UtahUtah lets environmental agencies seek repayment for enforcement costs
Starting May 6, 2026, Utah’s environmental department may use collected penalties or fines to repay certain enforcement costs when local agencies meet required conditions.
What it does
The Department of Environmental Quality may reimburse itself, a local government, or a local health department for certain environmental enforcement costs from collected penalties or fines. Local agencies must show that the department requested their help and meet notice and record rules.
Argument forLocal governments and health departments could recover some unusually high costs when they help with environmental enforcement at the department’s request.
Argument againstLocal governments and health departments might not recover costs if they cannot show the department requested their help or meet the notice and record rules.
More detail
The Department of Environmental Quality may reimburse itself, a local government, or a local health department for certain environmental enforcement costs. The provision covers the department, local governments, and local health departments involved in qualifying environmental enforcement activities. Reimbursement comes from money collected from civil penalties or fines. A local government or local health department must provide supporting records, proof that the department requested help, and timely written notice of the expected cost. Department rules define which enforcement activities and costs qualify, what records are needed, and what counts as timely notice. The law takes effect May 6, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 13Senate/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 13Senate/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 12Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 10Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 10Bill Received from Senate for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 10Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 10Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 7House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 7House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 7House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Mar 7House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Mar 6House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules [House Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 2House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Mar 2House/ committee report favorable [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Mar 2House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 27House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 25House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 25Senate/ to House
- Feb 25Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 25Senate/ uncircled
- Feb 24Senate/ circled
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 24Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 24Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 12Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Feb 12Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 11Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 9Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee]Minor
- Feb 6Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0251
- Feb 6LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0251
- Feb 4Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 4Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 4LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0251
- Feb 4LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0251
- Feb 4Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 4Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Environment & Energy