UtahUtah sets aside money for highway safety and fire-rescue training
Starting July 1, 2026, Utah would direct money to Highway Patrol operations, motor-vehicle safety work, and Utah Valley University's fire-rescue training.
What it does
The Department of Public Safety may use approved account money for Highway Patrol staffing, overtime, equipment, and other motor-vehicle safety enforcement.
Approved Transportation Investment Fund money may pay for operating and enforcing laws on state highways built or improved with that fund.
For fiscal year 2027, the measure directs millions to public safety and Highway Patrol operations and provides $3 million for Utah Valley University's fire-rescue training.
Argument forMore Highway Patrol funding could support additional troopers and equipment for enforcing traffic laws and improving motor-vehicle safety.
Argument againstAllowing transportation fund money for highway operations could leave fewer dollars available for construction, repairs, or other transportation projects.
More detail
The Department of Public Safety may use money in the Motor Vehicle Safety Impact Restricted Account for highway safety and enforcement work. The permitted uses include Highway Patrol troopers, trooper overtime, and safety or enforcement equipment. The division may use the account money only after the Legislature approves an appropriation. The division must report each year to the Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee about the spending. This provision takes effect July 1, 2026, with annual reporting continuing after account money is used.
The executive director may use Transportation Investment Fund money to operate a state highway, including enforcing motor-vehicle and traffic laws. The highway must have been built, rebuilt, or renovated with money from the Transportation Investment Fund of 2005. The use is subject to legislative appropriation. The money remains subject to the fund's other legal limits. This provision takes effect July 1, 2026; it applies when the Legislature appropriates fund money for an eligible highway's operation.
The Legislature sets aside fiscal year 2027 money for public safety operations and fire-rescue training. The listed amounts include $2 million from the Transportation Investment Fund, $3 million from the Motor Vehicle Safety Impact Restricted Account, $5 million for Highway Patrol field operations, and $3 million for Utah Valley University fire-rescue training. The Highway Patrol funding is intended to help hire new troopers to enforce state motor-vehicle and traffic laws. The General Fund transfer to the safety account may be spent only under an appropriation. The appropriations cover July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and the bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 26Governor Spencer Cox SignedBecame Law
- Mar 13Senate/ to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 13Senate/ received enrolled bill from PrintingMinor
- Mar 11Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
- Mar 11Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateMinor
- Mar 6Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
- Mar 6Bill Received from Senate for EnrollingMinor
- Mar 6Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrollingMajor
- Mar 6Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 5House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded Senate/ concurs with House amendment. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to SenateMajor
- Mar 5House/ received from SenateMinor
- Mar 5Senate/ to House
- Mar 5Senate/ concurs with House amendmentMajor
- Mar 5Senate/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
- Mar 5Senate/ received from HouseMinor
- Mar 4House/ to Senate
- Vote recorded House/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4House/ passed 3rd readingPassed House
- Mar 4House/ substituted
- Mar 4House/ uncircled
- Feb 26House/ circled
- Feb 26House/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0151S05
- Feb 25LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0151S05
- Feb 25LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0151S05
- Feb 25LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0151S05
- Feb 24House/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 24House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
- Feb 24LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0151S04
- Feb 24LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0151S04
- Feb 23House/ return to Rules due to fiscal impact [House Rules Committee]
- Feb 23House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Transportation Committee]
- Feb 23House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Transportation Committee]Minor
- Feb 23House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Transportation Committee]Major
- Feb 23LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0151S04
- Feb 23LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0151S04
- Feb 20House/ to standing committee [House Transportation Committee]Minor
- Feb 18House/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 3rd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 18House/ received from SenateMinor
- Feb 18Senate/ to House
- Feb 18Senate/ passed 3rd readingPassed Senate
- Feb 18Senate/ uncircled
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0151S03
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0151S03
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0151S02
- Feb 18LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0151S02
- Feb 17Senate/ circled
- Feb 17Senate/ substituted
- Feb 17Senate/ uncircled
- Feb 17LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0151S03
- Feb 17LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0151S03
- Feb 17Senate/ circled
- Feb 17Senate/ 3rd readingMinor
- Feb 13Senate/ passed 2nd readingMinor
- Vote recorded Senate/ passed 2nd reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Senate/ substituted
- Feb 13Senate/ uncircled
- Feb 13Senate/ circled
- Feb 13Senate/ 2nd readingMinor
- Feb 13LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0151S02
- Feb 13LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0151S02
- Jan 29Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
- Jan 29Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0151S01
- Jan 29LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0151S01
- Jan 27Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Jan 27Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Major
- Jan 27LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0151S01
- Jan 27LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0151S01
- Jan 26Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]Minor
- Jan 23Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystMinor
- Jan 22LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0151
- Jan 22LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0151
- Jan 20Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Minor
- Jan 19Senate/ received bill from Legislative ResearchMinor
- Jan 16LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0151
- Jan 16LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0151
- Jan 16Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
- Jan 16Bill Numbered but not DistributedIntroduced
Public SafetyTransportationTaxes & Budget