Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 16 — Solar Power Plant Amendments

Last action — Governor Signed

  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 September 02, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 25, 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 (2 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

149 added · 152 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Bill HB 16 introduces several important updates regarding solar power plants. It now sets specific criteria for state incentives based on the characteristics of the land where these plants are located and includes protections for certain types of farmland. Additionally, the bill mandates consultations with wildlife agencies and requires plans for how solar plants will be decommissioned at the end of their operation. These changes are significant as they aim to ensure responsible development of solar energy while protecting valuable agricultural land and wildlife.

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HB0016S02 compared with HB0016 {Omitted text} shows text that was in HB0016 but was omitted in HB0016S02 inserted text shows text that was not in HB0016 but was inserted into HB0016S02 DISCLAIMER:
Enrolled Copy H.B.
This document is provided to assist you in your comparison of the two bills.
16 Solar Power Plant Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Sometimes this automated comparison will NOT be completely accurate.
Therefore, you need to read the actual bills.
This automatically generated document could contain inaccuracies caused by:
limitations of the compare program;
bad input data;
or other causes.
Solar Power Plant Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:
Jack Senate Sponsor:David P.
Jack Senate Sponsor:
David P.
H ▸ creates a permitting process for solar power plants;
▸ creates a permitting process for solar power plants;
B ▸ requires submission and approval of site and development plans {for solar power plants} before permit approval;
▸ requires submission and approval of site and development plans before permit approval;
and 1 HB0016 compared with HB0016S02 ▸ provides for severability.
and ▸ provides for severability.
54-17-1201 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1202 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1203 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1204 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1205 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1206 , Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
54-17-1201, Utah Code Annotated 1953 H.B.
16 Enrolled Copy 54-17-1202, Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1203, Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1204, Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1205, Utah Code Annotated 1953 54-17-1206, Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1 is enacted to read:
Section 54-17-1201 is enacted to read:
54-17-1201.
54-17-1201 .
(1) "Agriculture protection area" means the same as that term is defined in Section 17-41-101.
(1) "Agriculture protection area" means the same as that term is defined in Section 17-81-101.
(1)(2) "Solar power plant" means a utility-scale commercial facility that:
(2) "Solar power plant" means a utility-scale commercial facility that:
(2)(3) (a) "State incentive" means a tax credit, grant, subsidy, loan, or other form of financial support provided by the state or a state agency to promote or support the development or operation of a solar power plant.
(3)(a) "State incentive" means a tax credit, grant, subsidy, loan, or other form of financial support provided by the state or a state agency to promote or support the development or operation of a solar power plant.
and (iii) an alternative energy development tax credit under Section 79-6-5.
and (iii) an alternative energy development tax credit under Section 79-6-503.
- 2 - HB0016 compared with HB0016S02 Section 2.
Section 2.
Section 2 is enacted to read:
Section 54-17-1202 is enacted to read:
54-17-1202.
54-17-1202 .
(1) A solar power plant {that } for which a conditional use permit is {permitted } issued after May 6, 2026, is not eligible to receive state incentives if the soil where the project is located is:
(1) A solar power plant for which a conditional use permit is issued after May 6, 2026, is not eligible to receive state incentives if the soil where the project is located is:
(a) prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, farmland of local importance, or farmland of unique importance, as designated by the Natural Resource Conservation Service;
(a) prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, farmland of local importance, or farmland of unique importance, as designated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service;
or (c) non-irrigated cropland of a capability class one through four, as designated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
or (c) non-irrigated cropland of a capability class one through four, as designated by the - 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
16 Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(3) A proposed solar power plant located on grazing land is not eligible to receive state incentives if the land produces greater than {[1,000]} 250 pounds of vegetative production per acre in a normal year, according to the Web Soil Survey produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(3) A proposed solar power plant located on grazing land is not eligible to receive state incentives if the land produces greater than 250 pounds of vegetative production per acre in a normal year, according to the Web Soil Survey produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(4) A proposed solar power plant located on grazing land may receive half of an eligible state incentive if the land produces between {[500]} 125 and {[1,000]} 250 pounds of vegetative production per acre in a normal year, according to the Web Soil Survey produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(4) A proposed solar power plant located on grazing land may receive half of an eligible state incentive if the land produces between 125 and 250 pounds of vegetative production per acre in a normal year, according to the Web Soil Survey produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
(a) holds a position in an interconnection queue {prior to } before January 1, 2026;
(a) holds a position in an interconnection queue before January 1, 2026;
(b) is subject to a signed commercial agreement to provide power that was executed {prior to } before January 1, 2026;
(b) is subject to a signed commercial agreement to provide power that was executed before January 1, 2026;
or (c) meets the requirements for, or is receiving, a state incentive {prior to } before May 6, 2026.
or (c) meets the requirements for, or is receiving, a state incentive before May 6, 2026.
Section 3 is enacted to read:
Section 54-17-1203 is enacted to read:
- 3 - HB0016 compared with HB0016S02 54-17-1203.
54-17-1203 .
Section 4 is enacted to read:
Section 54-17-1204 is enacted to read:
54-17-1204.
54-17-1204 .
(1) An owner of a solar power plant {that } for which a conditional use permit is {permitted } issued after May 6, 2026, shall:
(1) An owner of a solar power plant for which a conditional use permit is issued after May 6, 2026, shall:
(a) place financial assurance with the appropriate local jurisdiction, state entity, or land owner in accordance with Section 11-17-12 in the form of:
(a) place financial assurance with the appropriate local jurisdiction, state entity, or land - 3 - H.B.
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16 Enrolled Copy owner in accordance with Section 11-17-12 in the form of:
- 4 - HB0016 compared with HB0016S02 (i) rectify any deficiency within 90 days after receiving written notice from the appropriate local jurisdiction by certified mail;
(i) rectify any deficiency within 90 days after receiving written notice from the appropriate local jurisdiction by certified mail;
and (e) if seeking to repower the solar power plant at the end of the {initial permitted use} useful life of the solar power plant:
and (e) if seeking to repower the solar power plant at the end of the useful life of the solar power plant:
(2) As a condition of the conditional use permit, the decommissioning plan shall be approved by the appropriate local jurisdiction's governing body before an owner commences construction on the solar power plant project site.
- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
16 (2) As a condition of the conditional use permit, the decommissioning plan shall be approved by the appropriate local jurisdiction's governing body before an owner commences construction on the solar power plant project site.
Section 5 is enacted to read:
Section 54-17-1205 is enacted to read:
54-17-1205.
54-17-1205 .
(3) {After } Before receiving the permits required under Subsection (1), {but before commencing construction of a solar power plant, the } an owner shall submit to the appropriate local jurisdiction for review and approval:
(3) Before receiving the permits required under Subsection (1), an owner shall submit to the appropriate local jurisdiction for review and approval:
{and} - 5 - HB0016 compared with HB0016S02 (vi) areas of existing vegetation and proposed vegetation removal;
(vi) areas of existing vegetation and proposed vegetation removal;
{and} (vii) irrigation and water conveyances, and service areas;
(vii) irrigation and water conveyances, and service areas;
(4) {The } A local jurisdiction may not unreasonably withhold approval of the plans and documentation required under Subsection (3).
(4) A local jurisdiction may not unreasonably withhold approval of the plans and documentation required under Subsection (3).
Section 6 is enacted to read:
Section 54-17-1206 is enacted to read:
54-17-1206.
54-17-1206 .
Effective date.
2-6-26 4:17 PM - 6 -
- 5 -
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

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/ received from House

  13. House/ to Senate

  14. House/ concurs with Senate amendment

  15. House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar

  16. House/ received from Senate

  17. Senate/ to House with amendments

  18. Senate/ passed 3rd reading

  19. Senate/ substituted

  20. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0016S02

  21. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0016S02

  22. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0016S01

  23. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0016S01

  24. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0016S02

  25. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0016S02

  26. Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table

  27. Senate/ 3rd reading

  28. Senate/ passed 2nd reading

  29. Senate/ substituted

  30. Senate/ 2nd reading

  31. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0016S01

  32. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0016S01

  33. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

  34. Senate/ comm rpt/ amended [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  35. Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  36. Senate Comm - Amendment Recommendation [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  37. Senate/ to standing committee [Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee]

  38. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  39. Senate/ received from House

  40. House/ to Senate

  41. House/ passed 3rd reading

  42. House/ floor amendment

  43. House/ 3rd reading

  44. House/ 2nd reading

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

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

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

  48. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  49. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  50. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  51. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0016

  52. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  53. Bill Numbered but not Distributed

  54. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0016

  55. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0016

  56. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0016

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

technology energy
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 16?
HB 16 is sponsored by David P. Hinkins (Republican) and Colin W. Jack (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 16?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced September 02, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 16?
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