The legislation establishes a framework for providing electrical services to large-scale electrical loads in Utah, focusing on customers with significant energy demands. It introduces alternative processes for delivering electric service to these customers, exempting such services from certain rate regulation requirements while ensuring safety and reliability standards are maintained. The bill outlines procedures for submitting, evaluating, and contracting large-scale electrical service requests, and sets requirements for qualified electric utilities and large-scale generation providers. It also mandates accounting and operational transparency to protect retail customers and establishes guidelines for closed private generation systems and connected generation systems. The Public Service Commission is tasked with investigating the feasibility of a large load flexible tariff and conducting periodic reviews of the program, reporting findings to the Legislature. The bill does not allocate any specific funding for its implementation. It amends Section 63G-6a-107.6 of the Utah Code to exempt the retention of experts by certain public entities from procurement regulations. The legislation enacts several new sections under Chapter 54-26 of the Utah Code, detailing definitions, application procedures, service request processes, contract requirements, service provider obligations, and customer requirements. It sets a timeline for the program, applying only to contracts commencing on or before December 31, 2034, and requires the Commission to review the program by October 31, 2027, and every three years thereafter. The bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.

The legislative text reaffirms Utah's sovereignty under the principle of federalism, emphasizing the state's right to determine its own energy policies. It highlights the powers reserved to states under the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, particularly in regulating energy policies that affect state residents. The resolution underscores the significance of the United States Supreme Court's "Loper Bright" decision, which reinforced federalism by eliminating the Chevron doctrine, thereby reducing federal overreach in state matters. The legislation asserts Utah's primary role in shaping energy policies within its borders and urges the federal government to limit its regulatory role to interstate commerce and national security. It calls for meaningful consultation between federal agencies and states in developing energy-related policies and advocates for formal mechanisms to ensure state input in federal energy policy decisions. The resolution does not allocate any specific funding and does not introduce changes to existing statutes or regulations. There are no specific timelines or deadlines mentioned in the text.

The legislation introduces significant amendments to the funding and revenue management within the Utah Department of Natural Resources, focusing on the Species Protection Account. It mandates counties to remit funds to the state, calculated based on new transmission facilities, and expands the revenue sources for this account. These sources now include taxes on radioactive waste facilities, wind or solar electric generation facilities, and assessments on renewable energy parent entities. The bill modifies the calculation of centrally assessed new growth, requiring counties to remit a portion of this growth to the state for the Species Protection Account. Additionally, the legislation enacts new sections under the Utah Code Annotated 1953, establishing definitions and payment obligations related to the Species Protection Funding Act. It requires annual reporting by the Division of Wildlife Resources and a study by the Office of Energy Development, with a significant reporting deadline set for November 30, 2026, to detail revenue sources and expenditures from the Species Protection Account. Furthermore, the legislation addresses tax increment financing by redirecting incremental values from housing and transit reinvestment zones, home ownership promotion zones, and first home investment zones. It establishes a new tax on renewable energy project entities, effective January 1, 2026, calculated based on the operational generating capacity of wind or solar facilities. This tax, along with an energy project assessment, is intended to support the Species Protection Account. The bill also outlines the administrative processes for tax collection and enforcement, including the roles of the county assessor, auditor, and the State Tax Commission. The legislation provides a special effective date of January 1, 2026, and includes technical and conforming amendments to various sections of the Utah Code, ensuring comprehensive integration of these changes into existing legal frameworks.

The legislative text introduces amendments concerning the licensing and taxation of radioactive waste facilities in Utah. It modifies the requirements for renewing or amending a radioactive waste license, including the need for legislative and gubernatorial approval for certain applications. The bill imposes a new radioactive waste facility expansion tax on facilities applying to construct or expand, with a tax rate of $3.45 per cubic yard of new licensed waste disposal volume, capped at 8.7 million cubic yards. This tax must be paid within 60 days of application submission, and the revenue is allocated to the Utah Energy Research Fund. Additionally, the bill establishes a new tax rate of 16.67% on gross receipts from radioactive waste received from new generators between June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2028, with the revenue also directed to the Utah Energy Research Fund. The legislation amends several sections of the Utah Code, including definitions and tax provisions, and introduces a sunset clause for the expansion tax, set to repeal on July 1, 2026. The bill also outlines specific timelines for the review and approval of radioactive waste facility applications, with varying deadlines based on the complexity of the application. Furthermore, the bill includes coordination clauses to align with other legislative measures, ensuring that tax revenues are appropriately directed to support energy development and infrastructure projects within the state.

The legislation introduces comprehensive reforms to enhance housing development and affordability in Utah, focusing on facilitating the creation of new municipalities by lowering the minimum population requirement for town incorporation from 100 to 75 people. It empowers municipalities and counties to authorize increased housing density through affordable home ownership density bonuses, which require a percentage of units to be affordable and owner-occupied for a minimum period. The legislation mandates annual progress reports from counties on moderate-income housing strategies, with noncompliance resulting in ineligibility for certain state funds and daily fees. The Division of Housing and Community Development is responsible for establishing rules for these reports, while the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget must develop a comprehensive state housing plan by December 31, 2025, with annual implementation reports. The bill does not allocate new funding but amends existing laws, including land use regulations and the operation of propane systems by special districts. It outlines an appeals process for municipalities receiving noncompliance notices, allowing them to contest determinations and potentially regain funding eligibility. The legislation also specifies that counties must cure report deficiencies within a 90-day period, with an appeals process available if a second noncompliance notice is issued. Failure to comply results in ineligibility for funds and daily fees payable to the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund. The legislation emphasizes collaboration across sectors, prioritizes regional approaches to housing, and considers both rural and urban contexts. It also includes provisions for special districts to operate various services, including propane systems, and outlines the creation of infrastructure financing districts with specific cost thresholds. The legislation takes effect on May 7, 2025, and aims to foster a more inclusive and affordable housing market in Utah through strategic planning and compliance.

The legislation addresses wildfire risks associated with properties located in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas in Utah. It mandates counties to assess fees on high-risk WUI properties, which are to be deposited into the Wildland-urban Interface Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation Fund. This fund is intended to support efforts in preventing, preparing for, and mitigating wildfires. The bill requires counties and municipalities to adopt specific building code standards for WUI areas and allows the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to establish a program for evaluating high-risk properties using a triage scale. The division is also tasked with creating a database accessible to insurers for evaluating these properties. The legislation introduces new sections to the Utah Code, including provisions for insuring WUI properties, which require insurers to use specific tools for risk assessment and to provide detailed notices for policy changes due to wildfire risks. The bill amends existing laws, such as the International Fire Code (IFC), to include new requirements for fire safety and building standards in WUI areas. It also modifies the immunity provisions for governmental entities and employees, ensuring they are not liable for actions taken under this legislation. The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, with certain provisions, such as the establishment of a database for insurers, becoming mandatory by January 1, 2028.

The legislation introduces enhanced consumer protection measures for residential solar panel customers in Utah. It mandates that solar retailers provide a good faith estimate of energy production, which must be within a specified percentage of actual production, and requires repairs if this standard is not met. The bill establishes a registration and security requirement for solar retailers operating in Utah, with exceptions for publicly traded corporations registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It also stipulates that sales representatives must be W-2 employees of the solar retailer. Financial obligations for customers are delayed until the solar system is active and producing usable energy. The bill amends several sections of the Utah Code, including renaming Chapter 52 to the "Residential Solar Energy Consumer Protection Act" and adding new sections that define terms such as "actual energy production" and "sales representative." It also specifies the contents of disclosure statements for solar agreements, including detailed information about projected savings, system design, and warranties. The legislation requires solar retailers to register with the Division of Consumer Protection by July 1, 2026, and to provide a performance bond or certificate of deposit as security. The registration process includes a criminal background check for the retailer and its participants, with certain exemptions. The bill outlines penalties for non-compliance, including the potential denial, suspension, or revocation of a retailer's registration. The legislation takes effect on May 7, 2025.

The legislation establishes guidelines for the display of flags on government property in Utah, prohibiting government entities and their employees from displaying any flags except those specifically exempted. The exempted flags include the official flags of the United States, Utah, other countries, states, political subdivisions, military branches, and certain organizations, among others. The state auditor is tasked with ensuring compliance with these regulations, including investigating alleged violations and imposing fines of $500 per day for non-compliance, with fines being deposited into the General Fund. The attorney general is required to defend and indemnify individuals enforcing this statute within the public education system. The legislation also includes a severability clause, ensuring that if any part of the law is invalidated by a court, the remaining provisions will still be effective. Additionally, the bill amends Section 67-3-1 to include the state auditor's responsibility to ensure compliance with the new flag display regulations. The legislation is set to take effect on May 7, 2025.

The legislation introduces modifications to the Office of Energy Development's responsibilities, focusing on enhancing energy education and workforce development in Utah. It mandates the creation and maintenance of energy education programs and curricula for K-12 students, alongside professional development training for educators. Additionally, the legislation establishes the Energy Education and Workforce Development Advisory Group, which will provide guidance and recommendations on these educational initiatives. The advisory group comprises representatives from various educational and energy sectors, including the Office of Energy Development, the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, and the Utah Science Teaching Association, among others. The Office is tasked with developing energy-related workforce programs that align with state energy policies and facilitate collaboration between educational institutions and industry. The legislation does not allocate specific funding but requires the Office to report annually to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee on the progress and challenges of these programs. The new provisions are set to take effect on May 7, 2025, with the first report due by October 1 of each year.

The legislative text introduces amendments to the evaluation of integrated resource plans by the Public Service Commission, focusing on several key areas. It mandates that electrical utilities must fully attribute costs for supplemental resources in their integrated resource plans and establishes specific requirements for calculating generation capacity. The legislation also requires utilities to include certain designations in their action plans and prohibits involuntary demand management programs. Notably, the bill amends Section 54-17-301 of the Utah Code, adding definitions for terms such as "baseload capacity," "demand management program," and "variable energy resource," among others. It also enacts Section 54-17-305, which outlines conditions under which demand management programs can be implemented, emphasizing voluntary participation and consumer consent. The bill specifies that anticipated demand reductions from these programs cannot be equated to generation capacity unless certain reliability criteria are met. Additionally, the legislation allows for voluntary conservation programs that offer financial incentives to customers and permits emergency procedures to maintain system reliability. The bill does not allocate any new funding and is set to take effect on May 7, 2025.