C e nt e nn ia l
1916-2016
Issue 5
FEBRUARY 22 , 2016
House Bills
2S HB 11, Referendum Amendments, Rep. Cox (R) West Valley City (Escamilla) –
Changes the referendum process requirements when seeking to challenge the state law.
Farm Bureau supports the republic, representative form of government. However, under certain guidelines, Farm Bureau supports an initiative or referendum process – see UFBF policy
“Government by Initiative” page 20. Bill failed on the House Floor. Farm Bureau monitored.
3S HB 25, Property Tax Changes, Rep. McCay (R) Riverton (Henderson) - Modifies the
calculation of the school board levy property tax rates. The original bill would have made
greenbelt lands ineligible for greenbelt if the landowner installed permanent or temporary
structures and/or improvements for commercial purposes and not as an integral part of production agriculture. Farm Bureau worked with the Utah State Tax Commission, a number of
County Assessors and the House sponsor to amend the bill which removed this greenbelt
provision. Farm Bureau has agreed to work with greenbelt stakeholders to resolve this issue
during the interim. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
* Bills Added Since Last Week
Bills of Interest

HB 244

HB 360

HB 363

HB 367

HCR 13

SB 173
Policy Watch
Newsletters
The intended purpose of the
Policy Watch newsletter is
to inform Farm Bureau
members of current bills
and legislation that affect
agriculture.
Activities of the Utah Farm
Bureau Federation in 2016
will be based on the policies
outlined in the 2016 UFBF
Policy Book adopted November 20, 2015 .
HB 65, Exemption from Daylight Saving Time, Rep. Cox (R)
West Valley City – Would exempt Utah from the observance of
Daylight Saving Time and require Utah to observe Mountain Standard Time on a year-round basis. Farm Bureau supports Mountain
Daylight Time with time changes in the spring and fall. Waiting for
a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau opposes.
HB 78, Abandoned Road Amendments, Rep. Handy (R) Layton
– Clarifies that if a portion of a street to be dedicated as part of a
subdivision plat has been previously dedicated and abandoned
then that portion of the street is not required to be signed, dedicated and acknowledged as such. Waiting for a House Committee
hearing. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
HB 82, Property Taxing Authority for Public Water, Rep. Powell
(R) Heber City – Amends the maximum levy rate for water districts
served by the Upper Basin Colorado River Compact. If passed,
the amendment would begin January 1, 2021 and would decrease
the maximum levy to .0002 per dollar of taxable value of taxable
property (currently .0004 per dollar of taxable value of taxable
property). Farm Bureau supports those directly benefiting from water projects be the primary source of revenue. Sponsor has agreed
to not advance the bill. Farm Bureau opposes.
Contact Us
Ron Gibson, President
[email protected]
Stephen Osguthorpe, VP
[email protected]
1S HB 84, Wildlife Amendments, Rep. McKell (R) Spanish Fork
(Hinkins) – Clarifies that a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
(DWR) issued license, permit, tag, or certificate of registration is a
privilege, not a right. Furthermore, clarifies a hunting permit, administered in a DWR drawing, can not be transferred, sold or assigned to another person. Bill was amended in committee to lower
the age requirement to 12 for those desiring to hunt limited entry
drawings. Passed both the House and Senate. Waiting for the Governor's signature. Farm Bureau supports.
Utah Farm Bureau Policy Watch
Randy Parker, CEO and
Secretary/Treasurer
[email protected]
Sterling Brown
VP Public Policy
[email protected]
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HB 115, Beekeeping Modifications, Rep. Roberts (R) Santaquin – Amends the law so beekeepers
would no longer be required to register their bees with Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food.
Also, prohibits a city or county from adopting an ordinance, rule, regulation or resolution prohibiting a
property owner from establishing or maintaining an apiary. Farm Bureau is concerned the lack of registration may lead to difficulties in controlling potential disease outbreaks and make it increasingly difficult for crop growers to contact beekeepers when spraying pesticides. Held in House Committee.
Farm Bureau opposes.
1S HB 126, Unmanned Aircraft Revisions, Rep. Powell (R) Heber City – Prohibits an individual
from flying an unmanned aircraft within three miles of a wildland fire unless the person is a public operator or with a law enforcement agency. Farm Bureau supports unmanned aircraft use for reasons
to improve and enhance agricultural operations. Farm Bureau opposes the use of these aircraft for
activities that would endanger personal and public safety. Waiting for House Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
HB 144, Food Freedom Act, Rep. Roberts (R) Santaquin – Would exempt agricultural producers
from state, county or city permitting requirements for the preparation, serving, use, consumption or
storage of food and food products that are produced and sold within Utah, sold directly to an informed
consumer and for home consumption. All fruits, vegetables, dairy and poultry products would apply.
All other meat products are not included in this bill. Farm Bureau supports producer vertical integration, direct to consumer sales, with consideration towards risk and scale. Bill sponsor did not attend
Committee hearing, but public comment was taken. Held in Committee for possible further action.
Farm Bureau opposes.
HB 161, Agricultural Parcel Amendments, Rep. McKell (R) Spanish Fork (Henderson) – Allows a
county to enact an ordinance allowing for a parcel of land, which has an existing single family dwelling, to be divided into two parcels so long as one parcel remains in agricultural use. Farm Bureau believes this can help preserve agricultural lands. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
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ABOUT RESOLUTIONS
Legislative intent is generally expressed in two important types of measures:
bills and resolutions. The
word “bill” is often used to
include resolutions; however, its specific meaning
refers to proposed statutory enactments. Resolutions
express legislative intent or
position. Three variations
of legislative resolutions
are used depending on the
need.
HB 168, Transportation Funding Modifications, Rep. Anderson (R)
Taylorsville (Jackson) -- Would allow Salt Lake County to expand their
legislative authority to purchase property from funds deposited into the
Highway Project Fund for additional uses including pedestrian and
nonmotorized vehicle trails, parking garages and bridges. Farm Bureau
is monitoring this bill to ensure funds are not used to exercise eminent
domain for recreational purposes. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm
Bureau is monitoring.
SIMPLE RESOLUTION
A simple resolution need
only be passed by the
house of origin (House or
Senate). It is used to initiate
action involving only that
house, such as establishing a committee or altering
the houses’ rules.
HB 169, Little Sahara State Park Designation, Rep. Eliason (R)
Sandy – Authorizes Utah’s Division of Parks and Recreation to enter into
an agreement with the BLM to use the Little Sahara Recreation Area as a
State Park – approx. 56,000 acres. Furthermore, directs Utah’s Division
of Parks and Recreation to pursue a land transfer with BLM, through purchase or lease. A transfer could only occur if the newly created Park was
financially self-sustaining, no negative impacts to existing grazing allotments and SITLA was made whole. Farm Bureau supports the transfer
of federal lands to state and local governments as along as lands are administered under multiple-use management. Waiting for House Floor action. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
JOINT RESOLUTION
A joint resolution must be
passed by both House and
Senate. It is used for matters involving both houses,
such as appointing joint
committees or issuing joint
communiques. Proposals
to amend the Utah Constitution are contained in joint
resolutions.
HB 180, Sales and Use Tax Exemption Amendments Rep. Wilson (R)
Kaysville – Would exempt any input for industry that lasts longer than 3
years to be tax exempt. This bill only applies to corporations, not individuals. Farm Bureau believes if a manufacturing companies can save on
input costs through tax exemptions, consumers (farmers and ranchers)
can also save when purchasing these products. Waiting for a House
Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
1S HB 187, Animal Shelter Amendments, Rep. Anderson (R) Taylorsville – Would allow veterinarians to only use sodium pentobarbital or a
derivative as the exclusive method for euthanasia of an animal. It would
prohibit veterinarians from using carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or
other non-anesthetic inhalant; a chamber that causes a change in body
oxygen by means of altering atmospheric pressure, or is connected to an
internal combustion engine and uses the engine exhaust. Farm Bureau
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CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
supports the humane treatment of animals. Waiting for a House Floor
Action. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
A concurrent resolution
must be passed by the
House and Senate and
signed by the governor. It
is used to express the position of the state on a specific matter.
HB 194, Milk Sales Amendments, Rep. Anderegg (R) Lehi (Dayton)
– Allows a producer to sell raw and pasteurized milk in their self-owned
retail store, as long as the milk sold is on the premise where it is produced, the producer has a permit from Utah’s Department of Agriculture
and Food, the milk is sold to households and not for resale, the milk is
bottled in sanitary conditions and the raw milk must be in separate, labeled display cases. Farm Bureau policy was amended last year to
support such legislation. Passed both the House and Senate. Waiting
for the Governor’s signature. Farm Bureau supports.
The type of resolution the
sponsor chooses depends
on whether one house,
both houses, or both houses and the governor support the concept under
consideration. If a legislator
decides to use the concurrent resolution, that legislator should make sure the
governor supports it before
filing the resolution. Once
introduced, a concurrent
resolution cannot be made
a simple (i.e., House or
Senate) resolution or visa
versa.
HB 211, Agricultural Exemption Amendments, Rep. Perry (R) Perry
(Hinkins) – Amends the current duties of the state veterinarian to help
coordinate the Department’s responsibilities, including assisting the
meat inspection manager. Furthermore, sets in place specific fencing
guidelines when holding bison - eight feet fences and gates, hi-tensile
steel, four-inch diameter posts, etc. Waiting for a Senate Committee
hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
HB 213, Agricultural Modifications, Rep. Sandall (R) Tremonton
(Dayton) – Proposes to add the following representatives to Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food Agriculture Advisory Board: Dean of
Utah State University College of Agriculture and Applied Science and
Vice President of Extension, urban and small farmers, Elk Breeders Association, Beekeepers Association and the Fur Breeders Association.
Furthermore, amends representation on the Domesticated Elk Act Advisory Council. Waiting for a Senate Committee hearing. Farm Bureau
supports.
Except for joint resolutions
amending the Utah Constitution, resolutions generally have no force of law.
They are considered an
expression of the Legislature and are printed in the
annual session laws (Laws
of Utah) but are not codified (i.e. placed in the Utah
Code).
1S HB 215, Local Option Sales and Use Tax Amendments, Rep.
Greene (R) Pleasant Grove - Authorizes a county to impose a local option sales and use tax for highways and public transit. Farm Bureau,
and many in Utah’s business community, worked with last year’s legislature to pass a compromise bill addressing transportation funding. If
passed, Farm Bureau is concerned this bill would undo and expand
transportation funding efforts from last year. Held in committee. Farm
Bureau opposes.
HB 218, Utah Revised Nonprofit Corporation Act, Rep. McIff (R)
Richfield – States a member or shareholder in a mutual water company
has an undivided interest in real property, proportional to the member
or shareholder’s shares. Also, the member or shareholder is a person
entitled to the use of water. Farm Bureau is concerned these amendments would weaken current safeguards designed to protect the integrity and viability of the mutual water companies. See SB 116 - same bill.
Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau opposes.
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HB 222, Nonuse Application Amendments, Rep.
Hawkes (R) Centerville (Dayton) – States that approval of one or more nonuse applications, or successive overlapping nonuse application, does not
protect a water right that is already subject to forfeiture. Also, nor does the approval of one or more
nonuse application constitute beneficial use of water. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau
supports.
HB 232, Scenic Byway Amendments, Rep. Noel
(R) Kanab -- Amends the law to require (currently
voluntary) the Utah State Scenic Byway Committee
to segment a state scenic byway, National Scenic
Byway, or All-American Road at the written request
of the owner of real property that is a non-scenic
area adjacent to a state scenic byway, National
Scenic Byway, or All-American Road. Waiting for
House Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
*HB 244, Independent Energy Producer Amendments, Rep. Francis (R)
Spanish Fork - Exempts an independent energy producer that provides energy to a residential customer from participating in a net metering program in an area served
by an electrical corporation
with more than
200,000 retail customers. Waiting for House Floor
action. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
HB 253, Public Trust Amendments, Rep. Hawkes (R) Centerville - Ensures that when the
State Engineer approves an application to appropriate or an application for permanent change,
there is an assumption that the approval is made in full compliance with the state’s public trust
obligations. Farm Bureau opposes extending the public trust doctrine to any private property
rights established prior to statehood. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
HB 256, Net Metering of Electricity Amendments, Rep. Cox (R) West Valley City - Would allow a customer to receive cash payment instead of credit from an electrical corporation when receiving payment for producing customer-generated electricity. Waiting for a House Committee
hearing. Farm Bureau opposes.
HB 257 Water Funding Revisions, Rep. Perry (R) Perry - Currently, 1/16th cent of sales tax
funds is dedicated towards water development and projects. Another 1/16th cent sales tax is dedicated towards transportation, new projects and maintenance. This bill proposes to move the revenue from transportation sales tax into the water infrastructure restricted account that was created
last year. Funds from that account are used for water development projects. Farm Bureau believes continued water development and infrastructure is essential and necessary for Utah’s rural
and urban economy. The passage of this bill would provide greater security and certainty in furthering the sustainability of Utah’s agriculture industry by providing additional water projects
throughout the state. See SB 80 - same bill. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
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HB 270, Constitutional Defense Restricted Account Amendments,
Rep. Noel (R) Kanab - Would expand the use of funds, appropriated to
the Constitutional Defense Restricted Account, to be used by the Office
of the Attorney General or any other state or local government entity for
purposes of bringing an action to establish the right of a state or local
government officer or employee to enter onto federal land or use of federal road. Waiting for House Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
1S HB 276, Utah Public Land Management Act, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab
- Creates a new Division within Utah’s Department of Natural Resources
called “Division of Land Management.” Expands the duties of the Director of Utah’s Department of Natural Resources and the Commissioner of
Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food to administer this new Division. Waiting for House Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
1S HB 284, Injured Wildlife Amendments, Rep. Liffereth (R) Eagle
Mountain (Hinkins) - Would allow persons who seriously injure livestock
or wildlife while in a vehicle accident to humanely kill the animal to prevent undo suffering. Held in House Committee for possible amendments. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
1S HB 287, Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands and
Private Donations for Public Lands Litigation, Rep. Christofferson
(R) Lehi - Creates two separate accounts. Both accounts would be used
to establish funds to litigate the United States for purposes of transferring
public lands to the State of Utah. One account would be for Utah to deposit funds. The second account would created for other states and/or
other organizations to help fund the same effort. Farm Bureau supports the transfer of public lands
from federal management to state and local governments. Waiting for House Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
HB 305, Water Rights and Resources Amendments, Rep. Briscoe (D) Salt Lake City - Requires a
certified water operator of a public water supplier, or professional engineer to verify the accuracy of
water use and supply data submitted to Utah’s Division of Drinking Water. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
HB 309, Sales and Use Tax Earmark Amendments, Rep. McCay (R) Riverton - Would prevent the
revenue from sales taxes to be transferred to the Utah Agriculture Resource and Development Loan
Fund (ARDL). Low-interest ARDL loans are available through the Utah Conservation Commission and
used for the conservation of soil and water, increased agricultural yields, maintaining the protection of
crops and animals and reducing damages to agriculture resulting from natural disasters. Passage of
this bill would also prevent sales tax revenue (earmarks) (total of approx. $38 million) from being directed to other programs within Utah’s Department of Natural Resources. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
HB 315, Beekeeping Amendments, Rep. McIff (R) Richfield - Amends the law stating any apiary
with 21 plus hives will register as a commercial operation and no commercial apiaries may be within a
2 mile radius of each other. If there is a dispute, the operation with a senior registration date would be
allowed to stay and other apiary required to relocate unless granted a variance through the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Those in violation of this law would could be guilty of a Class B
Misdemeanor. Farm Bureau believes added requirements for apiaries, orchard growers and hay
growers could be burdensome and not necessary. Held in House Committee. Farm Bureau opposes.
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*HB 360 Land Use Amendments, Rep.
Brown (R) Coalville- Amends the law to state
that if a county or municipality enacts an ordinance that imposes stricter land-use requirements than the current ordinance or standard, they would be required to publish that
change in a newspaper, county website, or in
a conspicuous notification area. Farm Bureau
supports local development of county/city
land-use plans and the creation of a state
land use plan. Waiting for a House Committee meeting. Farm Bureau supports
*HB 363 Grazing Zone Amendments, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab - Establishes new Utah Grazing Agricultural Commodity Zones in Beaver County comprised of BLM lands within specific townships. The
purpose of these zones is to preserve and protect the agricultural livestock industry, customs, culture and economic value from ongoing threats. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
*HB 367 National Forest Road Obstructions Rep. Noel (R) Kanab- Gives a County Commission/
Council and County Sherriff authority to clear an obstruction to a road that is within Cedar City, Powell, Escalante and Fremont Ranger Districts of the Dixie National Forest Service in Garfield, Iron,
Kane and Wayne counties. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
HCR 1, Concurrent Resolution on Waters of the United States, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab (Hinkins)
– Expresses disapproval of the expansion of the term “Water of the United States” to include
ephemeral drainage systems, dry washes, gullies, coulees and arroyos. Passed both the House and
Senate. Waiting for the Governor’s signature. Farm Bureau supports.
HCR 6, Concurrent Resolution Celebrating the Utah Farm Bureau Centennial, Rep. Chew (R)
Jensen (Dayton) – Recognizes the Utah Farm Bureau Federation for strengthening agriculture and
rural communities and improving the lives of all Utahns and congratulates the Utah Farm Bureau on
its 100 years of leadership and service to its members and the State of Utah. Waiting for Senate
Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
HCR 11, Concurrent Resolution Encouraging the Repayment of Funds Used to Keep National
Parks, Monuments and Recreation Areas Open, Rep. Ivory (R) West Jordan - Calls on Congress to repay the State of Utah the expenses incurred while keeping National Parks and Monuments open during the 2013 shutdown. Nearly $700,000 has been repaid. Another $1 million is
outstanding. Farm Bureau supports state and/or county governments assuming control of national
parks immediately after any federal government shutdown. Waiting for House Floor action. Farm
Bureau supports.
*HCR 13 Concurrent Resolution Urging Congress to Support the Implementation of Utah's
Sage-grouse Conservation Plan, Rep. Sandall (R) Tremonton - Urges Congress to provide protections for the implementation of Utah’s Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan on both public and private
lands. Furthermore, calls on Congress to enact legislation encouraging state primacy in the longterm management of sage-grouse and sage-grouse habitat. Waiting of a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
HJR 2, Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution – Right to Food, Rep. Roberts (R) Santaquin – Proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to establish an individual right to grow food for their own consumption or to acquire farm-produced food. Nothing in the proposed Constitution Amendment would
prohibit the Utah Legislature from providing laws for the regulation of the production, processing and
distribution of food for retail, restaurant or commercial use. Farm Bureau supports producer vertical
integration, direct to consumer sales, with consideration towards risk and scale. Waiting for a House
Committee hearing. Farm Bureau opposes.
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HJR 4, Joint Resolution on Water Infrastructure Transfer, Rep. McKell (R) Spanish Fork – Calls on Utah’s Congressional Delegation to support Utah water users organizations that have repaid, or wish to repay, reclamation projects to secure title transfer of project works and project water rights free from
terms and conditions that were not contemplated at the time of the repayment contracts.
Farm Bureau supports the transfer of both
title and water rights, but monitoring which
water organization should receive tile and water rights. Waiting for a House Committee
hearing. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
HJR 8, Joint Resolution Calling for a Convention to Amend the Constitution of the United
States, Rep. Ivory (R) West Jordan - Expresses support for a convention of the state's for the
purpose of discussing potential amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Farm Bureau believes the United States Constitution is a divinely, inspired document subject to changes
through the amendment process. Farm Bureau opposes calling a constitutional convention. Waiting for House Floor action. Farm Bureau opposes.
Senate Bills
1S SB 23, Water Law – Protected Purchaser Amendments, Sen. Dayton (R) Orem (Grover) –
Amends the definition of “Protected Purchaser” to state that a share of stock issued by a land
company or a water company pays an assessment levied against the share of stock for at least
four of the immediate past seven years. Passed the Senate. Waiting for House Floor action.
Farm Bureau supports.
SB 28, Water System Conservation Pricing, Sen. Jenkins (R) Plain City (Perry) – Requires
culinary water providers to establish a rate structure that increases with use. The bill would establish a rate increase for every block of water increase a customer uses. Farm Bureau supports
wise water conservation, but is concerned about possible future mandatory conservation practices
for production agriculture. Passed both the Senate and House. Waiting for the Governor’s signature. Farm Bureau monitored.
SB 44, Construction Code Amendments, Sen. Dayton (R) Orem – Proposes that agricultural
roadside stands, less than 1,500 square feet, be exempt from permitting requirements (currently
1,000 square feet). Waiting for a Senate Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
1S SB 49, Statute of Limitations on Environmental Code Violations, Rep. Escamilla (D) Salt
Lake (Chavez-Houck) – Amends Utah’s statute of limitations for violating the environmental quality
code (air and water) from one year to five years. Amended in committee from five years to two
years. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
SB 66, Environmental Code Fines, Rep. Escamilla (D) Salt Lake – Increases fines for violators
of the air conservation act from $25,000 to $65,000, but no more than $130,500 per day. Held in
Senate Committee. Waiting for further Senate Committee action. Farm Bureau opposes.
SB 72, School and Institutional Trust Lands Management Act Amendments, Sen. Dayton
(R) Orem (McKell) – Would allow the Director of SITLA to withdraw lands from public target shooting only after consulting with the county sheriff and representatives from leading sports shooting
organizations. Waiting for a House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
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SB 75, Water Rights Adjudication Amendments, Sen. Dayton (R) Orem
(Sandall) – Amends the procedures the State Engineer must follow during an adjudication as well as modifies historic requirements on those holding water rights.
Several amendments include: A failure of a potential party to file a timely statement of claim constitutes a default against the party, requires the State Engineer to
authorize one extension to those seeking to file a statement of claim and requires
the State Engineer to complete a hydrographic survey map, prepare a proposed
determination, serve public notice and by mail. The purpose of these changes is
to modernize the process of adjudication and increase efficiency. Farm Bureau
supports increased efforts to complete pending water rights adjudication. Waiting for House Floor
action. Farm Bureau supports.
SB 80, Infrastructure Funding Amendments, Sen. Adams (R) Layton (Perry) — Currently,
1/16th cent of sales tax funds is dedicated towards water development and projects. Another 1/16th
cent sales tax is dedicated towards transportation, new projects and maintenance. This bill proposes
to move the revenue from transportation sales tax into the water infrastructure restricted account that
was created last year. Funds from that account are used for water development projects. Farm Bureau believes continued water development and infrastructure is essential and necessary for Utah’s
rural and urban economy. The passage of this bill would provide greater security and certainty in furthering the sustainability of Utah’s agriculture industry by providing additional water projects throughout the state. See HB 257 - same bill. Passed the Senate. Waiting for a House Committee hearing.
Farm Bureau supports.
1S SB 92, Municipal Landscape Amendments, Sen. Jenkins (R) Plain City – States a city or
county cannot require commercial and industrial property owners to landscape with grass if the area
is fenced and not visible to the public. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
SB 102, High Cost Infrastructure Tax Credit Amendments, Sen. Okerlund (R) Monroe
(Francis) - Changes the amount of the high cost infrastructure tax credit administered by the Office
of Energy Development. This bill is designed to incentivize new business and existing business
growth throughout rural Utah, including production agriculture businesses. Waiting for Senate Floor
action. Farm Bureau supports.
1S SB 110, Water Quality Amendments, Sen. Hinkins (R) Orangeville (McKell)- Establishes an
independent, peer review process that will evaluate challenges made to proposals from the Division
of Water Quality. Three independent experts who are mutually agreeable to both the division and the
challenging party will be appointed to the panel to prepare a written report for the division. The panel’s review must include certain scientific findings when related to a specified downstream water
body or a series of hydrologically connected water bodies. Waiting for a Senate Floor action. Farm
Bureau is monitoring.
SB 112, Property Tax Assessment Amount Amendments, Sen. Stephensen (R) Draper
(McCay). - States the burden of proof falls on the County Assessor when a property owner is appealing the value of property. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
SB 115, Sustainable Transportation and Energy Plan Act, Sen. Adams (R) Layton - Gives further authority to the Utah Legislature and away from the Public Service Commission (PSC) to determine energy programs, particularly renewable energy programs. Utah Farm Bureau believes the
legislature sets policy and the PSC, among other things, approves programs for Rocky Mountain
Power to implement. Furthermore, Farm Bureau believes this legislation could open the door for the
legislature to fund pet projects using ratepayer money instead of justifying the project with general
funds. Passed out of a Senate Committee with the understanding amendments would be made on
the Senate Floor. Farm Bureau opposes.
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SB 116, Water Law - Nonprofit Corporation Amendments, Sen. Bramble (R) Orem - States that a member
or shareholder of a mutual water
company has an undivided interest in
real property, proportional to the
member’s or shareholder’s shares.
Also, the member or shareholder is a
entitled to the use of water. Farm
Bureau is concerned these amendments would weaken current safeguards designed to protect and viability of the mutual water companies.
See HB 218 - same bill. Waiting for a
Senate Committee hearing. Farm
Bureau opposes.
SB 122, Wildland Fire Policy Updates, Sen. Vickers (R) Cedar City
(Briscoe) - Requires both cities and counties to reduce the risk of wildfire on unincorporated, private or
county owned lands through appropriate wildfire prevention and preparedness and mitigation actions.
Authorizes cities and counties to enter into a cooperative agreement with the State of Utah. Those
cities and counties who enter into this agreement may be eligible to have the costs of wildfire suppression paid by the state. Farm Bureau is working to ensure local government is not given access to private lands without permission first. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
SB 144, Dead Domestic Animal Disposal Amendments, Sen. Okerlund (R) Monroe (Owens) Amends the current list of domestic animals that can be disposed of or buried by the owner to include
birds. If passed, the list would include: bovine, horse, mule, goat, sheep, bird, or swine. Waiting for a
House Committee hearing. Farm Bureau supports.
*SB 173 State Fair Park Revisions, Sen. Van Tassell (R) Vernal - Amends the membership of the
State Fair Board to include additional business related experience. Creates a Subcommittee to the
State Fair Board comprised of three state Senators and three state Representatives. Waiting for a
Senate Committee hearing. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
SCR 1, Concurrent Resolution Encouraging Universal Metering of Water Systems, Sen. Jenkins
(R) Plain City (Perry) – Encourages all public water suppliers, both culinary and secondary, to implement metering on all retail public and private water systems. Farm Bureau encourages the beneficial
use of natural resources, including all water. Passed both the Senate and House. Waiting for the
Governor's signature . Farm Bureau supports.
SCR 8, Concurrent Resolution Approving the Test and Training Range Land Exchange, Sen. J.
Stevenson (R) Layton (Sagers) - Approves the proposed exchange of School and Institutional Trust
Lands and mineral interests in Box Elder, Tooele, Juab and Washington counties for BLM lands in
Box Elder, Tooele, Juab, Millard and Beaver counties. Furthermore, recognizes that the land received
by the state in the exchange would provide greater economic development potential. Waiting for Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau supports.
SJR 3, Proposal to Amend Utah Constitution, Sen. Harper (R) Taylorsville (Ivory) - Would allow
property leased by the State of Utah or by a political subdivision of the state to be exempt from property tax. If this resolution passes, then this issue would go on the November 2016 General Election ballot. If passed, the Utah Constitution would be amended and take effect January 1, 2017. Waiting for
Senate Floor action. Farm Bureau is monitoring.
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