House approves temporary zoning extension to protect transportation corridors

The Utah House on Feb. 26 approved House Bill 114, a temporary zoning regulation amendment designed to protect transportation rights‑of‑way while environmental impact or major investment studies proceed. The measure passed the House 66–3 and will be forwarded to the Senate.

Sponsor Representative Delray moved floor amendments and told colleagues the bill "allows municipalities and counties to temporarily prohibit development while a transportation environmental impact study or a major investment study is taking place," extending the current six‑month temporary regulation by up to two additional six‑month periods at the request of the Department of Transportation. He said the change aims to prevent development from encroaching on rights‑of‑way until long‑range plans are settled.

Lawmakers adopted a set of friendly technical amendments that clarify where the statutory language sits in municipal and county code and add provisions to prevent local governments from imposing impact fees during the temporary zoning period. Representative Bailey (floor comments recorded) described those amendments as a compromise to "protect both sides" — preserving property rights while preventing fee imposition during moratoria.

Debate on the floor emphasized balancing property‑owner interests with the need to secure future transportation corridors. Representative Dillard and others urged support, saying the measure preserves options for future transportation planning. Under House rules the title changes required the bill be read for the first and second times under suspension; that motion was adopted before the final roll call. The House closed debate and recorded the passage: HB 114 passed the House with 66 yes votes and 3 no votes and will be sent to the Senate for consideration.

Next steps: the bill will proceed to the Senate for its consideration; any substantive changes there would return it to the House for concurrence.