This bill amends provisions related to the governance of a large public transit district and financial reporting of public transit districts.
This bill:
Support
Sustainable Future
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
This bill restructures how Utah's largest public transit district — UTA, which serves more than 65% of the state's population — is governed, replacing its current locally-appointed board of trustees with a seven-member "transit commission" whose members are appointed by the governor, the House speaker, and the Senate president, with most seats filled from nominations by county councils of government rather than direct local appointment as before. The executive director, who currently is hired by the board, would instead be appointed by the governor, serve at the governor's pleasure, and take on expanded day-to-day authority over budgets, contracts, rates, and operations, while the transit commission would retain approval power over the annual budget, long-range plans, bond proposals, and interlocal agreements. The bill also eliminates the requirement for UTA to maintain a local advisory council, requires all public transit districts statewide to submit annual financial reports to the Legislature's Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee, and directs the State Tax Commission, starting in fiscal year 2028, to begin depositing a portion of new sales and use tax growth into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund. Transition provisions specify that the current board structure continues through June 30, 2026, with severance provided to outgoing board members, before the new commission takes over.
Current version: SB0197S01 (Substitute)
Introduction
Jan 26
Senate Rules
Senate Committee
Jan 30
Senate 2nd Reading
Feb 20
Senate 3rd Reading
Feb 23
House Rules
Feb 26
House Committee
Feb 26
House Floor Vote
Mar 6
Senate Concurrence
Mar 6
Governor Signed
Mar 26
IntroductionJan 26
Senate Rules
Senate CommitteeJan 30
Senate 2nd ReadingFeb 20
Senate 3rd ReadingFeb 23
House RulesFeb 26
House CommitteeFeb 26
House Floor VoteMar 6
Senate ConcurrenceMar 6
Governor SignedMar 26
This bill amends provisions related to the governance of a large public transit district and financial reporting of public transit districts.
This bill:
AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.
This bill restructures how Utah's largest public transit district — UTA, which serves more than 65% of the state's population — is governed, replacing its current locally-appointed board of trustees with a seven-member "transit commission" whose members are appointed by the governor, the House speaker, and the Senate president, with most seats filled from nominations by county councils of government rather than direct local appointment as before. The executive director, who currently is hired by the board, would instead be appointed by the governor, serve at the governor's pleasure, and take on expanded day-to-day authority over budgets, contracts, rates, and operations, while the transit commission would retain approval power over the annual budget, long-range plans, bond proposals, and interlocal agreements. The bill also eliminates the requirement for UTA to maintain a local advisory council, requires all public transit districts statewide to submit annual financial reports to the Legislature's Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee, and directs the State Tax Commission, starting in fiscal year 2028, to begin depositing a portion of new sales and use tax growth into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund. Transition provisions specify that the current board structure continues through June 30, 2026, with severance provided to outgoing board members, before the new commission takes over.
Support
Sustainable Future
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Governor Signed
Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
Senate/ to Governor
Executive Branch - Governor
Senate/ received enrolled bill from Printing
Senate Secretary
Senate/ enrolled bill to Printing
Senate Secretary
Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
Senate Secretary
Last updated Aug 29, 2026, 5:26 PM