Utah House Unanimously Passes Senate Bill 4,002 Adjusting Tax Treatment for Certain Military Pay

The Utah House of Representatives unanimously approved Senate Bill 4,002 during a floor session, sending the one‑year measure back to the Senate after a 72-0 recorded vote.

Representative Peterson, the bill’s floor sponsor, said the legislation is intended to correct unequal tax treatment for National Guard and reserve members called to active duty. “I’ve never been happier or prouder to run a piece of legislation than I am right now,” Peterson said, adding that the change is meant to “give some incentive to stay in the military, to continue to live with the thought that one day I may be called up.”

During floor questioning, Representative Webb raised a procedural concern about whether eliminating Utah tax liability could cause affected service members to become taxable in other states under the Soldiers and Sailors Act. Webb asked in part, “I just wanna make sure that under the Soldiers and Sailors Act … if we’re not charging taxes here, will they be subject to taxes there?” An attorney advising the floor was cited during the exchange; the attorney’s view was summarized as “that’s not the case.”

After brief discussion and a sponsor summation reiterating the bill’s aim to support Guard and reserve retention, the House called the roll. The chief clerk recorded 72 yes votes and 0 no votes; the Speaker announced, “Having received 72 yes votes and 0 no votes, [the bill] passes this body,” and said the measure will be signed by the Speaker and returned to the Senate for the president’s signature.

The Speaker also announced that intent language needed to be added to the bill and that copies of a Senate discussion draft with a technical change would be printed and made available to members before the next item. That administrative step does not change the recorded passage but notes a forthcoming technical insertion to the bill text.

Votes at a glance Senate Bill 4,002 — individual income tax: treatment of certain military income. Outcome: Passed by the House, 72-0. Next step: Returned to the Senate for the president’s signature and inclusion of printed intent language as announced on the floor.

The bill’s text as read on the floor specifies a one‑year application; further details about the exact dollar thresholds, affected tax years, or implementing instructions were not specified on the House floor and will be determined through the Senate’s subsequent handling and any implementing guidance from staff.