Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

SB 234 — Rulemaking Amendments

Last action — Governor Signed

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 02, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 26, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 54% · moderate confidence

  • 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 (2 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

170 added · 180 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill SB 234 include adding a requirement for agencies to back up certain environmental health and waste management rules with scientific evidence. Additionally, the provision that allowed a committee to delay the effective date of these rules was removed. This change is significant because it emphasizes the need for scientific support in regulatory decisions, which could enhance the protection of public health and the environment, while also streamlining the process by removing potential delays in rule implementation.

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SB0234S02 compared with SB0234 {Omitted text} shows text that was in SB0234 but was omitted in SB0234S02 inserted text shows text that was not in SB0234 but was inserted into SB0234S02 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy S.B.
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234 Rulemaking Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
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Rulemaking Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
3 LONG TITLE General Description:
Colin W.
Jack 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
and ▸ requires an agency to ensure certain rules involving environmental health and waste management are supported by scientific {studies;
and ▸ requires an agency to ensure certain rules involving environmental health and waste management are supported by scientific evidence.
and} evidence.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
▸ {authorizes the Rules Review and General Oversight Committee to delay the effective date of rules involving environmental health and waste management.} Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None Other Special Clauses:
S B None 2 Other Special Clauses:
None Utah Code Sections Affected:
3 SB0234 compared with SB0234S02 None Utah Code Sections Affected:
63G-3-102 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 483 ENACTS:
63G-3-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 483 ENACTS:
63G-3-306 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
63G-3-306, Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
63G-3-102.
63G-3-102 .
(1) "Administrative record" means information an agency relies upon when making a rule under this chapter including:
S.B.
234 Enrolled Copy (1) "Administrative record" means information an agency relies upon when making a rule under this chapter including:
(2) (a) "Agency" includes:
(2)(a) "Agency" includes:
- 2 - SB0234 compared with SB0234S02 (b) maximizes the quality, objectivity, relevance, completeness, and integrity of information, including:
(b) maximizes the quality, objectivity, relevance, completeness, and integrity of information, including:
and (c) involves the use of scientifically defensible and quality-assured supporting studies that are{:} conducted in accordance with generally accepted scientific or technical practices utilizing data collected by generally accepted methods or best available methods.
and (c) involves the use of scientifically defensible and quality-assured supporting studies that are conducted in accordance with generally accepted scientific or technical practices utilizing data collected by generally accepted methods or best available methods.
(i){(4) {conducted in accordance with generally accepted scientific or technical practices utilizing data collected by generally accepted methods or best available methods;
(4) "Bulletin" means the Utah State Bulletin.
and} {(ii)} {(A)} {site-specific studies, including area-wide or statewide studies;} {(B)} {studies published in a refereed journal;
or} {(C)} {external peer-reviewed studies contained in a federal government report published for a purpose other than development of a rule.} {(4)} "Bulletin" means the Utah State Bulletin.
[(5)] (6) "Code" means the body of all effective rules as compiled and organized by the office and entitled "Utah Administrative Code." [(6)] (7) "Department" means the Department of Government Operations created in Section 63A-1-104.
- 2 - Enrolled Copy S.B.
234 [(5)] (6) "Code" means the body of all effective rules as compiled and organized by the office and entitled "Utah Administrative Code." [(6)] (7) "Department" means the Department of Government Operations created in Section 63A-1-104.
(13) {""Generally } "Generally accepted scientific or technical practices" means scientific methods, principles, or protocols that:
(13) "Generally accepted scientific or technical practices" means scientific methods, principles, or protocols that:
(a) are broadly acknowledged and routinely applied by the relevant scientific community;and {(b) {are consistent with refereed journal literature or established technical standards;
(a) are broadly acknowledged and routinely applied by the relevant scientific community;
and} } (c){(b)} have been tested for reliability and validity.
and (b) have been tested for reliability and validity.
- 3 - SB0234 compared with SB0234S02 [(12)] (14) "Interested person" means any person affected by or interested in a proposed rule, amendment to an existing rule, or a nonsubstantive change made under Section 63G-3-402.
[(12)] (14) "Interested person" means any person affected by or interested in a proposed rule, amendment to an existing rule, or a nonsubstantive change made under Section 63G-3-402.
(22) "Refereed journal" means a publication that:
- 3 - S.B.
234 Enrolled Copy (22) "Refereed journal" means a publication that:
[(19)] (25) (a) "Rule" means an agency's written statement that:
[(19)] (25)(a) "Rule" means an agency's written statement that:
- 4 - SB0234 compared with SB0234S02 (c) "Rule" does not mean:
(c) "Rule" does not mean:
[(23)] (30) "Substantive change" means a change in a rule that affects the application or results of agency actions.
- 4 - Enrolled Copy S.B.
234 [(23)] (30) "Substantive change" means a change in a rule that affects the application or results of agency actions.
Section 2 is enacted to read:
Section 63G-3-306 is enacted to read:
Show all 51 changed rows (11 more)
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63G-3-306.
63G-3-306 .
(a) an agency may not initiate rulemaking proceedings to establish new or change existing numeric criteria or numeric limitations applicable to a regulated material if the new rule or amendment - 5 - SB0234 compared with SB0234S02 would result in criteria or limitations that are more stringent or extensive in scope, coverage, or effect than any federal law or regulation setting a standard regarding the same or a substantially similar topic;
(a) an agency may not initiate rulemaking proceedings to establish new or change existing numeric criteria or numeric limitations applicable to a regulated material if the new rule or amendment would result in criteria or limitations that are more stringent or extensive in scope, coverage, or effect than any federal law or regulation setting a standard regarding the same or a substantially similar topic;
(2) (a) For a rule described in Subsection (1)(b) intended to protect human health, safety, or welfare:
(2)(a) For a rule described in Subsection (1)(b) intended to protect human health, safety, or welfare:
and (ii) in the absence of data from voluntary scientific studies on humans, the best available science and the weight of scientific evidence may be based on tests performed on experimental animal species or human and animal cells establishing a direct causal link, based on generally accepted scientific or technical practices, between exposure at or above any numeric criteria or numeric limitations provided by the rule and manifest bodily harm in humans, if the harm may be extrapolated to humans based on the best available science and the weight of scientific evidence.
and (ii) in the absence of data from voluntary scientific studies on humans, the best available science and the weight of scientific evidence may be based on tests performed on experimental animal species or human and animal cells establishing a direct causal link, based on generally accepted scientific or technical practices, between exposure at or above any numeric criteria or numeric limitations - 5 - S.B.
234 Enrolled Copy provided by the rule and manifest bodily harm in humans, if the harm may be extrapolated to humans based on the best available science and the weight of scientific evidence.
(a){(i)} {a rule that is required by } federal law or regulation{, including rules adopted } to comply with and in furtherance of federal agency authorization or a primacy {requirements} requirement;or (ii) state law and applied on a site-specific basis.
(i) federal law or regulation to comply with and in furtherance of federal agency authorization or a primacy requirement;
or (ii) state law and applied on a site-specific basis.
or - 6 - SB0234 compared with SB0234S02 (d) an emergency rule {promulgated } made under Section 63G-3-304.
or (d) an emergency rule made under Section 63G-3-304.
{(4) {The Rules Review and General Oversight Committee may delay the effective date of an environmental health and waste management rule if the committee follows the procedures described in Section 63G-3-304.1.} } Section 3.
Section 3.
Effective date.
2-18-26 1:13 PM - 7 -
- 6 -
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Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. Senate/ to Governor

  3. Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing

  4. Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing

  5. Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate

  6. Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared

  7. Bill Received from Senate for Enrolling

  8. Senate/ signed by President/ sent for enrolling

  9. Senate/ received from House

  10. House/ to Senate

  11. House/ signed by Speaker/ returned to Senate

  12. House/ passed 3rd reading

  13. House/ 3rd reading

  14. House/ 2nd reading

  15. House/ committee report favorable [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

  16. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

  17. House/ to standing committee [House Public Utilities and Energy Committee]

  18. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  19. House/ received from Senate

  20. Senate/ to House

  21. Senate/ passed 3rd reading

  22. Senate/ 3rd reading

  23. Senate/ passed 2nd reading

  24. Senate/ substituted

  25. Senate/ uncircled

  26. Senate/ circled

  27. Senate/ 2nd reading

  28. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0234S02

  29. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0234S02

  30. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0234S02

  31. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0234S02

  32. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0234S01

  33. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0234S01

  34. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0234S01

  35. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0234S01

  36. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  37. Senate/ committee report favorable [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  38. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  39. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  40. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  41. Senate/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  42. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for SB0234

  43. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for SB0234

  44. Senate/ received bill from Legislative Research

  45. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for SB0234

  46. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for SB0234

  47. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  48. 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 environment health-insurance
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 SB 234?
SB 234 is sponsored by Colin W. Jack (Republican) and Brady Brammer (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 234?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 02, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 234?
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