House approves bill letting counties ask voters for quarter‑cent sales tax for regional transportation, limits fixed‑guideway property taxes

House Bill 4,001, a measure to give counties a new local revenue option for regionally significant transportation projects, passed the Utah House on a 55–19–1 vote and was sent to the Senate.

The bill lets a county legislative body place an up‑to‑quarter‑cent sales‑and‑use tax question before voters in a November election after the local governing body approves it. "The first thing that this bill does is it prohibits counties from levying a property tax, to fund a fixed guideway after January 1," sponsor Representative Lockhart said in opening remarks. Lockhart added that the bill preserves the ability of counties to collect property taxes that voters had already approved.

Lockhart told colleagues the measure also requires local Councils of Governments (COGs) and mayors to adopt a prioritization process for projects. "They would meet, they would put together a prioritization process," Lockhart said, and the bill lists criteria that include project cost‑effectiveness and the degree to which a project reduces regional congestion.

For counties of the first and second class the bill requires that prioritization process to be submitted to the Legislature's Executive Appropriations Committee so the Legislature can review whether the process meets legislative intent. Lockhart said the requirement was intended as oversight of a new local revenue tool: "It is our responsibility to have oversight in terms of this policy decision."

Members debated how to provide that oversight. Representative Tilton offered a substitute amendment to have the interim Transportation Committee review the plans; the substitute failed after debate about whether interim committees, appointed committee membership, or Executive Appropriations offered the right mix of expertise and accountability. Opponents of changing oversight warned against removing a legislative check; supporters said the Transportation Commission or technical bodies might better understand mobility tradeoffs.

An additional amendment clarified administrative‑cost language and stated that funds raised under the new tax shall not supplant monies already designated for state projects. Representative Hoke asked whether the department administering the fund could use the new revenue for its administrative costs; Lockhart said the bill was amended so the department could recover additional administrative costs tied to the new revenue without allowing supplanting of previously designated state project funds.

Debate included repeated arguments about local control versus legislative oversight. Representative Steve Clark urged giving counties flexibility: "Let's give them a chance," he said, urging colleagues not to "micromanage" local decisions. Others countered that the Legislature should retain a role to ensure the money is spent consistent with legislative intent, particularly given an upcoming Salt Lake County ballot that could be affected by the new authority.

The House adopted separate journal language stating that the Legislature's intent in passing HB 4,001 is that counties not supplant existing transportation revenues with money raised under the bill.

The bill passed the House and was referred to the Senate for further consideration.

Votes and next steps: The final House roll‑call on HB 4,001 recorded 55 yes, 19 no and 1 absent. The measure now moves to the Senate for committee assignment and further action.