Legislative team briefs council on bills affecting public safety, elections, signage, gravel pits and energy

City legislative staffers Angela Price and Kate Bradshaw briefed the Salt Lake City Council on Feb. 11 about a package of bills under consideration at the Utah Legislature that city staff are tracking and, in some cases, negotiating with sponsors.

The briefing covered bills in several policy areas and explained where Salt Lake City staff and the Utah League of Cities and Towns are engaged in amendment discussions.

Nut graf: The legislative team emphasized that many bills with direct city impact are active in mid-session: a public-safety interagency bill (HB465) that could withhold mitigation funding unless the city enters an agreement with the state Department of Public Safety; a jail-capacity bill (HB312); multiple bills affecting unsheltered homelessness and mitigation funding; a package of election-law measures focused on mail ballots (HB300) that would require voters to request mail ballots and include ID-related provisions for returned ballots; bills on signage/billboards (HB198) and gravel pit/critical-infrastructure amendments (HB355); and two competing Senate energy measures (SB132 and SB227) aimed at large power loads and pathways for data centers and hyperscale customers.

Key points: - HB465 (law enforcement agency amendments): Introduced by Rep. Snyder and newly posted, this bill would allow the state to withhold certain mitigation and B&C road funds if the city does not enter an interagency agreement with the Department of Public Safety; it would also create a rapid response team for illegal camping and large-scale illegal drug distribution. City staff said they are negotiating sponsor amendments and have suggested metrics from the city public-safety plan to include in any agreement. - HB312 (criminal justice amendments): Staff said Representative Lisenby is running a bill addressing jail capacity; city staff are monitoring it. - Homelessness bills: Multiple bills were reported as active, including measures by Representative Clancy and Senator Wyler addressing unsheltered populations and a Representative Miller bill described as “homelessness bill of rights.” Staff said Senator Wyler’s code-red bill had passed the Senate on third reading. - HB300 (election law): Representative Burton’s bill would tighten mail-ballot procedures, require an annual request to receive a mail ballot, add ID checks for returned ballots and expand drop-box and staffing requirements. City staff and the League of Cities and Towns are working to seek amendments to protect municipal election administration and costs. - HB198 (highway signage/billboards): Staff said the city is working with other municipalities and the League to limit the scope of the bill’s proposed expansion of billboard siting along highway projects. - HB355 (critical-infrastructure material/gravel pits): The bill is in committee; the League and several cities are negotiating sponsor amendments to avoid broad expansion of pit owners’ ability to expand operations. - Energy bills (SB132 and SB227): Both bills target very large electricity loads (50 MW+). Staff described them as competing approaches; some merger or compromise may follow because both target the same policy area. One bill would allow third-party projects to provide power to large loads; the other is more permissive for renewables.

Council members asked about appropriations tied to public-safety bills, metrics for interagency agreements, and concerns that election-law changes (more drop boxes and staffing) would drive up county costs without necessarily solving perceived problems. Staff said they are coordinating with the Utah League of Cities and Towns and local partners to pursue amendments.

Ending: The city legislative team asked council members to raise specific issues they want tracked and offered to provide follow-up briefings on individual bills; staff said they expect amendments, continued negotiations and potential senate-side changes as the 7-week session progresses.