Legislative Updates - 2 March 2026

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GrassRoots

Committed to Promoting the Principles of Limited Government, Constitution, Representative Government, Participatory Republic, Free Market Economy, Family, and Separation of Powers

www.utahgrassroots.org

Utah GrassRoots Legislative Update—02 March 2026 (6 weeks into the 2026 General Session of the Utah State Legislature)

Contents:

• Pages 2-3: Bills catching our attention this week: --HB326Sub1, “Animal Depredation Amendments”, proposing a vehicle forfeiture provision; --HB464Sub3, “Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments”; and --SB180Sub1, “School Nutrition Amendments”, expanding eligibility for the school meal program.
• Pages 3-4: Updated status on bills covered in previous updates: --HB260Sub2, “Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments”, passed a Senate committee and awaits consideration by full Senate; and --SB165Sub1, “Economic Mobility Initiative”, passed a House committee.

Dear Friends:

This is GrassRoots’ 6th legislative update of this year’s General Session of the Utah State Legislature. At this time (6 weeks into the session), there are about 1000 numbered bills for this session on the Utah Legislature website.

As the final week of the session gets underway, we can imagine 100s of bills (many of them rather long and complicated) being considered in little time. We would hope legislators only vote for changes in our laws after reading and understanding them with due diligence. We would also hope that our legislators reject unsound changes in our laws, and, when applicable, changes that they have not read and understood with due diligence.

We would also hope that our legislators are attentive to limiting Utah government (and associated taxes and spending and other force) to its proper role. As discussed in our update of January 26th, Utah government spending in the current fiscal year amounts to $8-9K per person, or $32-36K per family of 4. Will the Legislature continue the trend of growth in government into the next fiscal year, or actually start cutting the size of government?

Here are some bills and issues that we consider to be noteworthy.

Bills catching our attention this week:

HB326Sub1, “Animal Depredation Amendments”, sponsored by Representative Shipp and Senator Owens, would address provisions related to agricultural and wildlife damage from animal depredation as follows:

• provide that the Department of Agriculture and Food (department) may issue an aerial hunting permit and aerial hunting license for the taking of a coyote from an aircraft;
• authorize the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board (board) to make rules related to an aerial hunting permit and aerial hunting license;
• establish that an aerial hunting permittee or licensee assumes all liability for an accident, injury, or damage arising from the aerial hunting activity;
• modify how the department reviews the accounts of an organization that receives funds from the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account;
• grant authority to the board to set an annual predator control fee on certain sheep, goats, cattle, and turkey;
• modify criminal penalties related to feral swine; and
• provide for the seizure and forfeiture of a vehicle used in the commission of a crime related to feral swine.

HB326Sub1 passed the House 71-0 on February 23rd, and the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee 5-0 on February 27th, and awaits consideration by the full Senate.

Some of the provisions of HB326Sub1 may be reasonable, but:

• We continue to be concerned about the “delegation” of rule-making powers to executive entities. To the extent that any such rules are legislative in their nature, this would appear to be a violation of the Separation of Legislative and Executive Powers prescribed in Utah State Constitution, Article V, Section 1.
• We also oppose the taking of private property (including vehicles) through forfeiture without due process of law for the owner of the vehicle. As we read the language of this bill, it appears that provision is made for vehicle forfeiture without the owner being convicted of any crime.

As currently drafted, GrassRoots favors a “no” vote on HB326Sub1.

HB464Sub3, “Parent Taught Driver Education Amendments”, sponsored by Representative Peck and Senator Balderree, would:

• direct a local education agency to provide a parent with materials necessary to complete driver education classroom requirements for the parent's child; and
• allow a parent to complete all the education requirements and behind- the-wheel driving hours for driver education purposes.

HB464Sub3 passed the House 42-26 on February 25th, and awaits consideration by the Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee.

Given that parents have ultimate responsibility for their children’s education, this bill allows an option that should be allowed. GrassRoots favors a “yes” vote on HB464Sub3.

SB180Sub1, “School Nutrition Amendments”, sponsored by Senator Escamilla and Representative Clancy, would:

• allow the State Board of Education to use a certain percentage of liquor revenue to support the school meal program;
• expand the definition of an eligible student under the school meal program to include a student “whose family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level” (see lines 246-252);
• enact provisions related to reimbursement for eligible school meals;
• enact a certain exemption from the school meal program;
• creates reporting requirements; and
• establish certain repeal dates.

The fiscal note for SB180Sub1 also indicates that the bill would also likely result in $10 million of increased expenditures in Fiscal Year 2027.

SB180Sub1 passed the Senate 18-0 on February 26th, and awaits consideration by the House Education Committee.

We think this is an unwarranted growth in government and an inappropriate use of government force. We would prefer a $10 million tax cut. GrassRoots favors a “no” vote on SB180Sub1.

Updates on bills covered in past updates:

HB260Sub2, “Unauthorized Practice of Law Amendments”, sponsored by Representative Loubet and Senator Brammer, replaced HB260Sub1. It would still, like the Sub1 version of the bill, criminalize the “unauthorized practice of law”, and empower the Board of Commissioners for the Utah State Bar to “bring a civil action against a person for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law”. Our analysis of HB260Sub1 in our update of February 23rd is also applicable to the newer HB260Sub2.

HB260Sub1 passed the House 62-4 on February 6th, and awaits action by the Senate Rules Committee. HB260Sub2 passed the Senate Business and Labor Committee 5-0 on Feb 25th, and awaits consideration on the Senate 2nd reading calendar.

The changes to Utah Code proposed in HB260Sub2 pose the following problems:

• They punish and criminalize behavior that is not inherently criminal.
• They emphasize government licensure (or lack thereof) over actual harm caused by incompetent or sloppy representation.
• In some circumstances, they limit (or infringe) an individual's Sixth Amendment right to counsel (see also Utah State Constitution, Article I, Section 12), by disallowing any representation not licensed by the state.

GrassRoots favors a “no” vote on HB260Sub2.

SB165Sub1, “Economic Mobility Initiative”, sponsored by Senator Fillmore and Representative Clancy, would establish a program to support community- based partnerships focused on educational and economic outcomes. The fiscal note for SB165Sub1 estimates that it would cost $5.1 million per year. For additional coverage of SB165Sub1, see our updates of February 17th and February 23rd.

SB165Sub1 passed the Senate 3rd (final) reading 16-8 on February 17th. The bill was then slightly amended in the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee, which then passed the amended version of the bill 6-3 on February 24th. The bill is now in the House Rules Committee due to its fiscal impact.

This still does not look to us like an appropriate use of government force. We would still prefer a $5 million tax cut. GrassRoots still favors a “no” vote on SB165Sub1.

If you have any questions about these bills, GrassRoots’ position on these bills, or related matters, please contact either of us or any other member of the Board of Utah GrassRoots.

Sincerely,

Steve Stromness
Vice-Chairman, Bill Review Coordinator, Utah GrassRoots
steven.stromness@gmail.com
435-637-5248

Don Guymon
Chairman, Utah GrassRoots
donguymon@gmail.com
801-574-9461

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