UtahUtah office administers a fund to restore and protect public lands
The State Historic Preservation Office administers a fund that may support repairs and prevention, and courts may direct certain restitution payments into it.
What it does
The State Historic Preservation Office administers a fund that may pay to repair harm to public lands and cultural sites, prevent damage, and educate the public.
The law describes an offense that includes creating graffiti or damaging natural or archaeological features on public lands held mostly in their natural state.
Courts may order fines or restitution for covered damage. They may direct restitution to the fund, including for antiquities offenses on state lands.
Argument forRestitution money could help repair damaged sites, while fund spending may also support signs, monitoring, and public education.
Argument againstPeople convicted of these offenses may have to complete 100 to 300 hours of community service, which could be difficult to fit around school or work.
More detail
The State Historic Preservation Office administers the Public Lands Restoration and Protection Fund. The office may use the fund to repair harm to public lands and cultural sites, prevent damage, and support education and related work. The fund may receive restitution collected from offenses under the two listed laws, money appropriated by the Legislature, and income earned on fund money. The office must prioritize money received from an offender for repair when the harm can be repaired, restored, or addressed. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
A person commits an offense by creating graffiti on public lands or damaging or destroying a natural feature, archaeological feature, or state-owned object there. The section covers public lands and state-owned objects permanently located on those lands. Public lands are state or federally owned property held mostly in its natural state, including land government entities maintain for outdoor recreation. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
A court may order a fine or restitution for a covered violation and may direct restitution to the fund. The provisions cover violations involving graffiti, damage, or destruction on public lands and antiquities offenses on state lands. For antiquities offenses, the fund option applies to violations on state lands. A person who removes their graffiti voluntarily, at their own expense, and with the property owner's consent receives credit for court-ordered costs or restitution. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 25Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 17House/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 12House/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 12Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 10Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 10Bill Received from House for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 7House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 7House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 7Senate/ to House
- Mar 7Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 7Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 6House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ concurs with Senate amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6House/ concurs with Senate amendmentMajor
- Mar 6House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 6House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ to House with amendments
- Mar 6Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionPassed Senate
- Mar 6Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules [Senate Rules Committee]Minor
- Mar 4Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Mar 4Senate/ comm rpt/ amended [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Major
- Mar 3Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Mar 3Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Feb 27Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee]Minor
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 27Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Feb 27House/ to Senate
- Feb 27House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Feb 27House/ substituted
- Feb 27House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 26LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0536S02
- Feb 26LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0536S01
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0536S02
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0536S01
- Feb 24LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0536S02
- Feb 24LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0536S02
- Feb 23House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 23House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]
- Feb 23House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 23House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Major
- Feb 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0536S01
- Feb 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0536S01
- Feb 20House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]Minor
- Feb 12House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0536
- Feb 11LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0536
- Feb 11House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Feb 10House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Feb 10LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0536
- Feb 10LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0536
- Feb 10Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Feb 10Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
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