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Committee delays implementation but advances bill to direct brine shrimp tax to Great Salt Lake projects

Utah House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environmental Committee · February 5, 2026

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Summary

HB 247 (substitute) would redirect the brine shrimp tax to the sovereign lands account to fund water-right leases and projects benefiting the Great Salt Lake, with the substitute delaying implementation to July 2027; the committee passed the substitute and forwarded the bill.

Representative Ward told the committee HB 247 redirects the brine shrimp assessment so that, after continuing the existing $125,000 allocation to the Great Salt Lake Advisory Committee, the remainder would go to the sovereign lands account to support leasing water rights into the Great Salt Lake and other projects that benefit brine shrimp and the lake ecosystem.

Ward said last year’s new renewable-energy assessment creates a larger expected revenue stream and that the substitute delays the redirection’s implementation until July 2027 to let the Legislature evaluate actual collections from the newer tax. "It just moves it back to July 2027," Ward said, noting the delay gives a year to see whether prior estimates hold.

Public testimony included representatives of the brine shrimp industry, the youth-led Great Salt Lake advocacy coalition, and other stakeholders who voiced support for directing funds to lake-protection projects. Representative Arthur and others moved to pass the substitute; the committee adopted sub 1 and passed HB 247 sub 1 out favorably by voice vote.