2026 Legislative Sessions Wraps Up!

The Utah Legislative Session has officially wrapped up for 2026! As we shared in our recent lunch and learn, this session was much calmer and decidedly less problematic for renewable energy and energy efficiency than the last session. That is a good sign as Governor Cox and state leaders look to create a long-term energy strategy that meets our growing electricity demand cost-effectively. However, the 2026 session fell short of pragmatically addressing energy challenges and supporting clean energy resources, so there is work to be done.

Below is a summary of the most important bills from this past session:

Compromises Brokered for Utah Solar Development

• HB 16 (S02)-Solar Power Plant Amendments by Rep. Colin Jack: HB 16 is a compromise of a version of Representative Jack’s solar permitting bill from last year that requires large-scale solar arrays over 1 MW to have a decommissioning plan before getting a construction permit from a local jurisdiction. It would also prohibit solar projects on certain agricultural and farmlands from getting state incentives, though most of those incentives are set to phase out in 2028 already.
• HB 412 (S01)-Energy Development Planning Amendments by Rep. Doug Owens: This is a companion bill to HB 16, requiring solar and wind projects of 1 MW or above to consult with the Division of Wildlife Resources as part of local permitting process. It does not give DWR new authority to deny or restrict projects.
• HB 323 (S02)-Solar Panel Disposal Amendments by Rep. Colin Jack: This bill relates to future disposal of utility-scale and rooftop solar panels at the end of life. The bill requires that the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control undertake a 2-year study to explore disposal and recycling options for solar panels at the end of their lives. Starting in 2028, the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control will issue rules for the disposal of panels. The study will be funded by a 2-year fee on utility-scale and distributed solar installations.

Safeguarding Critical Efficiency Measures for Homes, New Reporting Required for Utility Energy Efficiency Programs

• HB 65 (S04)-Construction Code Amendments by Rep. Tom Peterson: We made amendments to this bill to preserve air sealing and duct testing during construction, a critical energy efficiency and energy savings measure.
• HB 549 (S01)-Energy Efficiency Rebate Amendments (Rep. David Shallenberger): Requires the Office of Energy Development to include information on the impacts of the utility-administered energy efficiency programs by Rocky Mountain Power and Enbridge in their annual report to the Utah Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee.

Clarifying Rules Around Geothermal Development

• SB 21 (S04)-Geothermal Amendments by Sen. Mike McKell: Updates Utah’s rules around geothermal resources, clarifying that ownership of a geothermal resource derives from an interest in the surface of the land. It also gives the Division of Water Resources certain powers regarding the use of water for geothermal fluid and drilling operations.
• HB 401 (S01)-Geothermal Study Amendments by Rep. Christine Watkins: Directs Utah State University to assess environmental and geological impacts of geothermal development, including near existing coal-fired power plants.

Certain Electric Vehicle Owners Will Be Hit with Higher Fees

• HB 481 (S05)-Transportation Modifications by Rep. Kay Christofferson: Raises fixed fees on electric vehicles to $280 next year for electric vehicle drivers not participating in the optional state Road Usage Charge Program.

New Members Added to Utah Energy Council, New Fund Created for Nuclear and Transmission Projects

• HB 514 (S02)-Utah Energy Council Amendments by Rep. Neil Walter and Sen. Ann Millner: This would add 2 new members of the Utah Energy Council and allow Utah legislative leaders to select a co-chair to serve alongside the head of the Office of Energy Development. It would also create a new “Energy Infrastructure Service District” with the intent to find a buyer and operator of the coal power plants currently owned by the Intermountain Power Authority. The district would have the authority to issue revenue bonds and use a privilege tax to support the operations of the plants.
• HB 545-Budgetary Modifications by Rep. Val Peterson and Sen. Jerry Stevenson: Creates a new revolving loan fund to be overseen by the Office of Energy Development, called the Energy Development Infrastructure Fund, to support nuclear energy and transmission operations.

Utilities Regulation

• HB 238 (S03)-Utility Energy Generation and Transmission Planning by Rep. Carl Albrecht: Requires the Utah Public Service Commission to participate in negotiations and discussions about regional electricity markets that Utah’s electricity utilities are part of or plan to be part of. This includes potential negotiations for Utah to join a regional transmission organization. It also would have undermined the Community Clean Energy Program referenced below, but timely work by us and others ensured that those provisions were changed.

Nuclear Energy Gets Support from Utah Legislature

The Utah Legislature passed several bills in relation to nuclear energy, specifically authorizing the creation of a state Nuclear Energy Regulatory Office within the state Dept. of Environmental Quality as part of HB 78. It also encouraged Utah to enter into an agreement with the federal government to explore becoming a host of a nuclear fuel lifecycle campus.

See all the bills we followed this year in our  Legislative Tracker here.