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House rejects bill to exempt state park fees for people 70 and older
Summary
HB94, which would have exempted state park entrance fees for residents 70 and older, was debated over equity and a fiscal note of roughly $107,000; the House voted 21–53 to defeat the measure.
The Utah House on Feb. 10 defeated HB94, a proposal to exempt state park entrance fees for residents aged 70 and older.
Sponsor Representative Richard Greenwood said the exemption would let seniors take grandchildren to state parks and argued many seniors are on fixed incomes and would benefit from waived fees. Greenwood acknowledged a fiscal note attached to the bill, estimating the cost at about $107,000.
Opponents — including members of the Natural Resources and Appropriations panels — said parks operate on lean restricted funds and that approving the exemption would require reallocation of roughly $112,000 from park budgets, potentially imperiling operations and even forcing park closures. Representative Noel, an appropriator, said restricted funds would be reduced and warned of impacts on park services.
Members noted there is already a reduced-fee option for seniors (half price, often described as an annual $35 senior rate), and some questioned whether exempting those 70 and older would unduly strain parks’ revenue streams.
After floor debate and a motion to end debate, the House rejected HB94 by a vote of 21–53. Proponents said some constituents prefer the change and may pursue it again in future budget cycles; opponents said the parks’ fiscal health requires preserving restricted revenue.
Next steps: the bill failed on the floor and will not be transmitted; budgetary debates over park funding are expected to continue in appropriations work.
