2020 WFRC Bill Tracker
Notes on Priority and Position columns:
- Priority 1 – top priority with potentially significant or direct impacts to WFRC and its members.
- Priority 2 – mid-level priority with potentially significant or indirect impacts to WFRC and its members.
- Priority 3 – important but not a top priority with significant or direct impacts to WFRC and its members.
- WFRC will “support”, “monitor”, or “oppose” legislation. Positions reflect the consensus of Council members who choose to participate in informal discussions held during the legislative session when WFRC does not have a regularly scheduled meeting. The unofficial positions do not necessarily reflect the views of any individual Council member or organization represented on the Council.
- Positions on legislation that are staff recommendations that have not yet been considered by WFRC members are noted below with italics and an asterisk(*).
| Category | Bill # | Bill Title/Description | Primary Sponsor | Position | Priority | Status/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | HB 176 | Vehicle Emissions Reduction ProgramEnacts the Vehicle Emissions Reduction Program (a restricted account) as part of Air Conservation Act to provide conditional financial assistance (sliding scale depending on income up to $6500) in purchase of a car that meets certain high emissions standards. To be administered by local health departments; rulemaking by Air Quality Board; public service campaign conducted by DAQ. No fiscal note. | Rep. Jeffrey Stenquist | support | 3 | House Rules Committee |
| Air | HB 59 | Tax Credit for Alternative Fuel Heavy Duty Vehicles Extends and phases out the income tax credit for certain alternative fuel heavy duty vehicles. Fiscal note: $175,500 (FY22). | Rep. Andrew Stoddard | monitor | 3 | House Rules Committee |
| Air | SB 19 | Land Exchange Distribution Account AmendmentsThis bill addresses the Land Exchange Distribution Account and repeals language related to air quality monitoring. | Sen. Ralph Okerlund | monitor | 2 | Signed by President; Signed by Speaker; Passed House 3rd reading 72-3; House Committee Favorable Recommendation 11-2; Passed Senate 2nd and 3rd readings 25-4 |
| Air | HCR 11 | Concurrent Resolution Supporting the Utah Roadmap for Positive Solutions and Leadership on Climate and Air Quality Legislation could include: 1) adopting emissions reduction goals; 2) state convert to all alt. fuel vehicle fleet; 3) create air/climate solutions lab; 4) accelerate quality growth efforts like Wasatch Choice 2050; 5) position UT as market-based EV state; 6) provide economic transition assist to rural communities; 7) participate in national market-based approaches to reduce carbon emissions. | Rep. Joel Briscoe | support | 2 | House Rules Committee |
| Approps and Funding | Governor's Budget Recommendations | Governor's Budget Recommendations$1M in ongoing funds to UDOT’s Technical Planning Assistance program and $2M onetime funds to the Quality Growth Commission to coordinate with Metropolitan Planning Organizations in funding transportation-supportive land use planning efforts. $100M for air quality which includes $66M one-time for electric vehicle infrastructure and $34M ongoing for transit focused on Front Runner per the Governor's Recommended Budget. | monitor | 1 | ||
| Approps and Funding | HB 6 | Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Base BudgetIncludes $140,000 ongoing funding for WFRC -- consistent with past practice. | Rep. Eric Hutchings | monitor | 2 | Signed by Speaker; Signed by President; Passed Senate 2nd and 3rd readings 28-1; Passed House 3rd reading 73-2 |
| Approps and Funding | SB 6 | Infrastructure and General Government Base Budget Provides appropriations for the use and support of certain state agencies and support of programs reviewed under the accountable budget process; and provides appropriations for other purposes. | Rep. Kirk Cullimore | monitor | Signed by Speaker; Signed by President; Passed House 3rd reading 71-4; Passed Senate 2nd and 3rd readings 28-1 | |
| Approps and Funding | TBD | TBD$1.6M appropriation for FrontRunner Strategic Business Plan | TBD | support | 1 | |
| Approps and Funding | TBD | TBD$250,000 appropriation for Point of the Mountain Transit study | TBD | support | 1 | |
| Approps and Funding | TBD | TBDBond bill - for road and transit projects | TBD | monitor | 1 | |
| Economic Development | HB 299 | Opportunity Zone EnhancementsModifies provisions related to economic development to incentivize development in Opportunity Zones. Makes Utah's Opportunity Zones eligible for prioritization of DAQ tax credits as electric charging stations and prioritizes the applications of private entities that install electric vehicle supply equipment in an opportunity zone; Give preference to Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund and Economic Revitalization and Investment Fund for applications located in an opportunity zone; Create a tax credit for eligible construction costs for a parking structure in an opportunity zone; Utah Housing Corporation shall give preference to a qualified development in an opportunity zone. | Rep. Mike Winder | support | 2 | House Rules Committee |
| Economic Development | SB 95 S01 | Economic Development AmendmentsProvisions related to economic development; Creates the Rural County Grant Program; Requires each rural county that seeks to participate in the grant program to create a County Economic Development Advisory Board; Moves provisions of the Recycling Market Development Zone Act from the Governor's Office of Economic Development to the Dept. of Environmental Quality. Repeals USTAR. | Sen. Scott Sandall | monitor | 2 | Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee Favorable 5-2 |
| Housing | HB 131 | Rent Control Jurisdiction AmendmentsRepeals the provision that prohibits a county, city, or town from enacting an ordinance or resolution that would control rents or fees on private residential property. | Rep. Jen Daily Provost | monitor | 3 | House Business and Labor Committee |
| Housing | SB 39 S01 | Affordable Housing AmendmentsAllows CRA housing allocation to be used toward acquisition, construction, rehabilitation of income targeted housing outside the community if the community agrees and if the housing is along/near a transit investment corridor that serves the community. Allows OWHLF to be used for rental assistance (and partner with social service agencies including AOGs). Transfers funds from Unclaimed Property Trust Fund to OWHLF. Appropriates $20.3M (one-time in FY21) to OWHLF (up to $15M for rental housing gap financing, up to $5M for TOD affordable housing site acquisition needs, up to $300K for affordable housing in rural Utah. Appropriates $10M (ongoing) to OWHLF to partner with housing authorities and others to provide rental assistance. Sub 01: Uses "major transit investment corridor" definition to match SB 34 (2019); Authorizes a new CRA fund activity for low-income persons; authorizes Associations of Governments to partner in rental assistance activities; Changes the written notice requirements for low income tax credits; Removes the appropriation for affordable housing at TOD sites and replaces it with a one-time $5M appropriation to be used to preserve existing affordable housing for low income housing persons. | Sen. Jake Anderegg | support | 2 | Senate Economic Development Committee Favorable Recommendation 2-4; Senate Committee Substitute Recommendation 5-2 |
| Land Use | HB 133 S01 | Trail Improvement AmendmentsAllows for the exercise of eminent domain for "regionally significant trail system" trails that cross 2+ counties or municipalities or county and municipality. Sub 01: Trail cannot cross a century farm. | Rep. Mike Winder | support | 1 | House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee |
| Land Use | HB 198 | Eminent Domain LimitationsProhibits the use of eminent domain for the purpose of establishing a public park on "century farm" property, which is property continuously owned by the same family for 100 years. | Rep. Susan Pulsipher | monitor | 2 | House Political Subdivisions Committee House Committee - Favorable 11-0 |
| Land Use | HB 305 | Impact Fee AmendmentsAllows municipalities within SLCo to impose an impact fee for development activity on certain property located in an unincorporated area and prohibits the county from issuing a land use permit for development activity in an unincorporated area unless the county provides each adjacent municipality an opportunity to impose an impact fee. | Rep. Candice Pierucci | monitor | 2 | House Rules Committee |
| Land Use | HB 306 | Planning Commission AmendmentsAllows a county with more than one planning advisory area each with a separate planning commission to dissolve each planning commission and establish a countywide planning commission by ordinance. | Rep. Steve Waldrip | monitor | 3 | House Political Subdivisions Committee |
| Other | HB 185 | Tax Restructuring Revisions - RepealRepeals SB2001, Tax Restructuring Revisions, which the Legislature passed during the 2019 2nd Special Session. | Rep. Francis Gibson | monitor | 2 | GOVERNOR SIGNED Passed House 3rd reading 70-4 Passed Senate 2nd and 3rd readings 27-2 |
| Other | HB 186 | Lobbyist AmendmentsApplies the Lobbyist Disclosure and Regulation act to a person who lobbies local officials and education officials; clarifies that a local official may travel to and attend meetings sponsored by organizations representing only local interests. The bill clarifies that education officials may travel to and attend meetings sponsored by a public school, charter school, to an organization that represents only public or charter schools. | Rep. Douglas Sagers | monitor | 3 | House Government Operations Committee, Held |
| Other | HB 265 | Government Records Transparency ActRequires a government agency to annually report to state auditor regarding use and collection of personal information. | Rep. Travis Seegmiller | monitor | 3 | House Rules Committee |
| Other | HB 283 | Outdoor Recreation Strategic Planning Addresses strategic planning related to the state's outdoor recreation; creates the Outdoor Adventure Commission who shall develop a strategic plan aimed at meeting the future needs of outdoor recreation within the state in order to enhance the quality of life for Utah residents. Fiscal note: $430,200 (FY21). | Rep. Jeffrey Stenquist | support | 2 | House Rules Committee |
| Other | HB 293 | Longevity AmendmentsAmends provisions related to longevity salary increases and allows legislative employees to receive salary increases. | Rep. Val Peterson | support | 3 | House Government Operations Committee |
| Other | HB 31 | Local Government and Limited Purpose EntityRequires certain entities including municipal recorder, county clerk, non-profits, and charter schools to register; clarifies timeframe for local government/limited purpose entities to send notification of a change and requires registration of contact information. | Rep. Stephen Handy | monitor | 3 | Signed by Speaker; Signed by President; Passed Senate 3rd reading 26-3; Passed Senate 2nd reading 26-3; Senate Committee Favorable Recommendation 4-2; House Committee Favorable Recommendation 11-0; Passed House 3rd reading 71-4 |
| Transportation | Bill File | Ski Bus AmendmentsAllows ski busses to install ski racks outside of vehicles. | Rep. Robert Spendlove | TBD | TBD | |
| Transportation | Bill File | Transportation Governance and Funding AmendmentsAnticipated provisions: Makes technical changes to local option sales taxes to fix collector language in 3rd quarter (59-12-2217). Allow for the use of some B&C road funds to pay a full time person at UDOT to administer funding for Joint Highway projects. Clarifies how moderate income housing planning (from SB34) impacts TIF and TTIF fund use. Eliminates the cap on UTA TOD sites. Amend current code (17B-2a-804) requiring UTA to seek or consider additional elements when approving a TOD joint development project including the requirement to have an adopted station area plan and requiring compliance with SB34 moderate income housing planning and reporting requirements. Require municipalities to provide notice to UTA of plat changes that impact major transit investment corridors. Establish consistency in city ability to impose local option transportation sales taxes directly. Transportation Commission may consider TOD station area plans when prioritizing TTIF funds for new routes/major transit investment corridors. Modify TRZ language to allow the state to commit incremental state sales tax money generated in a TRZ to infrastructure (through the creation of a dedicated funding account). | Sen. Wayne Harper | support | 1 | WFRC, MAG, UDOT, UTA, ULCT coordinating with sponsor |
| Transportation | HB 101 | Distracted Driver AmendmentsIndividuals may not manually manipulate a handheld wireless communication device, while operating a moving vehicle on a roadway; unless using hands free, individuals cannot read a written communication, including a text, instant message; email, or view/record a video. If a person is found guilty of violating this provision they recieve an infraction or Class B misdemeanor if caused serious bodily injury. | Rep. Carol Spackman Moss | monitor | 3 | House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee; House Committee Favorable Recommendation 6-3 |
| Transportation | HB 138 | Transportation Corridor PreservationEstablishes that before purchasing greenbelt property for corridor preservation, UDOT, a county, or a municipality shall provide written notice to the owner that if they sell the property voluntarily -- as opposed to eminent domain -- they must pay rollback taxes and will not be eligible to receive relocation assistance. This is consistent with current UDOT practice. | Rep. Kyle Anderson | monitor | 2 | Senate Committee Favorable Recommendation 4-4; Passed House 3rd reading 69-2; House Committee Favorable Recommendation 9-3 |
| Transportation | HB 150 | Transit Authority AmendmentsRemoves some background check provisions related to certain types of employment at a public transit district; removes certain crimes, changes time to 5 years (not 10) in determining employment eligibility based on DUI conviction; does not allow convicted persons for positions that transport passengers. | Rep. Stephen Handy | support | 3 | House Transportation Committee Held 10-2 |
| Transportation | HB 180 | Emissions Inspection RevisionsExempts electric motor vehicles from local emissions compliance fees. | Rep. Cory Maloy | monitor | 3 | Passed House 3rd reading 73-2; House 2nd reading. House Committee Favorable Recommendation 7-5 |
| Transportation | HB 259 | Electric Vehicle Charging NetworkRequires UDOT to lead in the creation of a statewide electric vehicle charging network plan to provide electric vehicle charging facilities along certain state highways, at rest stops, and requires UDOT to coordinate with other relevant state entities and present the plan to the Transportation Interim Committee. | Sen. Robert Spendlove | support | 2 | House Transportation Committee |
| Transportation | SB 108 | Parking Structure Revolving Loan Program Creates the Parking Structure Loan Fund and deposits any existing balance into it from the County of the First Class Highway Projects Fund; Allows the funds within the Parking Structure Loan Fund to be used to issue loans, and in certain instances grants, to pay for parking infrastructure; SLCo shall create a county transportation advisory committee to review proposed transportation and public transit projects and rank projects for allocation of funds. | Sen. Kirk Cullimore | monitor | 2 | Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee, Favorable Recommendation 5-1 |
| Transportation | SB 112 | Inland Port AmendmentsRequires the Utah Inland Port Authority to study the development and implementation of a fund to mitigate development impacts on adjacent communities and to establish standards relating to impacts of development that a person is required to meet to qualify for authority funding for the person's development project which include waste reduction and reuse, hazardous materials, storm water prevention, and dust mitigation. Increases the number of board members to 13 to include the Salt Lake City Mayor (or designee) and 1 Salt Lake City school district board of education board member. | Sen. Luz Escamilla | monitor | 2 | Senate Rules Committee |
| Transportation | SB 25 | State Highway System ModificationsModifies the descriptions of SR-6, SR-85, and SR-241. | Sen. Wayne Harper | monitor | 3 | Signed by President; Signed by Speaker; Passed House 3rd reading; House Committee Favorable Recommendation 10-2; Passed Senate 2nd and 3rd readings 25-4 |
| Transportation | SB 92 | Comprehensive Rail and Electrification PlanRequires UDOT to develop a statewide comprehensive plan (statewide vision) for public transit, freight, and any other use of fixed rail to fully and efficiently integrate all uses of rail within the state; allows UDOT to contract with a consultant; and requires an annual report to the Transportation Interim Committee and the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee. | Sen. Jake Anderegg | support | 2 | Senate Committee Favorable Recommendation 6-1. WFRC, MAG, UDOT, UTA coordinating with sponsor |
| Transportation | TBD | Transportation Utility FeesMunicipalities are keeping an eye out for legislation that limits them from imposing transportation utility fees; this concerns ULCT as it impacts a city's ability to impose fees. | TBD | monitor | 2 |