2021 Utah Legislative Wrap-up
The Utah 2021 Legislative Session closed on March 5, 2021. Every year Bike Utah works to keep people updated on legislative issues relevant to cyclists and bicycle advocates. This year we saw unprecedented financial support for active transportation. We are very excited to see this investment occur and know it will push Utah forward toward becoming a better and safer place to ride. Although we did not see the $100 Million in outdoor recreation spending, there were a few appropriations that support active transportation and outdoor recreation infrastructure. This investment is due to your support and advocacy in your communities and statewide. Thank you for your hard work and support!
Below are a few highlights from the session:
S.B. 2 New fiscal year supplement appropriations act passed!
$35M one-time funding for “active transportation” paved pedestrian and non-motorized transportation projects (requires local contribution of at least 20% of project cost. (SB2 item 48) This funding will be handled by the Utah Department of Transportation and will look at funding active transportation projects that are a part of their high prioritization list. No projects have been identified yet, but the list is part of what they may be considering.
$4M one-time funding for outdoor recreation infrastructure development grants that will be allocated through the Office of Outdoor Recreation. (SB2 item 210) This is in addition to their ongoing program funding.
$1.5M one-time funding for Jordan River improvements (HB3 item 107) and $250,000 ongoing (SB2 item 185)
HB142 - Cyclist Traffic Amendments passed! Utah now has a stop as yield law that allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs if NO TRAFFIC or PEDESTRIANS are present. Bike Utah will work to educate citizens on this law and how to do this safely. Check out Bike Utah’s presentation with Representative Spackman Moss to the Senate Transportation Committee meeting and see the large community support this bill received.
S.B. 15 Workforce Solutions for Air Quality Amendments passed!
See the Bills’ progress:
H.B. 142 Cyclist Traffic Amendments
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
Floor Sponsor: Sen. Curtis S. Bramble
This bill amends traffic code provisions relating to operating a bicycle on the roadway allowing an individual operating a bicycle to yield at stop signs under certain circumstances.
Why is this relevant to bicycling?
Other states who have passed similar legislation have experienced a decrease in bicycle injuries at controlled intersections. For example, in Idaho reports that injuries dropped 14 percent after Idaho passed the law in 1982. Delaware reports a decrease of 23% over 3 years since their revised law was passed.
Similar bills have been attempted in Utah in the past, but failed at various stages. You can read more about previous attempts in this article. We are so thrilled we could support this effort in its passing!
Final Status:
January 28, 2021
Passed House Transportation Committee:
8-3-1
Favorable
Feb 5, 2021
House Floor
45-26
Passed
Feb 25,2021
Passed Senate Transportation Committee;
2-1
Favorable
March 5,2021
Senate Floor
28-1
Passed
H.B. 82 Single-family Housing Modification
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Raymond Ward
This bill modifies provisions related to single-family housing. The bill would make accessory dwelling units easier to build throughout the state and would increase housing density as a result. The bill also adjusts minimum parking lot requirements allowing for smaller parking lot sizes.
Why is this relevant to Bicycling?
From a transportation/land use perspective, it is a very bike friendly bill. Higher density housing creates more bikeable communities improving access to a full array of services and destinations within a 1-2 mile radius. Read more about that concept in this article.
Final Status:
Feb 12, 2021 House Business and Labor
12-2-0
Favorable
Feb 18, 2021
House Floor Vote
50-19-6
Passed
March 2, 2021 Passed Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee
5-1
Favorable
March 3, 2021 Senate floor
27-1-1
Passed with Amendments
March 4, 2021
House Floor
64-7-4
Passed
S.B. 15 Workforce Solutions for Air Quality Amendments
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Daniel McCay
Floor Sponsor: Rep. Mike Winder
This bill enacts reporting and other requirements for the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) related to teleworking by state employees.
Why is this relevant to Bicycling?
This bill seeks to increase state employee’s remote working capacities on bad air quality days in an effort to improve Utah’s air quality. If they are working from home then they are not driving to work and adding to the emissions on bad air days. Better air quality means better easier breathing for bicyclists and aligns with one of Bike Utah’s major goals to improve air quality here in Utah.
Final Status:
Feb 04, 2021
Senate Gov Op. Committee
5-0-3
Favorable
Feb 16, 2021
Senate Floor
28-0-1
Passed
Feb 22, 2021
House Rules Committee
12-0-1
Favorable
March 2, 2021
House Floor
70-5-0
Passed
S.B. 2 New Fiscal Year Supplemental Appropriations Act
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Jerry W. Stevenson
Floor Sponsor: Rep. Bradley G. Last
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.
Why is this relevant to Bicycling?
The investment in active transportation is consistent with this letter drafted by the Wasatch Front Regional Council that was signed by 400 public, private, and community stakeholders across Utah urging the Governor and Legislature to invest in constructing high-priority, regionally important “active transportation” (i.e., biking and walking) projects throughout the State. SB2 includes a $35,000,000 one-time appropriation from the General Fund to support paved pedestrian or paved non-motorized transportation infrastructure projects. This bill also reduced required local matching funds from the typical 40% we see in Utah to 20% making this funding more accessible to underserved, smaller and/or more rural communities. We are very excited for what this means for active transportation in Utah!
Final Status:
March 2, 2021
House Floor Vote
70--0-5
Passed
See something we missed? Email us at info@bikeutah.org.
