Government Affairs

WFRC works closely with public and private partners, including local, regional, state, and federal government, to advance legislative priorities and implement policies that support the Wasatch Choice Vision and Utah’s Unified Transportation Plan. These efforts focus on policy areas such as transportation, land use, economic development, housing, parks and natural spaces, and air quality.

State Legislative Resources

Bill Tracker

WFRC tracks bills that impact transportation and communities along the Wasatch Front during the legislative session.

2026 Bill Tracker

Previous Bill Trackers

Appropriations Tracker

WFRC tracks relevant funding item information as appropriations make their way through the legislative budgeting process.

2026 Appropriations Tracker

Previous Appropriations Trackers

Legislative Session Wrap-Up

Our comprehensive wrap-ups provide detailed information on the key budget and policy items tracked during the session.

2025 Legislative Wrap-Up

Previous Legislative Wrap-Ups

2026 Legislative Summary Briefs

SB197, Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments (Harper/Christofferson)
- This bill ties together governance changes to the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) with a funding mechanism that would provide additional funding into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund (TTIF).
SB242, Transportation Amendments (Harper/Christofferson)
- This “omnibus” bill includes changes to various transportation-related programs, including: the “5th5th” local option sales tax distribution, Highway Reduction Strategy requirements in Salt Lake City, and other programs.

Key State Policies

Station Area Planning (SAP)

State law requires cities with a fixed guideway transit station (rail or BRT) to develop a Station Area Plan (SAP) and update their zoning to implement the SAP. Station Area Plans (SAP) optimize future development in areas around rail and BRT transit stations in a way that fits the context for the specific city and area.

Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones (HTRZ)

Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones (HTRZ) Utah State law enables a portion of incremental tax revenue growth to be captured over a period of time to support mixed-use, multi-family, and affordable housing development within a 1/3-mile radius of UTA FrontRunner stations and ¼ mile of TRAX and BRT stations.

Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZ)

Utah State law authorizes the creation of a TRZ by two or more public agencies by interlocal agreement to capture increased property or sales tax revenue generated by a transportation infrastructure project. TRZs are a tool to assist local governments with the funding and implementation of transportation infrastructure.

First Home Investment Zones (FHIZ)

First Home Investment Zones are a new tool to encourage medium-density centered development and homeownership for first time home buyers within Utah’s municipalities. The bill allows for tax increment capture to accommodate project and system infrastructure costs of the center, and requires certain densities, affordability, deed restrictions, and other requirements.

Local Option Transportation Sales Taxes

Utah State law authorizes the imposition of local option sales taxes for transportation, which is sometimes referred to as “quarters” because generally they are 0.25% tax rates. These local options provide funding for city and county roads and active transportation needs, as well as public transit.

Recent and Archived State Legislation

WFRC provides meaningful analysis of the most noteworthy pieces of legislation impacting transportation policy and our work at WFRC, including comprehensive bill summaries from the past decade.

SB195 Transportation Amendments

SB195, otherwise known as the annual “transportation omnibus” by Senator Wayne Harper, makes a number of changes to various transportation related programs. Some of those changes include requiring cities to do additional transportation connectivity planning, clarifies Station Area Planning (SAP) reporting requirements, increases the Transportation Investment Fund (TIF) earmark, pushes back the start date of transit innovation grants program, and prohibits Salt Lake City from proceeding on certain transportation projects unless they are included in an approved mobility plan.

SB195 Bill Summary

HB502 Transportation and Infrastructure Amendments

HB502 makes a number of changes to new and existing state and local transportation funding programs, including the 5th5th Local Option Sales Tax imposition, provides funding for specific transportation projects in Salt Lake County (as noted above), and creates a new affordable housing grant program in Salt Lake County.

HB502 Summary

SB26 Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Amendments

SB26 makes changes to the existing HTRZ statute. Notably, it clarifies definitions of certain transit-related terms, would require that 25% of affordable units have more than one bedroom, and makes additional changes to the administration of an HTRZ. This bill also allows for the creation of a Convention Center Reinvestment Zone, though our summary does not expound on those provisions.

HB488 Transportation Funding Amendments

HB488 includes several significant changes to key transportation funding programs, including: providing 1% of state sales tax into the TTIF Commuter Rail Restricted Account, funds specific projects from the County of the First Class Highway Projects Fund, makes changes to the “5th 5th” local option sales tax and 2nd quarter local option sales tax.

HB430 Local Government Transportation Services Amendments

HB430 allows for cities to propose piloted transit innovation grants for bus routes, shuttle service, and other innovative transit approaches, that would be focused on high-growth areas that have less transit service than other areas. Funding for these grants could be provided through the Transit Transportation Investment Fund, the “Fifth Fifth” local option sales tax, and the “Fourth Quarter” local option transportation sales tax and would be administered by UDOT.

HB430 WFRC Bill Summary

SB208 Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Amendments

SB208 makes changes to the existing HTRZ statute, notably increasing requirements for affordable housing in an HTRZ (from 10% to 12%), clarifying eligible stations for an HTRZ, enhancing the “but for” financial analysis, and addressing tax administration issues from the tax commission and local assessors.

SB268 First Home Investment Zone Amendments

SB268 creates a new tool to encourage medium-density centered development and homeownership for first time home buyers within Utah’s municipalities. The bill allows for tax increment capture to accommodate project and system infrastructure costs of the center, and requires certain densities, affordability, deed restrictions, and other requirements.

Recently Passed Growth Legislation (2024)

Recently enacted state policies designed to mitigate the challenging impacts of Utah’s rapid population growth on housing, transportation, water, and quality of life are in the process of being implemented at the local level. These new or revised programs and policies are significant multi-year undertakings that involve partnership between state agencies, local governments, and the private sector. The Unified Economic Opportunity Commission has recommended that, “These policies be given adequate time for implementation and evaluation in order to determine their effectiveness, prior to further significant modification.”

Utah’s Recent Growth Legislation Chart

SB260 Transportation Funding Requirements (“5th 5th” Local Option Sales Tax)

SB260 modifies the .20% local option transportation sales tax, also known as the “5th 5th”, which formerly was eligible to be used exclusively for transit capital and service. SB260 eliminated the June 30, 2023 imposition deadline, and allows counties to impose the .20% and divide the funds between transit, cities, and counties.

SB185 Transportation Amendments (Active Transportation Investment Fund)

SB 185 most notably creates the ongoing funding source for the Utah Trails Network through the Active Transportation Investment Fund (ATIF). It also extends the date on the 5th 5th, expands uses of the State Infrastructure Bank, and allows for local distribution of Road Usage Charge Funds.

SB185 WFRC Bill Summary

HB301 Transportation Tax Amendments

HB 301 provides temporary gas tax relief over the next few years, while also establishing a 12.5% tax on the retail sale of electricity at an electric vehicle charging station, and increases vehicle registration fees by $7.

SB84 Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone Amendments

SB 84 makes a number of changes to the Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone statute, which allows for incremental tax revenue growth to be captured around light rail, commuter rail, and bus rapid transit (BRT) stations to support development costs. This bill further clarifies requirements of the proposal and analysis.

HB462 Utah Housing Affordability Amendments

HB462 is intended to help Utah address its significant challenges on housing availability and affordability through changes to moderate income house plan requirements (SB34), station area planning, changes to internal accessory dwelling units, and other various changes.

HB433 Amendments Related to Infrastructure Funding

HB433 Authorizes $1.1 billion in investments in state roads, public transit and active transportation through a combination of the authorization of new bonding and the appropriation of available one-time revenues.

HB433 Amendments Related to Infrastructure Funding Bill Summary

SB217 Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zones

SB 217 is intended to get “all hands on deck” to help Utah tackle its housing crisis by facilitating development in the key areas of FrontRunner stations, capitalizing on the anticipated State investment to improve FrontRunner.

SB150 Transportation Governance and Funding Amendments (2020)

SB150 enhances the coordination of transportation, housing, and land use at TOD sites; and modifies provisions related to UTA; transportation funding including TIF/TTIF and TRZs; UDOT’s RUC program; local option transportation sales taxes; class B&C road funds; transportation network companies; and tollways.

SB 150 Transportation Governance and Funding Bill Summary

SB34 Affordable Housing Modifications (2019)

SB34 encourages local communities to plan for housing for residents of all income levels, and coordinate that housing with transportation. Communities are required to develop a moderate income housing (MIH) plan as part of their general plan. Communities that are required to annually report on their MIH plan implementation must satisfy these requirements to remain eligible for state transportation investments.

SB72 Transportation Governance and Funding Revisions (2019)

SB72 is a follow up to SB136 (2018) and addresses some policy and some technical issues, including making the allowable uses of local option sales taxes for transportation more flexible and consistent across the “quarters”; adjusting UTA and UDOT governance and nomination process; authorizing state transportation capital funds to be used for active transportation projects; establishing guidelines for the road usage charge program; and further describing Transportation Reinvestment Zones (TRZs).

SB 72 Transportation Governance and Funding Revisions Bill Summary

SB136 Transportation Governance Amendments (2018)

Senate Bill (SB) 136, co-sponsored by Senator Wayne Harper and Representative Mike Schultz, is a significant, positive step forward for the future of the Wasatch Front region and state. Utah is growing and changing, and with that comes the need to efficiently use resources to provide transportation choices for our communities. SB 136 provides efficient use of limited resources, as well as a systematic approach to transportation planning that considers both land use and economic development throughout the state.

HB362 Transportation Infrastructure Funding (2015)

On March 12, 2015, the Utah State Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 362 Transportation Infrastructure Funding, and on March 27, Governor Gary Herbert signed the bill into law. This law reformed the state fuel tax to keep pace with inflation and provided local communities with the tools to help address their transportation needs. HB 362 was the first law in 18-years to modify the state fuel tax and the first in state history to comprehensively fund road, transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure. HB 362 contained two main provisions: 1) reform and increase of the state fuel tax and 2) local option sales tax for transportation.

Federal Legislation and Policy

Federal Transportation Reauthorization (2026)

Utah’s transportation agencies and partners have jointly developed a set of Federal Transportation Reauthorization Principles. We worked together to develop these key principles for a multi-year reauthorization that reflects Utah priorities with an eye toward maintaining quality of life as Utah grows. Additionally, Utah’s four Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) developed a set of specific policy priorities for consideration.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021)

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provided $1.2 trillion in infrastructure funding, of which $550 billion is new funding above baseline levels over five years for roads, bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, water, broadband, and other infrastructure programs. The bill also includes a 5-year surface transportation reauthorization. The IIJA expires in September of 2026.

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