S.B. 197
Signed into LawSupportTransportation Funding and Governance Amendments
SB0197S01 (Substitute)
Transportation Funding and Governance Amendments
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
What This Bill Does
This bill amends provisions related to the governance of a large public transit district and financial reporting of public transit districts.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- requires public transit districts to provide an annual financial report to the Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee;
- repeals the structure of the large public transit district board of trustees and changes the body to a transit commission;
- provides for selection process, appointment, and duties of the transit commission of a large public transit district;
- defines duties and reallocates certain responsibilities between the executive director and transit commission of a large public transit district;
- provides for the transition of the governance structure of a large public transit district;
- changes the appointment process for the executive director of a large public transit district to be appointed by the governor;
- repeals the requirement of a large public transit district to have a local advisory council;
- requires the State Tax Commission, beginning in fiscal year 2028, to annually deposit a certain amount of new growth derived from state sales and use taxes into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund; and
- makes technical changes.
Better Utah Institute's Position
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary, reviewed by Better Utah staff.
This bill fundamentally restructures how Utah's largest public transit district — UTA, which serves more than 65% of the state's population — is governed. It replaces UTA's existing locally-appointed board of trustees with a new seven-member "transit commission," whose members are appointed by the governor (with Senate confirmation), the House speaker, and the Senate president rather than by local governments. The bill also removes the requirement for a local advisory council and shifts appointment of UTA's executive director from the board to the governor, making that position serve at the governor's pleasure. The executive director gains broad operational authority, while the transit commission takes on an oversight and approval role for budgets, long-range plans, and bond issuance. Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the bill also directs a portion of new sales tax growth into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund when annual General Fund revenues exceed a 2025 baseline.
S.B. 197
Signed into LawSupportTransportation Funding and Governance Amendments
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
What This Bill Does
This bill amends provisions related to the governance of a large public transit district and financial reporting of public transit districts.
Key Provisions
This bill:
- requires public transit districts to provide an annual financial report to the Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee;
- repeals the structure of the large public transit district board of trustees and changes the body to a transit commission;
- provides for selection process, appointment, and duties of the transit commission of a large public transit district;
- defines duties and reallocates certain responsibilities between the executive director and transit commission of a large public transit district;
- provides for the transition of the governance structure of a large public transit district;
- changes the appointment process for the executive director of a large public transit district to be appointed by the governor;
- repeals the requirement of a large public transit district to have a local advisory council;
- requires the State Tax Commission, beginning in fiscal year 2028, to annually deposit a certain amount of new growth derived from state sales and use taxes into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund; and
- makes technical changes.
Plain-Language Summary
AI-generated summary, reviewed by Better Utah staff.
This bill fundamentally restructures how Utah's largest public transit district — UTA, which serves more than 65% of the state's population — is governed. It replaces UTA's existing locally-appointed board of trustees with a new seven-member "transit commission," whose members are appointed by the governor (with Senate confirmation), the House speaker, and the Senate president rather than by local governments. The bill also removes the requirement for a local advisory council and shifts appointment of UTA's executive director from the board to the governor, making that position serve at the governor's pleasure. The executive director gains broad operational authority, while the transit commission takes on an oversight and approval role for budgets, long-range plans, and bond issuance. Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the bill also directs a portion of new sales tax growth into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund when annual General Fund revenues exceed a 2025 baseline.
Better Utah Institute's Position
Votes
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Motion: Favorable Recommendation
Documents
Floor Debates
Committee Hearings
Other Versions
Subjects
Action History57
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 Mar 26, 2026, 9:44 PM