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Senate committee holds up bill to let Utah Marriage Commission retain excess fee revenue

Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee · February 19, 2026
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Summary

The Senate Government Operations Committee declined to recommend House Bill 324, which would let the Utah Marriage Commission retain fee revenue above the current $400,000 cap and raise the cap to $600,000. Proponents cited program growth and administrative issues when the cap is reached; the motion failed 3-2.

Representative Ashlee Ballard presented House Bill 324 to the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee, urging the Legislature to allow the Utah Marriage Commission to retain marriage-license fees that currently exceed a $400,000 statutory cap.

Ballard, the bill sponsor, said the commission now operates as a 501(c)(3) hosted by Utah State University and "this is the only entity ... that promotes marriage" in Utah, pointing to online courses, webinars and podcasts produced for statewide use. She told the committee that since the cap was exceeded last year, surplus revenue has flowed into the general fund rather than remaining available to expand marriage-preparation…

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