WFEDD hears legislative recap: energy, housing, transportation and workforce bills highlighted

Speakers from the Salt Lake Chamber and Wasatch Front Regional Council summarized legislation from the recently adjourned 2025 Utah legislative session and discussed potential impacts for local governments and economic development practitioners.

Mary Catherine Perry, vice president for public policy and government affairs at the Salt Lake Chamber, and Miranda (surname not specified) of the Wasatch Front Regional Council provided an overview of bills that the chamber and regional staff tracked during session.

On energy, presenters identified House Bill 249 (nuclear power amendments) as creating a nuclear energy consortium and an energy council with a process to designate electrical energy development zones and a property tax differential to fund electrical infrastructure; Senate Bill 132 (electric utility amendments) was described as clarifying how large-load customers (for example data centers and AI facilities) may be served and ensuring costs for those large loads are allocated without disproportionately affecting existing ratepayers.

On housing, speakers highlighted House…