Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears legislative roundup; water conservation, elections and short-term rental changes highlighted
Summary
City staff and the city attorney reviewed state bills passed this session and those that did not pass, identifying items with direct effects on local zoning, water rates, elections and stormwater enforcement.
Washington City’s public affairs official and city attorney briefed the council April 23 on a slate of bills from the 2025 Utah legislative session that could affect city operations and planning.
The tag-team update — Thad (city attorney) and Jordan Hess (public affairs) — summarized enacted and failed bills the city had tracked. Items discussed as particularly relevant to Washington City included:
- SB 220 (stormwater enforcement): described in the stormwater presentation; changes inspection and enforcement for construction-related stormwater (see separate article). - HB 274 (water-conservation in rate-setting): requires retail water suppliers to consider water-conservation measures, including at least one water-conservation effort, when setting water rates and encourages tiered rate structures for the highest usage block; the bill allows water-conservation blocks to include non-cost-based conservation charges. - HB 285 (water-infrastructure when state/federal money used): requires capital asset management plans and reserve analyses when state or federal funds are used on water projects. - HB 256 and related social-issues bills (labor and pronoun disciplinary protections): Thad summarized a variety of bills that change employment and school district obligations; the presentation noted potential implications for city employment policies. - HB 300 (election changes): clarifies voter registration verification procedures, requires lieutenant-governor information exchanges with federal courts for voter eligibility, and phases in a move where voters must affirmatively request a mail-in ballot (by 2029 mail-in ballots will be by request rather than automatic mailing). - HB 250 (flags on government property): establishes which flags government entities and schools may display and disallows other flags on government flagpoles except for listed exempt flags. - Short-term rental enforcement changes (HB 256/others): local governments may use a listing on a short-term rental marketplace as evidence in enforcement actions and the listing can be used as evidence for transient room tax (TRT) enforcement; the city may also ask platforms to remove listings.
Jordan Hess also recapped bills that failed or were altered after municipal pushback, including proposals that would have forced accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on all residential lots and attempts to create a centralized state “Beehive” economic development agency that would limit municipal input. He said Washington City and the League of Cities and Towns engaged with legislators on some measures; staff noted several bills remain politically contentious and may reappear in special session or future sessions.
Hess noted the Public Sector Labor Union Amendments passed the legislature and that organizers collected signatures to refer the law to the ballot; proponents submitted more than the 40,000 signatures required. If qualified, that referendum would appear on the statewide ballot in 2026 for voters to decide whether to sustain or overturn the legislature’s action.
Council members asked about next steps for water conservation in rate-setting and broader implications for development and enforcement; staff said the city will begin evaluating the statute changes and incorporate needed work into forthcoming capital planning and rate discussions.
