Utah 2026 General Session Status: Enacted 2 R cosponsors

HB 291 — Security and Land Restriction 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 January 20, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Spencer Cox (Republican) on March 24, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

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

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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

96 added · 83 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill HB 291 includes a new requirement for the Department of Public Safety to inform parties involved in land transactions if there’s reasonable suspicion that one of them may be a restricted foreign entity. This change enhances oversight by allowing each involved party 30 days to provide evidence that disproves the suspicion. This amendment matters because it aims to protect land transactions from potential risks posed by foreign entities, ensuring that stakeholders are informed and can respond appropriately.

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Previous
Latest
02-06 15:02 H.B.
Enrolled Copy H.B.
McKell 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
McKell Cosponsor:
Stephanie Gricius Clinton D.
Okerlund Nelson T.
Abbott Matthew H.
Gwynn Nicholeen P.
Peck Cheryl K.
Acton Ken Ivory Michael J.
Petersen Carl R.
Albrecht Colin W.
Jack Calvin Roberts Tiara Auxier Jill Koford Troy Shelley Melissa G.
Ballard Michael L.
Kohler Rex P.
Shipp Stewart E.
Barlow Jason B.
Kyle Mark A.
Strong Bridger Bolinder Leah Hansen R.
Neil Walter Jefferson S.
Burton Matt MacPherson Raymond P.
Ward Tyler Clancy Verona Mauga Christine F.
Watkins Rosalba Dominguez Tracy J.
Miller Doug Welton James A.
Dunnigan Logan J.
Monson Stephen L.
Whyte Doug Fiefia Carol S.
Moss Ryan D.
Wilcox 3 LONG TITLE General Description:
▸ provides that the Department of Public Safety (department) shall send a letter to an entity the department suspects of being a restricted foreign entity;
▸ provides that the Department of Public Safety (department) shall send a letter to an entity H.B.
291 Enrolled Copy the department suspects of being a restricted foreign entity;
H None B Utah Code Sections Affected:
None Utah Code Sections Affected:
9 63L-13-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapters 84, 504 1 63L-13-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 266 63L-13-204, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 266 H.B.
63L-13-101, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapters 84, 504 63L-13-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 266 63L-13-204, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 266 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
291 02-06 15:02 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
(c) "Conservation lease" does not include a conservation easement, as that term is defined in Section 57-18-2.
- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
291 (c) "Conservation lease" does not include a conservation easement, as that term is defined in Section 57-18-2.
- 2 - 02-06 15:02 H.B.
(viii) waters of the state, as defined in Subsection 19-5-102(23)(a);
291 (viii) waters of the state, as defined in Subsection 19-5-102(23)(a);
(a) a company that the United States Secretary of Defense is required to identify and report as a military company under Section 1260H of the William M.
(a) a company that the United States Secretary of Defense is required to identify and - 3 - H.B.
291 Enrolled Copy report as a military company under Section 1260H of the William M.
(2) Subject to Subsection (3) and Section 63L-13-202, a restricted foreign entity may not - 3 - H.B.
(2) Subject to Subsection (3) and Section 63L-13-202, a restricted foreign entity may not acquire an interest in land in this state.
291 02-06 15:02 acquire an interest in land in this state.
Show all 51 changed rows (11 more)
Previous
Latest
[(e)] (5) Ĥ→ [After] Unless the department determines that sending a letter in 113a accordance with this Subsection (5) would interfere with the department's duties 113b described in this section, after ←Ĥ receiving a report from a county recorder in 113c accordance with Subsection (4), the department shall send a letter to each party involved in the land conveyance described in the report that states that:
- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
291 [(e)] (5) Unless the department determines that sending a letter in accordance with this Subsection (5) would interfere with the department's duties described in this section, after receiving a report from a county recorder in accordance with Subsection (4), the department shall send a letter to each party involved in the land conveyance described in the report that states that:
- 4 - 02-06 15:02 H.B.
(6) [when, after investigation, the department determines that a land conveyance violates this section] If an entity about which the department has reasonable suspicion that the entity is a restricted foreign entity does not provide evidence that the department determines sufficient to overcome the presumption that the entity is a restricted foreign entity within the time period described in Subsection (5)(c), the department shall:
291 (6) [when, after investigation, the department determines that a land conveyance violates this section] If an entity about which the department has reasonable suspicion that the entity is a restricted foreign entity does not provide evidence that the department determines sufficient to overcome the presumption that the entity is a restricted foreign entity within the time period described in Subsection (5)(c), the department shall:
and [(f)] (c) coordinate with the attorney general and the Division of Facilities Construction and Management to facilitate a sale of the interest in land as described in Section 63L-13-202.
and [(f)] (c) coordinate with the attorney general and the Division of Facilities Construction and Management to facilitate a sale of the interest in land as described in Section - 5 - H.B.
291 Enrolled Copy 63L-13-202.
- 5 - H.B.
(1) A person may not purchase an interest in land or lease an interest in land on behalf of a restricted foreign entity.
291 02-06 15:02 (1) A person may not purchase an interest in land or lease an interest in land on behalf of a restricted foreign entity.
This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
- 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B.
- 6 -
291 This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
- 7 -
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Amendments

1 amendment

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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/ 2nd reading

  16. Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar

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

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

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

  20. Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  21. Senate/ received from House

  22. House/ to Senate

  23. House/ passed 3rd reading

  24. House/ 3rd reading

  25. House/ 2nd reading

  26. House/ comm rpt/ amended [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  27. House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  28. House Comm - Amendment Recommendation [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  29. House/ to standing committee [House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee]

  30. House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst

  31. LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0291

  32. LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0291

  33. House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

  34. House/ received bill from Legislative Research

  35. LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0291

  36. LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0291

  37. Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed

  38. 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 housing veterans
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 291?
HB 291 is sponsored by Michael K. McKell (Republican) and Candice B. Pierucci (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 291?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 20, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 291?
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