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House raises off‑highway vehicle fund cap to help trail grooming; bill passes 46–27
Summary
House Bill 59 raised the cap on the off‑highway vehicle account from $850,000 to $1,050,000 to provide additional funding for trail grooming and related services; proponents cited a rise in registered off‑road vehicles and local economic benefits; the measure passed 46–27.
The Utah House passed House Bill 59 to increase the cap on the off‑highway vehicle account by $200,000 (from $850,000 to $1,050,000) to support trail grooming and maintenance for snowmobiles, ATVs and other off‑road recreation.
Representative Goodfellow explained that registrations increased dramatically since 1997 — from roughly 60,000 to more than 160,000 — and that the additional funds would allow for more groomed trails and safer distribution of recreational traffic. He framed the change as a fairness issue, noting that users pay gasoline and property taxes that support local services.
Opponents raised concerns about timing and competing priorities for road and bridge funds; supporters said the earmarked gasoline tax revenue was intended for this fund and the cap had not kept pace with vehicle growth.
The House voted and the clerk recorded the result as 46 yes, 27 no; the bill will proceed to the Senate for further consideration.
