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From January 18 through March 4th, the Utah 2022 legislative session was in session. There were multiple bills presented involving alternative fuels, clean energy, and clean air. By the passing of these bills, alternative fuels will continue to develop in Utah. This not only improves air quality for all Utahns, but will help businesses secure clean fuel technologies.
Utah is advancing its fuel portfolio and becoming a place for state-of-the-art technologies to be deployed and developed. None of this would be possible without our state and local leaders support for Utah Clean Cities’ mission to provide clean air, clean fuel, and clean strategies to Utah.
The following bills are the final results from the Utah 2022 Legislative Session.
Updated January 2023
2022 Bills Search
H.B. 5 Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Base Budget
STATUS: Passed
General Description:
This bill supplements or reduces appropriations otherwise provided for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022 and appropriates funds for the support and operation of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2023.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides appropriations for the use and support of certain state agencies; and
▸ provides appropriations for other purposes as described.
H.B. 186 Vehicle Registration Amendments
STATUS: Passed
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to motor vehicle registration.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ amends the motor vehicle registration fee for certain vehicles;
▸ defines terms;
▸ modifies eligibility for the Road Usage Charge Program (program);
▸ amends the Department of Transportation’s rulemaking authority related to the program;
▸ sets the road usage charge rate and road usage charge cap for vehicles enrolled in the program;
▸ beginning January 1, 2033, allows the Transportation Commission to set the road usage charge rate for vehicles enrolled in the program; and
▸ makes technical changes.
H.B. 244 Geological Carbon Sequestration Amendments
STATUS: Passed
General Description:
This bill authorizes the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining and the Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining to establish regulations for the geologic storage of carbon.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ describes the circumstances under which the board and the division will gain jurisdiction over class VI injection wells;
▸ authorizes the board to make rules regarding the oversight of class VI injection wells;
▸ authorizes the board to establish and collect fees to reimburse the board and division for the costs associated with the regulation of class VI injection wells;
▸ describes the permitting process with which an operator must comply in order to operate a class VI injection well;
▸ describes the factors a permit must demonstrate for the board to approve the division to issue a permit;
▸ requires the board to hold a public hearing before issuing a permit;
▸ authorizes the board to order amalgamation of a tract of land for a storage facility if:
• nonconsenting owners are fairly compensated for the use of the nonconsenting owners’ pore space;
• 70% of owners of included tracts have consented to the process; and
• the board finds it is in the best interest of all owners;
▸ requires operators to record the permit;
▸ provides for:
• rights of property owners whose pore space becomes part of a storage facility; and
• the persons who hold title to carbon dioxide injected into and stored within a storage facility;
▸ requires an operator to follow certain procedures in order to receive a certificate of project completion;
▸ describes the relation of this chapter to enhanced oil and gas recovery projects;
▸ authorizes the board to enter into cooperative agreements with other agencies to carry out the objectives of this chapter;
▸ authorizes controlling state interests and political subdivisions to participate in geologic carbon storage;
▸ authorizes the board to adopt a procedure to determine the amount of injected carbon dioxide;
▸ establishes funds in which the board and division shall deposit fees collected under this chapter; and
▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
H.C.R. 1 Concurrent Resolution to Work Together to Address the Climate, Public Lands, and Carbon Sequestration
STATUS: Passed
General Description:
This resolution recognizes and encourages best management practices to reduce carbon
emissions while also preserving and expanding forests and other lands to improve
climate outcomes.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
▸ recognizes certain challenges and concerns with current land and forest
management practices and how those practices conflict with goals to slow and
reverse climate change; and
▸ encourages improved land management practices, including coordination with all
relevant parties, to reverse trends of carbon emissions with new and evolving
technology, expand natural carbon sequestration, and improve health, safety, and
forest and ecosystem vitality.
H.C.R. 7 Concurrent Resolution Regaurding Improving Air Quality Through Enchanced Zero Emission Rail
STATUS: Not Passed
General Description:
This concurrent resolution addresses improving air quality through encouraging rail
development and zero emission technology deployment.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
▸ addresses air quality and its impacts in the state;
▸ describes solutions to reduce air pollution;
▸ describes the rail transportation impact on air quality;
▸ acknowledges the role of certain governmental agencies in the shift of freight traffic
to rail;
▸ highlights that technology solutions, including information and communications
technology and zero emission locomotives, can further reduce rail emission impacts;
▸ provides that a hydrogen fuel cell-electric system is an example of a zero emission
engine technology;
▸ addresses funding and innovative procurement solutions;
▸ encourages the phased replacement of existing locomotives used in railroad and
industrial plant switching services in nonattainment areas in the state with zero
emission locomotives; and
▸ encourages the transition of rail transportation in general to zero emission locomotives.
S.B. 51 Transportation Amendments
STATUS: Passed
General Description:
This bill amends various provisions related to motor vehicles, transportation, and a towing rotation pilot program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ makes technical changes to correct inaccurate or outdated cross references;
▸ amends the definition of a vintage vehicle to a vehicle at least 40 years old;
▸ amends provisions related to an exemption from an emission inspection for a vintage vehicle to only include those with a model year of 1967 or older;
▸ amends provisions related to the Office of the Attorney General in prosecution of
certain cases related to motor vehicle enforcement;
▸ allows the Department of Public Safety to establish a pilot program to establish a
public-private partnership to manage certain tow rotation dispatch services;
▸ clarifies a definition related to local option sales and use taxes for public transit; and
▸ makes technical changes.
S.B. 136 Quality Policy Amendments
STATUS: Passed
General Description:
This bill addresses the makeup and responsibilities of the Air Quality Policy Advisory Board and requires a study by the Department of Environmental Quality.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ expands the makeup of the Air Quality Policy Advisory Board;
▸ defines terms;
▸ requires the Air Quality Policy Advisory Board to oversee a study conducted by the Department of Environmental Quality and make recommendations on a diesel emissions reduction plan framework;
▸ provides for reporting;
▸ includes a repeal date; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Updated January 2023
H.B. 52 Hydrogen Tax Credit Amendments
STATUS: Not Passed
General Description:
This bill modifies definitions related to qualification for a high cost infrastructure development tax credit.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ modifies the definitions of “high cost infrastructure project” and “infrastructure” for purposes of qualifying for a high cost infrastructure tax development tax credit.
H.B. 109 Death Certificate Amendments
STATUS: Not Passed
General Description:
This bill allows a health care professional to indicate that air pollution factored into an individual’s death on the individual’s death certificate.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ allows a health care professional to indicate on a death certificate that air pollution factored into the individual’s death; and
▸ makes technical changes.
H.B. 164 Public Transit Fares
STATUS: Not Passed
General Description:
This bill prohibits a large public transit district from charging a fare to a passenger of a public transit service.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ prohibits a large public transit district from charging a fare to a passenger of a public transit service; and
▸ makes technical changes.
H.B. 189 Electric Vehicle Charging Modifications
STATUS: Not Passed
General Description:
This bill enacts provisions related to electric vehicle charging systems.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ allows a property owner in a condominium association or community association to install and use an electric vehicle charging system; and
▸ allows a renter of a residential rental unit to install and use an electric vehicle charging system.
H.B. 221 Tax Credit for Alternative Fuel Vehicles
STATUS: Not Passed
General Description:
This bill enacts income tax credits for the purchase or lease of an alternative fuel vehicle.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ enacts a nonrefundable corporate and individual income tax credit for the purchase or lease of an alternative fuel vehicle;
▸ provides a process for a taxpayer to assign a tax credit to the dealer;
▸ requires the Air Quality Board to create a form to facilitate assignment of the tax credit; and
▸ sets a termination date for the credit but requires legislative review before the termination date.
H.B. 275 Vehicle Emissions Reduction Program
STATUS: FILED – LFA: Bill Sent to Agencies for Fiscal Input
General Description:
This bill enacts the Vehicle Emissions Reduction Program as part of the Air Conservation Act.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ creates the Vehicle Emissions Reduction Program Restricted Account;
▸ creates the Vehicle Emissions Reduction Program (program) to provide financial assistance to an eligible individual in the purchase of a motor vehicle under certain conditions;
▸ establishes eligibility criteria for participation in the program;
▸ requires certain local health departments to assist in administering the program;
▸ allows the Air Quality Board to make rules for the administration of the program;
▸ requires the Division of Air Quality under certain circumstances to conduct a public service campaign; and
▸ provides a sunset date for the program, subject to review.
H.J.R. 3 Joint Resolution Supporting Federal Carbon Fee and Dividend Program
STATUS: Not Passed
General Description:
This joint resolution addresses CO2 pollution, its impact on the environment, and ways to efficiently promote clean air technology.
Highlighted Provisions:
This resolution:
▸ describes the impact that CO2 pollution has on the environment;
▸ recognizes the value of energy;
▸ recognizes the negative impacts of government regulation and support of specific
technologies;
▸ supports the use of border adjusted carbon fees and dividends as the best way to
encourage the development of clean energy technologies;
▸ supports coupling a border adjusted carbon fee and dividend program with a
decrease of individual regulations on and government support for individual industry segments or specific companies;
▸ opposes any requirement of reparations from the fossil fuel industry; and
▸ supports a loosening of federal requirements placed on the mining industry to
facilitate acquisition of the minerals needed for clean energy technologies.
Resources for learning more
Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Utah Roadmap
Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Utah Roadmap At the request of the Utah Legislature, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute – with the assistance of a 37-person Technical Advisory Committee – prepared this Utah Roadmap to assist with legislative policy making to improve air quality and address causes and impacts of a changing climate. The Utah Roadmap identifies areas of opportunity to further reduce air emissions and ensure a healthy, productive and prosperous future for all Utahns. On January 6, the Gardner Institute released the Utah Roadmap for public review and will consider feedback as the recommendations are finalized.
Utah Foundations Driving Towards a Cleaner Future
Driving Toward a Cleaner Future: Alternative Fuel Vehicles in Utah examines the incentives and disincentives around electric cars, as well as the policy decisions around preparation for a wide proliferation of electric vehicles in the future. It also examines the incentives and requirements around public and private heavy-duty fleet vehicles.