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House approves $30 nonresident decal for off‑highway vehicle users, exempts sanctioned events
Summary
Representatives passed the second substitute to HB51 requiring a $30 nonresident decal for off‑highway vehicles, estimating the change will affect roughly 4,000 users and raise about $120,000; the House adopted an amendment exempting sanctioned rallies and events and sent the bill to the Senate 70–2.
The Utah House approved the second substitute to House Bill 51, which expands an existing snowmobile fee to cover all nonresident off‑highway vehicles (ATVs, off‑highway motorcycles and other off‑road vehicles) and requires a $30 fee decal in lieu of registration for nonresidents.
Representative Bowman, the sponsor, explained that the bill extends a current snowmobile permit framework to other off‑highway vehicles and includes an exemption for events sanctioned by cities or government entities. Bowman told the chamber that approximately 1,000 nonresident snowmobile permits are currently issued annually, that the legislation is estimated to apply to about 4,000 users, and that it could generate about $120,000 in additional revenue to maintain and develop trail systems.
He also proposed and successfully offered amendment number 1 to exempt "rallies and races that are sanctioned by cities or governmental entities" and to clarify other event-related exemptions. Members asked whether the requirement applies on private, city/county, or state property; Bowman and an off‑highway vehicle specialist on the floor said the decal would not apply on private property but would apply on state-managed land and may require local city permission on municipal property.
The House voted on the amended second substitute: Second substitute House Bill 51 as amended passed 70 yes, 2 no and will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
