Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

HB 79 — Governmental Immunity Amendments

Last action — Governor Signed

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 23, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on February 27, 2026.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

304 added · 294 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of Bill HB 79 now includes a clear definition of terms and expands the immunity from lawsuits for governmental entities and their employees when they respond to disasters or provide emergency medical services. Importantly, it specifies that this immunity applies to any type of emergency situation, not just specific kinds. This change helps protect first responders from legal actions as they work to keep the public safe during emergencies, ensuring they can focus on their critical roles without the fear of litigation.

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HB0079S01 compared with HB0079 {Omitted text} shows text that was in HB0079 but was omitted in HB0079S01 inserted text shows text that was not in HB0079 but was inserted into HB0079S01 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy H.B.
This document is provided to assist you in your comparison of the two bills.
79 Governmental Immunity Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Sometimes this automated comparison will NOT be completely accurate.
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This automatically generated document could contain inaccuracies caused by:
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Governmental Immunity Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
3 LONG TITLE General Description:
Brady Brammer 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
H Money Appropriated in this Bill:
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
B None 0 Other Special Clauses:
None Other Special Clauses:
7 HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 This bill provides a special effective date.
This bill provides a special effective date.
63G-7-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9 63G-7-201 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 15 63H-1-209 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
63G-7-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9 63G-7-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 15 63H-1-209, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1.
H.B.
79 Enrolled Copy Section 1.
63G-7-102.
63G-7-102 .
[(3)] (4) (a) "Employee" includes:
[(3)] (4)(a) "Employee" includes:
- 2 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 (vii) an educational aide;
(vii) an educational aide;
and (b) a law enforcement agency, as defined in Section 53-1-102, that employs one or more law enforcement officers, as defined in Section 53-13-103.
and - 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
[(5)] (7) (a) "Governmental function" means each activity, undertaking, or operation of a governmental entity.
79 (b) a law enforcement agency, as defined in Section 53-1-102, that employs one or more law enforcement officers, as defined in Section 53-13-103.
[(5)] (7)(a) "Governmental function" means each activity, undertaking, or operation of a governmental entity.
- 3 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 [(11)] (13) "Willful misconduct" means the intentional doing of a wrongful act, or the wrongful failure to act, without just cause or excuse, where the actor is aware that the actor's conduct will probably result in injury.
[(11)] (13) "Willful misconduct" means the intentional doing of a wrongful act, or the wrongful failure to act, without just cause or excuse, where the actor is aware that the actor's conduct will probably result in injury.
63G-7-201.
63G-7-201 .
(i) control the causes of epidemic and communicable diseases and other conditions significantly affecting the public health or necessary to protect the public health as set out in Title 26A, Chapter 1, Local Health Departments;
- 3 - H.B.
79 Enrolled Copy (i) control the causes of epidemic and communicable diseases and other conditions significantly affecting the public health or necessary to protect the public health as set out in Title 26A, Chapter 1, Local Health Departments;
(3) (a) A governmental entity, its officers, and its employees are immune from suit, and immunity is not waived, for any injury if the injury arises out of or in connection with, or results from:
(3)(a) A governmental entity, its officers, and its employees are immune from suit, and immunity is not waived, for any injury if the injury arises out of or in connection with, or results from:
- 4 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 (i) a latent dangerous or latent defective condition of:
(i) a latent dangerous or latent defective condition of:
(b) (i) As used in this Subsection (3)(b):
(b)(i) As used in this Subsection (3)(b):
(D) "Environmentally compliant" means, as applicable, obtaining a certificate of completion from the Department of Environmental Quality under Section 19-8-111 following participation in a voluntary cleanup under Title 19, Chapter 8, Voluntary Cleanup Program, obtaining an administrative letter from the Department of Environmental Quality for a discrete phase of a voluntary cleanup that is conducted under a remedial action plan as defined in Section 11-58-605, or complying with the terms of an environmental covenant, as defined in Section 57-25-102, signed by an agency, as defined in Section 57-25-102, and duly recorded in the office of the recorder of the county in which the contaminated land is located.
- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
79 (D) "Environmentally compliant" means, as applicable, obtaining a certificate of completion from the Department of Environmental Quality under Section 19-8-111 following participation in a voluntary cleanup under Title 19, Chapter 8, Voluntary Cleanup Program, obtaining an administrative letter from the Department of Environmental Quality for a discrete phase of a voluntary cleanup that is conducted under a remedial action plan as defined in Section 11-58-605, or complying with the terms of an environmental covenant, as defined in Section 57-25-102, signed by an agency, as defined in Section 57-25-102, and duly recorded in the office of the recorder of the county in which the contaminated land is located.
(ii) (A) A government owner and the government owner's officers and employees are immune from suit, and immunity is not waived, for any claim for damage that arises out of or in connection with, or results from, contamination of contaminated land.
(ii)(A) A government owner and the government owner's officers and employees are immune from suit, and immunity is not waived, for any claim for damage that arises out of or in connection with, or results from, contamination of contaminated land.
- 5 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 (B) A government owner's ownership of contaminated land may not be the basis of a claim against the government owner for damage that arises out of or in connection with, or results from, contamination of contaminated land.
(B) A government owner's ownership of contaminated land may not be the basis of a claim against the government owner for damage that arises out of or in connection with, or results from, contamination of contaminated land.
(4) A governmental entity, its officers, and its employees are immune from suit, and immunity is not waived, for any injury proximately caused by a negligent act or omission of an employee committed within the scope of employment, if the injury arises out of or in connection with, or results from:
(4) A governmental entity, its officers, and its employees are immune from suit, and - 5 - H.B.
79 Enrolled Copy immunity is not waived, for any injury proximately caused by a negligent act or omission of an employee committed within the scope of employment, if the injury arises out of or in connection with, or results from:
- 6 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 (m) an activity authorized by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration or the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands;
(m) an activity authorized by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration or the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands;
(A) the owner or operator of the trail right-of-way or of the right-of-way where the trail is located;
(A) the owner or operator of the trail right-of-way or of the right-of-way where the - 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
79 trail is located;
- 7 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 [(t)] (v) the exercise or performance, or the failure to exercise or perform, any function in accordance with Title 73, Chapter 10, Board of Water Resources - Division of Water Resources;
[(t)] (v) the exercise or performance, or the failure to exercise or perform, any function in accordance with Title 73, Chapter 10, Board of Water Resources - Division of Water Resources;
[(w)] (y) a communication between employees of one or more law enforcement agencies related to the employment, disciplinary history, character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a peace officer, or a former, current, or prospective employee of a law enforcement agency, including any communication made in accordance with Section 53-14-103;
[(w)] (y) a communication between employees of one or more law enforcement agencies related to the employment, disciplinary history, character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of a peace officer, or a former, current, or prospective - 7 - H.B.
Show all 54 changed rows (14 more)
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79 Enrolled Copy employee of a law enforcement agency, including any communication made in accordance with Section 53-14-103;
63H-1-209.
63H-1-209 .
- 8 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 (i) affected by historical contamination;
(i) affected by historical contamination;
(h) "Historical contamination" means the placement, disposal, or release of hazardous materials or hazardous substances onto, into, under, or in a way that affects real property, and which placement, disposal, or release of hazardous materials or hazardous substances occurred prior to ownership of the real property by a governmental entity.
(h) "Historical contamination" means the placement, disposal, or release of hazardous materials or hazardous substances onto, into, under, or in a way that affects real property, and which placement, disposal, or release of hazardous materials or - 8 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
79 hazardous substances occurred prior to ownership of the real property by a governmental entity.
(2) In addition to the liability protection provided by Subsections 63G-7-201(4)(l) and [63G-7-201(4)(s) (iii)] 63G-7-201(4)(s)(ii) and the other provisions of Title 63G, Chapter 7, Governmental Immunity Act of Utah, the protections of Subsection (3) apply to a governmental entity that owns or approves the use of contaminated property.
(2) In addition to the liability protection provided by Subsections 63G-7-201(4)(l) and [ 63G-7-201(4)(s)(iii)] 63G-7-201(4)(s)(ii) and the other provisions of Title 63G, Chapter 7, Governmental Immunity Act of Utah, the protections of Subsection (3) apply to a governmental entity that owns or approves the use of contaminated property.
(3) (a) Ownership of contaminated property by a governmental entity, or a governmental entity's approval of the use of contaminated property does not subject a governmental entity, its agents, or its officers or employees to any liability for or related to a claim arising from, proximately caused by, or related to historical contamination.
(3)(a) Ownership of contaminated property by a governmental entity, or a governmental entity's approval of the use of contaminated property does not subject a governmental entity, its agents, or its officers or employees to any liability for or related to a claim arising from, proximately caused by, or related to historical contamination.
or - 9 - HB0079 compared with HB0079S01 (ii) a workers' compensation claim made by an employee of an entity that works on contaminated property or conducts work related to contaminated property.
or (ii) a workers' compensation claim made by an employee of an entity that works on contaminated property or conducts work related to contaminated property.
Effective date.
This bill takes effect:
- 9 - H.B.
79 Enrolled Copy This bill takes effect:
Retrospective Operation.
This bill has retrospective operation to {November 1, 2021} March 18, 1985.
This bill has retrospective operation to March 18, 1985.
1-23-26 3:53 PM - 10 -
- 10 -
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How this bill changes current law

2 changes Share ↗

Compared against the Utah Code as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the immunity protections for governmental entities and employees in Utah by clarifying the conditions under which immunity applies, particularly in relation to first responders providing emergency medical services and responding to disasters.

  • 63G-7-201

    for engaging in the following activities: responding to a disaster or potential disaster; or if the employee is a first responder, providing emergency medical services;

    This addition clarifies specific situations where governmental immunity is granted.

  • 63G-7-201

    immunity from suit for providing emergency medical services is not limited to providing medical services resulting from emergencies of a certain type;

    This change ensures that immunity applies broadly to all types of emergency medical services provided by first responders.

Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. House/ to Governor

  3. House/ received enrolled bill from Printing

  4. House/ enrolled bill to Printing

  5. Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate

  6. Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared

  7. Bill Received from House for Enrolling

  8. House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

  9. House/ received from Senate

  10. Senate/ to House

  11. Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

  12. Senate/ passed 3rd reading

  13. Senate/ 3rd reading

  14. Senate/ passed 2nd reading

  15. Senate/ uncircled

  16. Senate/ circled

  17. Senate/ 2nd reading

  18. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  19. Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]

  20. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]

  21. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee]

  22. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  23. Senate/ received from House

  24. House/ to Senate

  25. House/ passed 3rd reading

  26. House/ 3rd reading

  27. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0079S01

  28. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0079S01

  29. House/ 2nd reading

  30. House/ comm rpt/ substituted [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

  31. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

  32. House Comm - Substitute Recommendation [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

  33. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0079S01

  34. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0079S01

  35. House/ to standing committee [House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee]

  36. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  37. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  38. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  39. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0079

  40. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0079

  41. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0079

  42. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0079

  43. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  44. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 102 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (102)

102 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 102 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 79?
HB 79 is sponsored by Brady Brammer (Republican) and Gwynn, M..
What is the current status of HB 79?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced December 23, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 79?
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