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House approves high-voltage power-line siting and notice rules in consensus bill
Summary
The House concurred with a Senate substitute of SB41 (High Voltage Power Lines Act), requiring utilities to provide advance notice and structured public comment periods when filing conditional-use permits for major corridors; the bill passed unanimously.
The Utah House on March 11 concurred with third substitute Senate Bill 41, legislation the sponsor described as a consensus effort among utilities, cities and counties to improve communications and local input on major utility corridors.
Representative Ferry, the bill’s sponsor, said SB41 arose from a problematic local case in which a power line, pipeline and water line were routed through a county simultaneously, producing confusion and inadequate community notification. Ferry said the bill "requires that before you can file a conditional use permit, you have to advise the communities at least 90 days in advance," followed by 30‑ and 60‑day notice/comment windows and tools permitting the facility site review board to stay the process if information requirements are not met.
Representative Watkins confirmed the utilities had worked with sponsors and supported the bill as a model for better communication. The measure also creates mechanisms for the site review board to consider sharing or apportioning costs so communities can seek routes that reflect more than pure least‑cost calculations.
After floor discussion and summation from the sponsor, the House voted to concur; the Clerk recorded a tally of 71 yes, 0 no. The bill will be signed by the Speaker and returned to the Senate for the President’s signature.
