of cooperative wildlife management units.
HB31 S1 | Wildlife Resources Recodification Cross References
Snider (2/9/2023)
This bill changes relevant cross references; and makes technical changes.
HB39 | State Resource Management Plan Amendments
Stratton (2/16/2023)
This bill adopts a state resource management plan to replace a previously adopted plan.
SB5 | Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Base Budget
Sandall (1/26/2023)
This bill supplements or reduces appropriations otherwise provided for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023 and appropriates funds for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024.
SB10 S1 | Wildlife Sunset Related Amendments
Sandall (2/1/2023)
This bill modifies provisions related to a board, committee, or council created under Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code of Utah.
SB147 | Department of Environmental Quality Adjudicative Proceedings Amendments
McKell (3/3/2023)
This bill addresses adjudicative proceedings of the Department of Environmental Quality.
Sustainability
HB110 | Waste Tire Recycling Modifications
Snider (2/2/2023)
This bill modifies provisions related to waste tire recycling. It repeals provisions related to certain municipal landfill deposits.
HB217 S2 | School Energy and Water Reductions
Bennion (3/3/2023)
This bill authorizes the state board to issue grants related to energy and water reductions; provides for prioritizing certain projects; requires rulemaking; requires use of an evaluation panel; requires reporting; and provides a repeal date.
Symbols
HB92 | State Mushroom Designation
Watkins (3/3/2023)
This bill designates the porcini as the state mushroom.
HB137 | State Crustacean Designation
Lesser (3/3/2023)
This bill designates the brine shrimp as the state crustacean.
Water
HB33 S1 | Water Related Liability Amendments
Albrecht (2/10/2023)
This bill makes conforming amendments addressing governmental immunity; clarifies language related to operators of a water facility; addresses liability of an owner or operator of a water facility, stream, or river along certain trails; codifies standard of care; addresses liability of an owner or operator of a water facility; addresses interference related to a water facility.
HB207 | Compact Commission Amendments
Snider (2/16/2023)
This bill addresses representation of the state related to compacts; amends provisions related to the Utah members of the Bear River Compact commission; amends provisions related to the Columbia Interstate Compact.
HB208 S1 | Criminal Trespass Amendments
Chew (2/27/2023)
This bill addresses criminal trespass on private property related to use of public waters.
It establishes the elements of and penalty for certain criminal trespass; specifies certain defenses; and provides for statutory damages, attorney fees, and court costs.
HB488 | Utah Lake Authority Amendments
Brammer (3/2/2023)
This bill modifies provisions governing the Utah Lake Authority Board. It changes membership requirements for the Utah Lake Authority Board.
HB491 S3 | Amendments Related to the Great Salt Lake
Shultz (3/2/2023)
This bill enacts the Great Salt Lake Commissioner Act, including: providing for the appointment of the commissioner; addressing duties and authorizations of the commissioner; addressing relationships with other state agencies; addressing the strategic plan; creating the Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner; addressing the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council; and addressing the Great Salt Lake Account; provides for protected records; provides that the Department of Natural Resources will provide facilities to the commissioner and office; addresses the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands; modifies provisions related to ongoing administration of water trust provisions; addresses the compensation of the commissioner; expands the Board of Water Resources to include an individual who represents the interests of the Great Salt Lake.
HB513 S3 | Great Salt Lake Amendments
Snider (3/3/2023)
This bill modifies provisions related to severance taxes; clarifies minerals with royalties going to the Great Salt Lake Account; addresses mineral leases or royalty agreements related to the Great Salt Lake; provides for royalties for certain elements and minerals; requires a study and reporting.
SB34 S1 | Water Infrastructure Funding Study
McCay (3/1/2023)
This bill directs the Department of Natural Resources (department) to study the use of property tax revenue to fund water infrastructure, treatment, and delivery; and make recommendations for future funding; and requires the department to submit a written report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee and the Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee.
SB53 | Groundwater Use Amendments
Vickers (2/9/2023)
This bill corrects punctuation related to storage as a beneficial use; modifies provisions related to recharge of an aquifer.
SB76 S3 | Water Amendments
Sandall (3/1/2023)
This bill provides for a study; addresses grants for environmental improvement projects;
requires certain municipal and county planning commissions to consult with the Division of Water Resources in development of general plans; addresses consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Food; requires notification of irrigation and canal companies in certain circumstances; requires counties to notify certain public water systems and request feedback on how elements of the general plan affect certain water planning; requires counties to consider planning for regionalization of public water systems; provides for action by the director of the Division of Drinking Water to establish regional source and storage minimum sizing standards or adjust system-specific sizing standards; addresses a change application by a shareholder of a water company; provides what may be included in a water conservation plan; modifies requirements related to the Division of Water Resources making rules for regional water conservation goals; requires the Division of Water Resources to consult with watershed councils under certain circumstances; changes the membership of the Water Development Coordinating Council; directs the Water Development Coordinating Council to take actions related to the coordination of growth and conservation planning.
SB119 | Per Capita Consumptive Use
McKell (2/15/2023)
This bill provides that per capita consumptive use is the standard in certain geographic areas; requires reporting districts to calculate per capita consumptive use; describes how per capita consumptive use is to be calculated; requires reporting to the Division of Water Rights; addresses scope of section regarding the calculation, publication, or dissemination of consumptive water use numbers; and clarifies that specific agencies shall comply with the per capita consumptive use provision.
SB158 S3 | Local Government Water Amendments
McKell (3/3/2023)
This bill modifies provisions related to determining the basis for an exaction for a water interest imposed by certain local government entities; addresses water source protection ordinances.
SB236 | Legislative Water Development Commission Amendments
Hinkins (3/3/2023)
This bill modifies provisions related to the Legislative Water Development Commission.
SB251 | Secondary Water Metering Requirements
Hinkins (3/3/2023)
This bill modifies penalty provisions; provides for an alternative metering requirement under certain conditions; allows the issuing of grants for projects other than metering under certain conditions.
Water Conservation
HB150 S3 | Emergency Water Shortages Amendments
Albrecht (3/1/2023)
This bill amends the powers of the Department of Agriculture and Food; provides for the use of money in the Agriculture Resource Development Fund for emergency water shortages loans; addresses governmental immunity; enacts the Water Preferences During Emergencies chapter, including: providing for scope of the chapter; outlining the process for declaring a temporary water shortage emergency; addressing water use preferences under a temporary water shortage emergency; providing for compensation related to water use preferences; and addressing rulemaking by the Department of Agriculture and Food; repeals existing statutes related to water preferences and a study.
HB307 S3 | Utah Water Ways
Musselman (2/28/2023)
This bill provides for the creation of a new nonprofit, statewide partnership addressing water. It directs oversight of the creation of a partnership and the state's role in that
partnership; outlines powers and duties of the partnership; addresses the selection of an executive director and board of directors; requires reporting; and addresses the role of water supply entities.
HB349 S4 | Water Reuse Projects Amendments
Snider (3/3/2023)
This bill defines terms; addresses approval of water reuse projects, including providing that the director of the Division of Water Quality approves; prohibits approval of certain water reuse projects impacting the Great Salt Lake; authorizes rulemaking; creates exceptions; addresses water replacement plans; provides for investigation of water reuse impacts as part of the integrated assessment of the Great Salt Lake.
HB450 S1 | Landscaping Requirements
Wilcox (3/3/2023)
This bill modifies provisions regarding water wise landscaping.
SB118 S5 | Water Efficient Landscaping Incentives
Sandall (3/2/2023)
This bill authorizes water conservancy districts to receive grants to provide incentives; provides conditions on when an owner may receive an incentive; addresses rulemaking authority; addresses tracking of local government implementation of water use efficiency standards; and makes technical and conforming changes.
SB144 | Water Instream Flow Amendments
Hinkins (2/23/2023)
This bill allows for certain change applications related to delivery of water to reservoirs.
SB277 S2 | Water Conservation and Augmentation Amendments
Sandall (3/1/2023)
This bill modifies the purposes for which money in the Water Infrastructure Restricted
Account may be used; provides for transfer of certain loan payments from the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund to the Water Infrastructure Restricted Account; codifies a grant program for agricultural water optimization; provides for public information and reporting regarding the grant program; addresses agricultural water optimization change applications and water savings; repeals provisions related to the Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force.
Wildlife
HB45 S2 | Domesticated Elk Program Amendments
Stratton (2/17/2023)
This bill amends provisions related to the state veterinarian's powers related to the investigation, quarantine, and destruction of domesticated elk that may be infected with a disease spreading pathogen; importing domesticated elk into the state; and tracking imported domesticated elk; requires the Department of Agriculture and Food to study the importation of domesticated elk into the state, including from east of the 100 degree meridian.
HB112 | State Fish Hatchery Maintenance Account Amendments
Albrecht (2/2/2023)
This bill modifies the amount of money to be deposited into the State Fish Hatchery Maintenance Account.
HB121 | Wildlife Habitat Account Amendments
Peterson T (2/23/2023)
This bill addresses amounts that go to wetlands that are beneficial to waterfowl; addresses amounts that go to upland game projects.
HB327 | Pollinator Pilot Program Amendments
Matthews (3/1/2023)
This bill extends the sunset date for the Pollinator Pilot Program.
HB447 S2 | Transplant of Wildlife Amendments
Chew (3/3/2023)
This bill clarifies the procedures for the transplant of animals; requires the adoption of a mitigation plan before transplanting certain animals; imposes requirements for the mitigation plan.
HB469 S3 | Wildlife Related Amendments
Snider (3/1/2023)
This bill requires the Division of Wildlife Resources to notify the Division of Professional
License of a suspension of the privilege to hunt or fish; addresses hunting with an air rifle; addresses the taking of cougars; modifies provisions related to use of trail cameras; creates the Wildlife Land and Water Acquisition Program; modifies provisions related to cooperative wildlife management units; addresses rulemaking by the Division of Professional Licensing; addresses when the Division of Professional Licensing is to refuse to issue, refuse to renew, or revoke a registration related to hunting guides and outfitters; provides for certain fees.
SB112 S2 | Aquatic Invasive Species Amendments
Sandall (2/16/2023)
This bill requires the payment of a fee and display of an aquatic invasive species decal before launching or operating a vessel; addresses the display of an aquatic invasive species decal obtained by payment of a fee; addresses the imposition of resident and nonresident fees.