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Senate narrowly approves veteran discount for state parks after debate over pilot program and park funding
Summary
First substitute Senate Bill 114, which would formalize and continue a veterans discount program for state parks with an initial 25% discount, passed the Senate 15–14 after lawmakers debated whether a year-long pilot provided enough data and whether the program undercuts state parks’ self‑funding requirement.
First substitute Senate Bill 114, a bill to extend and formalize a program giving certain veterans discounted access to Utah state parks, passed the Senate on a narrow 15–14 vote after sustained floor discussion about pilot data and park financing.
Sponsor Senator Kwan said the bill codifies a pilot program run in 2024 and specifies at least a 25% discount for honorably discharged Utah-resident veterans, with authority for park managers to increase discounts over time. “What we have here is an agreement of a percent at least a 25% discount with the ability for state parks to increase that over time,” Kwan told the Senate.
Senator Sandel (floor transcript alternately spelled “Sandler”) objected to converting the pilot into permanent law without more data and flagged the parks’ budget structure. “Every time we go in and create exemptions, we’re making that harder for our state parks,” Sandel said. He urged caution about expanding eligibility while parks are expected to be self-sustaining.
Kwan and other supporters said State Parks and the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs supported continuing the program at an initial 25% discount so the agencies could collect additional usage data while honoring veterans. Opponents urged more time to collect a full season of data before making the change permanent.
The roll call was close: the clerk recorded 15 yea votes and 14 nay votes. The president announced the bill will be returned to the House for further consideration.
The floor debate centered on (1) program data and whether the pilot provided enough information to make the program permanent, and (2) the fiscal effect on State Parks’ self‑sufficiency. The transcript records requests for clarification from senators and the sponsor’s explanation that federal funding supports some related operations, but no detailed fiscal figures were presented on the floor.
The bill now moves to the House for any further action required.
