[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6328391,"mediaKeyId","2320199-775f941798f48938447cb1f0482eb895","parentId",2320199,"title","Committee approves cleanup of motor vehicle code, updates definitions and earmarks","audioSeconds",520,"startMs",1772000,"endMs",2292000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320199-775f941798f48938447cb1f0482eb895&start=1772&end=2292","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320199-775f941798f48938447cb1f0482eb895/thumbnail_1772000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328391/Utah/Committee-approves-cleanup-of-motor-vehicle-code-updates-definitions-and-earmarks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328391-67f5604de79b40ee4fedfafd63e63945/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155483&Signature=F210ei5zUUZXRxGLlkaaMif-kxaEUc62fFCa9tzdW5v404obW2Yl1j9m1lUJdFo4Z53~ZnNBG4RNvQDAJxw7cWGM8fzzQNpVu-760OrYz4whN-1ngkh8rSuMgss2m~bCUwlQ7PvWLNJIWXfQcyHwd8dBc-nDIuOGZtEZkY8DrtBhODdAa8ayI0B7foTohG3HC~G8y5BT~QrfrYCqBymZqctxWXRfA3HKxlJJ9zuaXzoUvUGXwM7TetAmmHz9cz1L5fQYpT9ol0Y2UHjg0Bw7H-DCEICCpWpehuiCUMYJ5CtlymWJP0USp9oCsfkahcl7B7JOfiNHP43rppmWJRPjhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Utah State Legislature","date","2025-02-14T00:00:00Z","article","The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Feb. 14 adopted amendment 1 and gave a favorable recommendation to first substitute SB 27, a bill sponsored by Senator Harper that reorganizes motor vehicle–related statutory language, clarifies definitions and specifies destination funds for various earmarked fees.

Senator Harper told the committee the measure is largely housekeeping: it reorganizes and clarifies existing motor vehicle code provisions, updates definitions to explicitly include certain vehicles (for example, all-terrain vehicles and street-legal vehicles) and clarifies how fees collected for motorboat registration and other items are allocated to Department of Natural Resources accounts such as the water conservation fund and wastewater/drinking water loan funds.

Committee members emphasized that SB 27 does not increase rates or create new permanent fiscal obligations. Senator Harper and staff said the fiscal note is essentially revenue neutral, with only small one-time general-fund adjustments (the transcript records a one-time general-fund entry of $1,200 and an offsetting $1,200) and inflationary fee adjustments that reflect existing automatic indexing.

Notable policy and operational changes mentioned

- Earmarks and fund destinations: The bill reorganizes statute so the destination of collected fees (for water resources, wastewater loan funds, drinking water loan funds and water-rights programs) is explicit in the code.

- Registrations and definitions: The statute is clarified to include all-terrain and street-legal vehicles and to clarify how motorboat registration may be withdrawn for intentionally false registration information.

- Personal vehicle fleet registration: The substitute adds new code permitting group/annual registration for a personal fleet in some circumstances — a new option modeled on commercial grouping that some committee members welcomed as administrative relief.

Committee action and outcome

Representative Lisonbee moved adoption of amendment number 1; the committee adopted the amendment unanimously. The committee then voted to pass SB 27 (first substitute as amended) with a favorable recommendation; the chair recorded unanimous approval.

Questions from members and clarifications

Committee members asked whether any percentages or earmarks were increased; sponsors and staff replied that the sub was intended to preserve revenue neutrality and that one or two percentages were corrected in the substitute to ensure neutrality. Members also asked whether this bill addressed out-of-state trailer registrations; sponsors said that is handled in a different bill (Senate Bill 52).

Votes at a glance

- Motion to adopt amendment 1 to SB 27 (first substitute) — mover: Representative Lisonbee — outcome: adopted unanimously.
- Motion to pass SB 27 (first substitute as amended) with a favorable recommendation — mover: Representative Lisonbee (motion from floor) — outcome: passed unanimously.

Ending

Committee members described SB 27 as a helpful clean-up that makes statutory allocations clearer and eases some registration burdens. Because sponsors emphasized the bill’s technical and revenue-neutral intent, members expressed broad support and advanced the bill out of committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Revenue and Taxation Committee - February 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 27 (first substitute), a bill to reorganize and clarify motor vehicle code language, update fee classifications and specify earmarks for natural-resources funds, passed the committee with amendment 1 adopted unanimously; sponsors said the changes are procedural and revenue neutral.","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},6328396,"Panel urges federal flexibility to ease 'benefits cliff' for workers",651,1026000,1677000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320199-775f941798f48938447cb1f0482eb895&start=1026&end=1677","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320199-775f941798f48938447cb1f0482eb895/thumbnail_1026000.jpg","/articles/6328396/Utah/Panel-urges-federal-flexibility-to-ease-benefits-cliff-for-workers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328396-f36e8a530d31e2e571f9ae184ff379ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155483&Signature=INteTEsJJt8ozSHGBu4AeLODLuHkYTZP545UD-HTeGINAK4YOuuVKeuwwEXHjA2m93PE5fT9zHMuEpGLph76RFzAaTwnITuUqea8l~jSM1SKyQgXzovTcuUVwKOkiTrwYohpWyNv6vj5CopCKbRhXN4xvooET8s6lbwwL3WUQ-vPtX~Bu9WW1wU-kC3OMkFRhv3BJLw5NdUMKGgsO7eZtawRb9R099mYe0nw7ZTJSS9eID2DPnwfNB6EGtrQyh83YKTuLlULtq6KL~LHtiMbGm9-fxtJrJeLQBo5mXmAcBNIPBCvCxdnrd2Cvqvk9XX~ZONXo9YB2KpXWXHU3REaRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Feb. 14 voted unanimously to send HCR 8 — a nonbinding resolution sponsored by Representative Strong — out of committee with a favorable recommendation. The resolution asks the president and Congress to provide states more flexibility in administering certain federal benefit programs to reduce so-called “benefits cliffs.”

Representative Strong, the resolution’s sponsor, said the measure is a message bill: it requests federal flexibility so Utah can pilot creative approaches to ease abrupt benefit losses that can discourage work advancement. The sponsor said state conversations have included the governor’s office, Utah’s federal delegation and outside partners such as the Sutherland Institute.

Panel discussion and examples

During the hearing, Representative Strong and testifiers described cases in which people turned down raises or promotions because small income increases could trigger loss of larger federal benefits. Stan Rasmussen of the Sutherland Institute told the committee Utah is a national leader in upward mobility and program administration but that federal rules constrain state-level innovation to reduce work disincentives.

Nick Dunn, testifying online, framed the resolution around two principles: that work and earnings should make families better off, and that federalism should allow innovative state approaches. Representative Daley Provo warned committee members that debates about Medicaid can politicize otherwise narrowly tailored fixes; she urged colleagues to focus on the substance of policy responses for specific populations, such as adults with disabilities.

Action and outcome

Representative Elison moved that the committee send HCR 8 out with a favorable recommendation; the committee approved the motion unanimously. The chair briefly discussed placing the nonbinding resolution on consent but withdrew the motion after staff clarification that nonbinding resolutions are automatically placed on consent.

What the resolution does and does not do

HCR 8 is a message resolution requesting federal action; it does not change state law or appropriate funding. The resolution asks federal actors to consider granting states additional administrative flexibility to pilot programs or phase out benefits in ways that reduce abrupt income cliffs.

Why it matters

Supporters said state-level flexibility could allow Utah agencies to test tapering strategies or other approaches to make modest income gains attractive and reduce long-term dependence on safety-net programs. Opponents were not recorded during this hearing; committee discussion indicated bipartisan interest in pursuing federal engagement.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to pass HCR 8 with a favorable recommendation — mover: Representative Elison — outcome: passed unanimously.

Ending

The resolution moves forward from committee as a formal request to the federal government to permit state-level pilot approaches to benefits administration, with sponsors and outside partners prepared to provide examples and data to federal decision-makers.","The committee unanimously recommended HCR 8, a nonbinding resolution asking Congress and the president to give states flexibility to address 'benefits cliffs' that can disincentivize workers from accepting raises or promotions.",{"_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},6328401,"House panel backs one-week sales-tax holiday for firearm safety devices",947,42000,989000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2320199-775f941798f48938447cb1f0482eb895&start=42&end=989","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2320199-775f941798f48938447cb1f0482eb895/thumbnail_42000.jpg","/articles/6328401/Utah/House-panel-backs-one-week-sales-tax-holiday-for-firearm-safety-devices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328401-33a2112d5bbca75cce69b5528ec241ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155483&Signature=ok0ElrZ7G~GADw-0RuwtVA26VjefZydG~p8c7qRpipXjsDng31j4Rcs7MOtDD-2FC7IisjZwPHxU7kdUx~C1dNM053TRh67wZCyO9e80LKTVB9o4olPLD48czdWNTcpCYraezUQby3WFZ~WBwuVwTTgRBTIboimYa1PA04ybhNzZfQTOgV3bhXLkjuQCQVKVxKr~NRT~Lfh4sK4XdIAMYz9k41AwwTOvAZzX-SJYT6FSnrmdPxwlYfSqyEAQzRxQhQR1UUSdLiKuFxcG~gziJaHkB~OnPDXsnoXtmIYlJklR-rz~rbY-sk783sb1ti8MBhPXpfDoPf21H6LCgn5fUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Feb. 14 unanimously adopted first substitute HB 143, a bill sponsored by Representative McPherson that would create a one-week sales-tax holiday for specific firearm safety devices, including safes, lockers and trigger locks.

The bill’s sponsor, Representative McPherson, told the committee that the substitute rewrites the underlying measure from last year — which proposed a nonrefundable tax credit — into a short sales-tax holiday similar to exemptions in Texas and Tennessee. “This is a firearm safety incentive bill,” McPherson said, adding that the substitute is intended to be a modest, testable first step.

Committee members said the measure is designed to encourage safe storage and reduce access to firearms during moments of crisis. The committee chair noted Utah’s efforts on suicide prevention and said, “The easiest way is to put time and distance between somebody who is experiencing suicidal ideation and lethal means.”

Key provisions and details discussed

- Scope: The exemption would apply to sales of firearm-safety devices such as safes, lockers and trigger locks; the bill creates a one-week carve-out in state sales-tax law for these items.

- Caps: Representative McPherson said the substitute preserves a $50 cap on the tax benefit per purchase and that the bill would cap the purchase-price threshold (the sponsor indicated roughly a $700 cap on applicable purchase price to prevent abuse).

- Fiscal impact: The fiscal note for the sales-tax holiday was described to the committee as about $13,000 in ongoing revenue loss. McPherson contrasted that with the roughly $3,000,000 estimate the committee saw when the proposal was framed as a tax credit the prior year.

- Administration: The Utah State Tax Commission informed sponsors it would be neutral on the policy and would need to create the new code section; there would be a one-time, small administrative cost to implement the holiday and then routine administration under existing processes. The commission would not require an application process: retailers simply would not collect and remit the tax on qualified items during the designated week.

- Measurement limits: Committee members and the sponsor acknowledged there is no built-in tracking mechanism in the bill to measure whether device purchases increase; measuring the program’s effectiveness would require additional follow-up (for example, voluntary retailer reporting or a companion resolution asking agencies and retailers to partner on outreach and data collection).

Public comment and support

Cale Weston of Salt Lake County testified in support, calling the policy “about lives more than dollars” and urged unanimous committee backing. The sponsor also mentioned a companion house resolution that would declare the week “gun safety week” and encourage schools and state agencies to provide related education and outreach during that period.

Committee action and outcome

Representative Nguyen moved and the committee adopted the first substitute. Representative Okerlund moved to pass the first substitute HB 143 favorably; the committee approved the motion unanimously. The committee record shows the bill advanced with a favorable recommendation.

What the bill does not do

The substitute does not create a refundable credit, does not establish a retailer application process, and does not include a mandatory reporting requirement to measure change in device purchases. The sponsor said those measurement gaps might be addressed in the companion resolution or subsequent legislation.

Why it matters

Supporters told the committee that easier, lower-cost access to secure storage could reduce suicides and accidental shootings by increasing the use of safe-storage devices. Opponents were not recorded speaking against the bill during the committee hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to adopt first substitute to HB 143 — mover: Representative Nguyen — outcome: adopted (committee recorded unanimous approval).
- Motion to pass first substitute HB 143 favorably — mover: Representative Okerlund — outcome: passed with a favorable recommendation (committee recorded unanimous approval).

Ending

The committee advanced the substituted bill to the next stage with a favorable recommendation. Sponsors and supporters said they view the weeklong tax holiday as an incremental, low-cost policy to promote firearm safety and plan companion outreach through a nonbinding resolution.","The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Feb. 14 unanimously recommended first substitute HB 143, which would create a one-week sales-tax holiday for certain firearm safety devices and includes a $50-per-item cap and a roughly $13,000 estimated annual revenue impact.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves cleanup of motor vehicle code, updates definitions and earmarks

Panel urges federal flexibility to ease 'benefits cliff' for workers

House panel backs one-week sales-tax holiday for firearm safety devices