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League issues positions and action alerts on a package of bills as session winds down
Summary
The League reviewed many late-session bill changes — including HB 300 (elections), SB 328 (alcohol licensing near parks), transportation utility fee language and homelessness and public-safety measures — and asked members to send targeted messages to legislators; staff will issue action alerts where positions were ratified.
As the legislative session entered its final days, the Utah League of Cities and Towns presented a rapid-fire update and asked members to be prepared to contact legislators on a series of bills the League is tracking.
Key bill takes presented at the meeting included:
- HB 300 (elections): Staff described a second substitute that requires the last four digits of a voter’s primary photo identification to be included on the mail-ballot return envelope and shifts universal mail balloting to an opt-in system after Jan. 1, 2028. The League remains opposed to the bill as drafted and asked members to provide feedback via Slido and watch for action alerts.
- SB 328 (alcohol licensing near parks): A favorable substitute passed committee by one vote; the League recommended supporting Sub 1 and urged members to help keep the favorable language in place.
- Transportation utility fees / SP 310: Staff reiterated the League’s principle that users should pay user fees and warned that carve-outs (reports indicated a pending narrow exemption request from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) would undermine fairness; members urged maintaining user-fee universality.
- Homelessness bills (SB 329, HB 505, SB 182): After negotiations, staff recommended support for SB 329 and HB 505 (League requests largely secured) and neutrality on SB 182 pending language changes (higher thresholds and permissive outreach provisions were obtained).
- HP465 / law-enforcement due process: Members and chiefs warned a late second substitute would significantly expand pre-disciplinary due-process rights in internal affairs settings; League asked members to contact legislators to preserve Sub 1 and oppose Sub 2 if introduced.
- Assorted alerts: Staff flagged several bills as "bad bills" needing rapid outreach (for example, SB 154 on legislative audit disclosures and other items mentioned for committee action that afternoon). Members were told the League would circulate an LPC recap and immediate action alerts where appropriate.
Why it matters: The meeting underscored how many policy decisions can shift in late-session substitutes. League staff asked municipal leaders to stay ready to lobby their local legislators and noted officers and staff will send targeted communications as substitutes are filed or committee action is scheduled.
Next steps: The League will email a meeting recap with talking points and distribute action alerts for high-priority bills. Members were urged to contact legislators immediately on certain issues and to monitor future substitute language for material changes.
