[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6345164,"mediaKeyId","2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a","parentId",2249613,"title","Committee adopts substitute and backs minimal annual training for HOA board members; some members raise oversight questions","audioSeconds",1809,"startMs",3367000,"endMs",5176000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a&start=3367&end=5176","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a/thumbnail_3367000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345164/Utah/Committee-adopts-substitute-and-backs-minimal-annual-training-for-HOA-board-members-some-members-raise-oversight-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345164-704b39a8d9b9e0d6d362dd775c98bcbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156312&Signature=Ib~ghX8DVW45h4i3MTagifesF4CG~zCPIaoTa5JAjEnUnUkA1OM3Y9L19wN80xbu0aYIEilcwP4sBql00Vw94197B7kvmCwG3ctRpJHmqASAVJ3j3R2atOe6HbfGUzOf5Rfp0X-ML96U2kBkjSCHRgMElDeYgFI70FiJirEW9-HBbWXu4WcVPLDYCqBdcbnYe2lNXo619fmiVziZ2JXzTglSJv7IXBXEejnVaIG~Fxv9CH~JlBOhjpzfDhcWiw9wkeNllE6afLBtSKxtxWCyx-Xk2z6tyAIxzPOJHz8xVUldzvNgHz4aHIYwLA1nEmllDnJCMdvQokBMxSO-79rjiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-07T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Acton presented first substitute House Bill 262, which would require each homeowners‑association (HOA) board member to complete a minimum of one hour of board education each year while serving. The substitute lists subject areas for education and directs the Department of Commerce to maintain a list of persons that “purport to offer” board education; the sponsor said the Utah chapter of the Community Association Institute (CAI) will provide free training options.

Former Representative Bruce Cutler and representatives from CAI described the proposal as a modest, non‑punitive step to improve board performance. Cutler told the committee that board members sometimes do not understand state law or the priority of state law over community documents; CAI supports minimal education and has curricular materials that could be used at low or no cost.

Several witnesses described more serious HOA disputes and asked the Legislature to create stronger dispute resolution mechanisms. Matthew Hinojos and Jonathan Mower described protracted conflicts with their associations and said training alone would not resolve escalation, and they urged an HOA ombudsman or an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process to provide a neutral third party for complaints. Quinn Sperry (legislative action committee, CAI Utah chapter) said better education reduces disputes and makes managers’ work easier; he and the sponsor said they would work with the Department of Commerce to develop standards and a vetting process for training providers.

The committee adopted the substitute and then voted to recommend the bill favorably. The transcript records Representative Ward and Representative D. C. Manu as voting in opposition to the committee recommendation. Sponsors and supporters said the measure is designed to educate volunteers, not to be punitive, and that training will be publicly available to all association members.

Members asked how the Department of Commerce will vet providers and whether a mandatory, state‑mandated training requirement could become rote or perfunctory; the sponsor and CAI representatives said they would work with the department on standards and suggested participant surveys and publicly available provider information as possible quality controls.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Political Subdivisions Committee - February 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Acton presented first substitute House Bill 262, which would require homeowners‑association board members to complete at least one hour of board education annually and directs the Department of Commerce to maintain a list of persons that purport to offer board education.","taxTitle","2025 Utah Legislature, Utah Legislature, Utah Legislative Branch, Utah","taxId",78171,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345181,"Committee hears bill to allow accessory dwelling units statewide; no committee vote",2342,24000,2366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a&start=24&end=2366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a/thumbnail_24000.jpg","/articles/6345181/Utah/Committee-hears-bill-to-allow-accessory-dwelling-units-statewide-no-committee-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345181-74e02d6b3d20124119733aac9863e70f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156312&Signature=iEQQSNeoMrxOb2EZ8wqBpV~Hu24i~24~qgO8eOX90iUR~eZPms2iS4hCsWz7k4g31ozdY11ROr2IDyTypEOqHLzfPPWdo3hCl3iZL9vwMIBIUIM~pUrLUmRal-ZspyagY1r3quY8aqDXYtVsA~csBuVh07bF1Jg8jGwEtiG2Q9INFmkTD-vKA21lK1VggG3zwclsYNmz7K~BwY-7jgjPW8ntCdA4PSYdbyGTS60PxmYMvu1enkY0V1EgadJFx2ahlpyhWVV2L09fXvObOYkrLXf5GnN-ko0VaPM~vFQvuJ3UkrMqfWl8wnYpqWzbzr7eAEx7jfwt0bFI0r9YvH5jQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Ward, sponsor of House Bill 88, told the committee the bill would broadly permit a single accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — internal or external, but not both — on lots that already contain a single-family home in urban areas and would bar municipalities from requiring larger setbacks for the ADU than for the primary dwelling unless a safety exception applies.

The bill’s sponsor said the measure aims to expand small, lower-cost housing options and slow the long-term rise in house‑price‑to‑income ratios in Utah. He also said the bill would change the modern income housing reporting requirement from every year to every three years.

Representative Ward illustrated the point with local anecdotes: he described homeowners forced to remove nonconforming structures that depressed the home’s saleability and referenced developer accounts of rising local fees (impact fees, permit costs, fire sprinkler requirements) that increase home prices. Steve Waldrop, speaking for the governor’s office, told the committee Utah has a supply problem and cited a rise in the state’s house‑price‑to‑income ratio to “over 6 to 1,” arguing ADUs are a “light touch” option widely used across red and blue cities.

Public testimony split sharply. Homeowner Brooks Gibbs, who said he added an ADU in Bountiful, described it as a “lifesaver” that provided stable rental income and helped neighbors care for family. Representatives of cities and the League of Cities and Towns, including Mayor Troy Walker of Draper and Cameron Dale of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, opposed the bill’s preemption of local land‑use authority. They urged preserving local control over setbacks, infrastructure and development approvals and said broad preemption would not address entitled but unbuilt units already in local pipelines. Other witnesses — including Bike Utah, the Alliance for Better Utah and the Utah Association of Realtors — spoke in favor, saying ADUs can expand housing options with low taxpayer cost.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the bill’s details. Representative Peterson asked whether the bill limits owners to one ADU and whether cities could require owner‑occupancy; Ward said the draft permits one ADU but does not address owner‑occupancy and that safety exceptions are intentionally undefined and would be left for future interpretation. The sponsor said municipalities might later try to adopt requirements that could undermine the bill’s purpose and that unresolved boundary questions would likely require follow‑up work.

No committee vote was taken on House Bill 88 during the hearing. After public testimony and member discussion, the committee proceeded to the next agenda item without advancing HB 88.

Looking ahead, the sponsor and several committee members said housing supply and municipal infrastructure questions would likely require further negotiation and technical work before any bill could be reported out of committee for a floor vote.","Representative Ward, sponsor of House Bill 88, told the committee the bill would broadly permit a single accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — internal or external, but not both — on lots that already contain a single‑family home in urban areas and would bar municipalities from requiring larger setbacks for the ADU than for the primary dwelling unless a safety exception applies.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345159,"Committee unanimously backs bill to remove trustee pay cap for small local entities with transparency steps",275,5160000,5435000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a&start=5160&end=5435","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a/thumbnail_5160000.jpg","/articles/6345159/Utah/Committee-unanimously-backs-bill-to-remove-trustee-pay-cap-for-small-local-entities-with-transparency-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345159-9b2aebd64b3e592acc6731799fa1558d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156312&Signature=WXKSFAxRy~4GN544O9JHW2TGZb4Tvs4cjJ6OciXXhv9LZE6QIUVBn0E1TBuM2iY-WVEYm4mA~YC7fN7BKEOXJiBE2rVI4n-0X69SB5BLxCg72LGMhA-TpHbvLReEQjZLBjWK4nlFCTEP4Zd-zbRRAlMOmQ0HGVr~8OuJqZCVcA9z~UsWo57f1XDpglWGznkUofpDugEfskLWe3~wUKv5EXHKywWWVMbn-g08~mC~cFlzH~xDFTkrjJguIWARYITr9OG8fEHXMVLK2BJovCoyBqUjh8yOVtwu6qus4oD4c0s~VN3DjR5NQqn4IVbRp6JNA99eGuLxLtOaYMd3M1HgUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Musselman introduced Senate Bill 50 to remove the statutory cap on compensation for trustees of limited‑purpose local government entities (often called special service districts) and to require a public meeting before a district pays individual trustees for work.

The sponsor said many rural special service districts perform hands‑on work with small budgets and have historically set modest compensation caps; the bill would eliminate the arbitrary $5,000 cap and instead require transparency measures — specifically that any decision to pay a trustee be made in a public meeting and that the district budget be adopted separately in public proceedings. The sponsor also cited the state’s public‑pay transparency website as a backstop to prevent abuse.

Committee members and the sponsor said the bill strikes a balance between allowing districts to pay for necessary work and preserving public oversight. Representative Miller moved to recommend the bill favorably; the committee approved the recommendation unanimously.

Sponsor and supporters emphasized the bill’s accountability features: public meetings and existing public‑pay disclosure tools would enable citizens to review compensation decisions and reduce the risk of misuse.","Senate Bill 50 would remove the $5,000 cap on compensation for trustees of limited‑purpose local government entities (special service districts), while requiring public notice and a public meeting before paying an individual or authorizing pay. The committee recommended the bill favorably without opposition.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345171,"Committee adopts substitute and recommends favorably for minor‑subdivision bill aimed at rural family farms",323,2983000,3306000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a&start=2983&end=3306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a/thumbnail_2983000.jpg","/articles/6345171/Utah/Committee-adopts-substitute-and-recommends-favorably-for-minorsubdivision-bill-aimed-at-rural-family-farms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345171-8f8a2faf7d25b316df376431d4d30234/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156312&Signature=HeYI26NWzSYwyRrIzOfX3DRCMBSucmBl4HuDk-rf-pYMBAEEGFncqXQgch5TnoUogQiMXbD5LbkXbMd7jJXmGJSNWbYEzWYRrAxoSfX3HxGbOKguIABORt~ZqnlQX7XgbH38dPT-Z9IUa3gV6TRRL-zpX-freLxC~WXCTn-MynisAfy0ArleRtfHUOwOa6LloiBUfJMk3WFIbaFMISEuNFntdiK~IJDD1uhHrN27owka4DgqANKVGJ4hmt8Z~BX4KBB3f8kjiAcVuQ8fZqFnABvI-Lbk54oT9kWT5NC7lYku0JIlRRh1T1jwyuYWdwvlP77zhMI5NeugX5FpxfZaww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Chu presented first substitute House Bill 255, which would amend Utah’s minor‑subdivision statute to reduce the acreage threshold from 100 acres to 50 acres and shorten the restriction that prevents creating another minor subdivision within 1,000 feet to 500 feet. The sponsor said the change reflects current farm sizes in Utah and would make it easier for farm families to transfer parcels to children while reducing surveying expense.

Chu told the committee the average Utah farm size is between 52 and 83 acres, so the 100‑acre threshold excludes many current family farms. The substitute also replaces the term “lot” with “parcel” for consistency with existing statute and is expressly targeted at rural circumstances rather than urban subdivisions.

Representative Miller moved to adopt the first substitute; the committee adopted it and then voted to recommend HB 255 (substitute 1) favorably. The sponsor subsequently asked to place the bill on the consent calendar; the committee approved that request and recommended the bill for consent.

Sponsor and supporters framed the measure as a minor, technical correction to keep family farms intact and reduce administrative cost; no public opposition was recorded during the hearing.","The committee adopted a first substitute to House Bill 255 to change the minor‑subdivision rules used in rural Utah: the bill lowers the acreage threshold from 100 to 50 acres and reduces the 1,000‑foot exclusion zone to 500 feet. The committee adopted the substitute, recommended the bill favorably and placed it on the consent calendar.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6345176,"Committee hears bill to allow smaller residential lots in urban areas; no vote",141,2339000,2480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a&start=2339&end=2480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2249613-b8785cc124a1509b8f5dc1d0c4a73c5a/thumbnail_2339000.jpg","/articles/6345176/Utah/Committee-hears-bill-to-allow-smaller-residential-lots-in-urban-areas-no-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345176-a093cca77fdfd798d5269c39f0188e4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156312&Signature=myPFvo64hX39J4pznf6x5laoAJAejafraUX~ZKOn8Dqpmp~uZ62EEnlh6-EIj5hKSjUdRXjtqPG8pKNhB9B~A5vgcPcTqNuG1PLE7loFjF9xrqwb6AkNMCdgwt0ftzAjffe0NZyF87wytingbXksbZ61jeng5Iy95MFEP2No0gFJNbM-7Ag1fYYaNsmPM9WViSlSMxBkNUz2uUXAab4jw5pLSbHTbmCjp3-LWPP3VoiinYkuMAdPNkHaX-CO1pIjJlO3uWxops1NAVtDOcEwuazHco3CL0BDBWk3t-7-2Xq65z~H7t03RHyMFxXtBcbv-wnNIaCoKKd7yb0xhmMQkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Ward returned to present a second, related measure that would allow smaller residential lot sizes in areas the bill classifies as urban, drawing a minimum lot size line at 6,000 square feet.

Ward said the policy aims to create more, smaller homes on lots where the market and local conditions support them. He told the committee that outcomes can vary by community: one council member in his district told him smaller‑lot development there would still produce high‑priced homes, while Ward said he would view additional housing units on a parcel as an overall success because allowing more units increases supply.

Public testimony again split. Elizabeth Hutchings of Alliance for Better Utah supported the substitute and said the change would permit the construction of smaller single‑family homes in neighborhoods already zoned for that density and provide near‑term housing opportunities. Troy Walker, mayor of Draper and president of the League of Cities and Towns, testified in opposition on behalf of the League, reiterating the organization’s concern about state preemption and arguing that local governments are already pursuing ownership‑focused and transit‑oriented development plans.

Committee members asked about infrastructure impacts — water, sewer and streets — and several members said they were open to continued discussion. The committee did not hold a vote on this bill at the hearing and proceeded to other agenda items.","Representative Ward presented a related measure to permit smaller lot sizes in designated urban areas (drawing a line at 6,000 square feet); supporters said it would increase housing supply, while city leaders warned about infrastructure and ownership outcomes. The committee did not take a final vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts substitute and backs minimal annual training for HOA board members; some members raise oversight questions

Committee hears bill to allow accessory dwelling units statewide; no committee vote

Committee unanimously backs bill to remove trustee pay cap for small local entities with transparency steps

Committee adopts substitute and recommends favorably for minor‑subdivision bill aimed at rural family farms

Committee hears bill to allow smaller residential lots in urban areas; no vote