Senate approves property‑transaction disclosure bill after debate over recorder privacy

Salt Lake City — The Utah State Senate on third reading approved first substitute Senate Bill 30, a measure to provide county assessors with purchase‑price information to improve property valuation and shift Utah toward a limited‑disclosure model for certain transactions.

Sponsor Senator McKay described the bill as an effort to give assessors better data to fairly value property tax while noting safeguards discussed with county officials. "The recorder won't do anything with the data other than take it to the give it to the assessor," McKay said on the floor, adding that the recorders would not retain the data longer than necessary and that county assessors across all 29 counties have expressed support.

Debate focused on whether putting transaction data with recorders would make it a public record and what operational steps (daily vs. monthly transfer) would apply. Senator Winterton and others pressed the sponsor for clarity on retention and public‑access protections; McKay said a substitute would be prepared to address remaining privacy and process questions. The Senate approved the first substitute 21‑7 with one member absent; the bill now moves to the House.

Why it matters

Supporters said better access to purchase‑price data will improve equity and predictability in property‑tax assessments and reduce assessors’ current cost of buying data. Opponents warned of privacy risks if records become publicly accessible through recorder filings without clear segregation and retention limits. The sponsor committed to a follow‑up substitute to clarify operational safeguards.

What comes next

Sponsor McKay indicated staff will work with county assessors to define transfer frequency and retention safeguards; implementation will require coordination between county recorders and assessors if the House approves the bill.

The Senate recorded the third‑reading vote as 21 yes, 7 no and 1 absent.