Utah House advances water, resource‑management and e‑bike measures; budget bills circled

The Utah House of Representatives met on Jan. 23, 2024 and approved a series of bills covering water policy, state resource management, electric‑bike classifications and park funding, while lifting and circling base budget bills for further floor consideration.

Representative Ryan D. Owens, sponsor of first substitute House Bill 11, said the water‑efficient landscaping bill "is designed to deliver a little bit of help to the Great Salt Lake," explaining the bill limits nonfunctional turf to 20% on new government construction within the Great Salt Lake Basin to conserve water and shift plantings toward trees and shrubs. With no questions offered, HB11 passed the House 51‑22 and was transmitted to the Senate for consideration.

On justice court reform, Representative Nicholeen P. Abbott introduced first substitute HB49 to extend the justice court reform task force sunset by roughly 18 months; the House approved that extension 71‑0. Abbott also presented HJR1, a resolution notifying municipalities and counties that justice court reform is under consideration and that a pilot may be piloted before broader implementation; the House adopted HJR1 71‑0 and sent it to the Senate.

Representative James A. Dunnigan (presenting HB77) explained changes to the Division of Human Resource Management including a title change for the human resources manager, clarifications about temporary employees and preserving career‑service status for certain cabinet appointees returning to former positions; HB77 passed 70‑0.

Representative Paul A. Cutler and others debated HB76, statewide resource management plan amendments that the sponsor said incorporates the 29 county resource management plans and addresses air quality, forest management, grazing, mining, recreation and wetlands. Questions focused on whether the state plan would override county plans; Representative Stratton replied that the state plan incorporates county plans and is intended to be consistent rather than overriding. HB76 passed 68‑0.

First substitute HB85, clarifying classifications between electric bicycles and electric motorcycles and addressing aftermarket modifications that sought to reclassify vehicles, drew detailed questions on class 1/2/3 distinctions. Representative Stenquist said the changes clarify who may ride where and noted the bill does not address federal land rules. HB85 passed 63‑8.

The House also acted on water‑measurement policy. Representative Albrecht described HB61 as adding telemetry—digital measurement—to improve accounting and detect leaks, and several members emphasized the bill does not add shut‑off authority. After debate HB61 passed 72‑1.

On parks funding, Representative Richard Brooks said HB120 allows state parks to retain interest earned on restricted park accounts; Representative Chu offered a substitute to earmark additional bison sale proceeds for damage prevention but the substitute failed and the underlying bill passed 74‑0.

Other actions: HB57 (Snake Valley Aquifer advisory council repeal) passed 72‑0; the House reconsidered and circled HB68 for further floor consideration; and the House Rules Committee lifted HB1, HB5, HB6 and HB7 from rules and circled the appropriations bills for committee chairs to present. The House adjourned and will reconvene Jan. 24, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Votes at a glance
HB11 (first substitute) — Water‑efficient landscaping: Passed 51‑22; sent to Senate.
HB49 (first substitute) — Justice court reform task force extension: Passed 71‑0; sent to Senate.
HJR1 — Joint resolution supporting consideration of justice court reform: Passed 71‑0; sent to Senate.
HB77 — Division of Human Resource Management amendments: Passed 70‑0; sent to Senate.
HB76 — State resource management plan amendments: Passed 68‑0; sent to Senate.
HB85 (first substitute) — Electric bike amendments: Passed 63‑8; sent to Senate.
HB57 — Snake Valley Aquifer advisory council amendments: Passed 72‑0; sent to Senate.
HB61 — Water measuring and accounting amendments (telemetry): Passed 72‑1; sent to Senate.
HB120 — State park funding amendments: Passed 74‑0; sent to Senate.

What’s next: Several bills were sent to the Senate for further action and appropriations bills (HB1, HB5, HB6, HB7) were circled for committee chair presentations and later floor debate. The House adjourned until Jan. 24 at 11:00 a.m.