Energy Bills Passed During the 2025 Utah Legislative Session
Legend
Bird icon: Early Bird
Moon icon: Latecomer
Gavel icon: Unanimous Votes
Binoculars icon: Media Attention
HB0057 | Residential Solar Panel Consumer Protection Amendments
Jack, C.
This bill established additional requirements for the operation of residential solar panel companies. These requirements include adding new disclosure language mandating a solar retailer’s good faith estimate of energy production be within a specified percentage of the actual energy production, ensuring the solar retailer must repair solar panels if the actual energy production is not within a specified percentage of the good faith estimate of energy production, creating a registration for a solar retailer to do business in Utah, providing an exception to the background check for a publicly traded corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, requiring that a solar retailer sales representative be employed by the solar retailer as a W-2 employee, and delaying a customer’s financial obligation on a residential solar energy system until the system is active and producing usable energy.
HB0070 | Decommissioned Asset Disposition Amendments
Walter, N.
This bill created the Utah Energy Council, which may purchase and manage decommissioned power plants for the state. The purpose of the council is to facilitate the development of electrical energy generation and transmission projects within Utah. The bill also prohibits a project entity from making changes to facilities that supply power to a station service, disconnecting or modifying existing interconnections or key switchyard equipment, or taking any actions that would force a new plant owner to submit a new interconnection request.
HB0119 | Solar Panel Restrictions in Homeowners Associations Amendments
Owens, D.
This bill made it so that homeowners associations cannot prohibit lot owners from installing solar panels, but it does allow them to create restrictions on the installation of solar panels.
HB0157 | Energy Education Amendments
Jack, C.
This bill required the Office of Energy Development to create energy education programs and curricula for grades K-12, training for educators, and energy-related workforce development programs that align with the state’s energy policy. HB 157 also established the Energy Education and Workforce Development Advisory Group to provide recommendations to the office about these energy education programs.
HB0201 | Energy Resource Amendments
Jack, C.
This bill introduced new rules for how energy companies plan and report their power sources. The law requires utilities to report how much baseload, variable, and backup power they expect to use in their long-term plans. If backup power is needed to support variable sources, the cost must be assigned to those sources. Utilities also have to report a power plant’s capacity based on the actual amount of electricity it can reliably deliver, not just its maximum possible output. The bill bans programs that would force customers to reduce their energy use unless they choose to opt in, though it does allow companies to offer voluntary incentives to encourage energy conservation.
HB0212 | Advanced Transmission Technologies
Watkins, C.
The bill updates the Energy Resource Procurement Act to require large-scale electric utilities to consider and report on advanced transmission technologies. These software and hardware technologies are designed to enhance the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of transmission lines, energy storage systems, and the broader transmission grid. The bill also includes reporting on technologies that may reduce the risk of igniting wildfires.
HB0249 | Nuclear Power Amendments
Albrecht, C.
This bill created the Nuclear Energy Consortium to advise the Office of Energy Development and the Legislature on nuclear energy development in the state, and the Utah Energy Council to facilitate the development of baseload electrical energy generation and transmission projects within the state. It also established a process for designating energy development zones, renamed the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab Board to be the Utah Energy Research Board, and created the Electrical Energy Development Investment Fund.
HB0264 | Tax Incentives Amendments
Christofferson, K.
This bill limited the eligibility for claiming the corporate or individual income tax credit for clean energy systems to systems that are placed in service before January 1, 2028, and repealed the individual income tax credit for qualifying solar projects and the corporate and individual income tax credits for alternative energy development.
HB0340 | Solar Power Amendments
Ward, R.
This bill created a new category for small portable solar generation devices. It exempted them from interconnection requirements, established basic safety requirements, and provided liability protections for electrical corporations.
HB0350 | District Energy Amendments
Peterson, V.
This bill amended Utah’s High Cost Infrastructure Development Tax Credit Act by making district energy systems eligible for tax credits. The bill defined district energy systems, heat corporations, and cooling plants and established investment thresholds for these systems to qualify for high-cost infrastructure tax credits.
HB0378 | Department of Natural Resources Funding Amendments
Snider, C.
This bill created the Species Protection Account and designated funds to be placed into the account. It imposed a new tax on wind and solar electric generation facilities to be deposited in the new account, as well as an assessment on renewable energy parent entities, and a tax on gross receipts of a radioactive waste facility derived from the disposal of concentrated depleted uranium and containerized waste. The bill modifies the calculation of centrally assessed new growth and requires counties to remit to the state a portion of centrally assessed new growth and some money calculated based on certain new transmission facilities for deposit into the Species Protection Account. HB 378 requires reporting by the Division of Wildlife Resources and a study by the Office of Energy Development.
HB0411 | Public Asset Ownership Amendments
Shelley, T.
This bill created new rules around environmental commodities—like carbon credits or other eco-friendly offsets—when they are produced or purchased with state funding. The bill defined what counts as an environmental commodity and establishes that any commodity generated with public money becomes state property, in proportion to the state’s investment. It also gave the State Treasurer authority to sell, trade, or manage these commodities with the purpose of benefiting Utah citizens, aligning such actions with promoting energy independence and maximizing natural resource value. Additionally, any sale or exchange must include a digital tracking number reported to the Office of Energy Development—except for commodities created on school and institutional trust lands.
HB0474 | Regulatory Oversight Amendments
Wilcox, R.
This bill updated Utah’s laws to give the public a formal way to request changes to professional licensing requirements and to strengthen financial oversight of state rulemaking. It allows any person to petition the Office of Professional Licensure Review to repeal or update a license requirement if it seems excessive. The office must respond within 90 days— in writing—explaining their decision. If they don’t respond, they must drop the requirement or revise it to be less burdensome. The bill also amended Utah’s Administrative Rulemaking Act. Any proposed rule estimated to have statewide aggregate compliance costs of $1 million per year or $2 million over five years must be reviewed by the Legislative Rules Review and General Oversight Committee before it can be made effective. Agencies must provide a detailed fiscal analysis—including anticipated costs to the state, local governments, small businesses, and individuals—for any rule they propose. The bill added new reporting standards to ensure rules are not more restrictive than necessary and that the least burdensome method is used.
HCR005 | House Concurrent Resolution on Permitting Reform
Ballard, M.G.
H.C.R. 5 urged Congress to reform federal permitting policies to expedite the deployment of new energy infrastructure. It emphasized the current issues that delay energy infrastructure development and the need for streamlined permitting while maintaining environmental stewardship.
HCR009 | House Concurrent Resolution to Create Energy Compact with Idaho and Wyoming
Moss, J.
H.C.R. 9 is a resolution passed by the Utah Legislature in 2025 that encouraged the establishment of an interstate compact for regional energy collaboration between Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho. The resolution recognized that these states share energy resources and challenges and called for them to work together to address issues such as grid reliability, increasing energy demand, and environmental concerns. It directs the Governor’s Office of Energy Development to initiate discussions and develop a framework for the proposed compact. The legislature and governor expressed their commitment to fostering regional cooperation on energy.
SB0005 | Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Base Budget
Hinkins, D.
This bill establishes the base budget for Utah’s Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Food, Department of Environmental Quality, and the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The bill allocates specific funding amounts to various state agencies and programs, detailing exact budget allocations, nonlapsing fund provisions, and performance measurement targets.
SB0061 | Energy Corridor Amendments
Owens, D.R.
This bill required that federal land be considered first before applying eminent domain to private property. It also required a public utility to conduct an infrastructure siting analysis and submit an annual report on eminent domain actions and efforts to utilize federal public lands.
SB0132 | Electric Utility Amendments
Sandall, S.
This bill set new rules for how electricity is provided to very large energy users—those needing at least 100 MW of power, such as data centers or industrial plants. The bill defines key terms like “large-scale generation provider” and “large load customer,” and requires detailed feasibility studies before service is offered. It ensures that the costs of infrastructure upgrades (like transmission lines or interconnections) are paid by the large users themselves—not passed on to other customers. Contracts for these services must be approved by the state Public Service Commission and include protections like financial security, insurance, curtailment clauses, and separate accounting. Registered generation providers supplying these customers must meet reliability standards, maintain reserves, and carry liability insurance.
SB0149 | Natural Resources Modifications
Winterton, R.
This bill defined hunting outfitter, guide, and spotter regulations and fees and clarified that the advisor of PLPCO and director of the Office of Energy Development are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
SB0187 | Throughput Infrastructure Funding Amendments
Stevenson, J.
This bill was enacted to expand the state’s support for critical infrastructure projects related to mineral resource development. The bill amends existing legislation to allow loans from the Throughput Infrastructure Fund for domestic mining activities, specifically targeting critical minerals such as feldspar and gallium. These loans are intended to assist in the development of infrastructure necessary for the extraction and processing of these minerals, which are vital for various industries, including technology and manufacturing. The bill also authorizes financial assistance to entities that provide economic opportunities in communities economically impacted by mineral leasing, aiming to foster economic development in these areas.
SB0192 | Commercial Wind and Solar Incentives Amendments
Owens, D.R.
This bill modifies tax credit requirements for commercial wind and solar energy systems. The bill requires these systems to include battery storage systems to qualify for tax credits. Any system producing 660 kw of power will need storage to get the incentives.
SB0213 | Sales and Use Tax Modifications
Harper, W.
This bill was enacted to introduce specific tax exemptions aimed at fostering the growth of energy storage and manufacturing sectors in the state. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill provides a sales and use tax exemption for businesses operating qualifying energy storage manufacturing facilities. This exemption applies to purchases of tangible personal property incorporated into energy storage equipment, as well as machinery, equipment, and repair or replacement parts used exclusively in the operation of such facilities. The goal is to support the development of energy storage technologies, which are crucial for enhancing grid reliability and integrating renewable energy sources.
SB0216 | Environmental Quality Amendments
McKell, M.
This bill was enacted to implement significant changes in the state’s environmental governance and radioactive waste management. The bill introduces a new gross receipts tax of 16.67% on radioactive waste received from generators who ship to Utah for the first time between June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2028. Additionally, it imposes a per-cubic-yard tax of $3.45 on radioactive waste. Revenue generated from these taxes will be deposited into the Utah Energy Research Fund, with an estimated one-time revenue of $30,015,000 in fiscal year 2026. The bill also shifts certain revenues from the Uniform School Fund to the Energy Research Fund for waste from generators not shipping to the state prior to June 30, 2025. Furthermore, S.B. 216 exempts waste facilities within a hazardous waste corridor from obtaining certain approvals inherent to the creation of such corridors. The bill also enacts changes to the Air Quality Board, including the expiration of all current board members’ terms effective July 1, 2025, and the appointment of new members with specified qualifications. These changes aim to enhance the board’s effectiveness in addressing air quality issues in Utah.
SB0234 | Severance Amendments
Owens, D.R.
This bill introduces significant changes to Utah’s severance tax credit system, particularly impacting the oil, gas, and mineral sectors. Key provisions include redefining critical terms such as “exploration activity” and “eligible claimant,” adjusting the total value of tax credit certificates that can be issued, and permitting taxpayers to apply the high-cost infrastructure tax credit against severance tax liabilities, rather than just income tax. These changes aim to incentivize investment in energy infrastructure and exploration activities, thereby supporting the state’s energy sector and local economies.
SCR003 | Concurrent Resolution Supporting Federalism Principles and Utah’s Control of its Energy Future
Harper, W.
This resolution supports the state’s right to make its own energy decisions without too much federal interference. It calls on the federal government to respect Utah’s authority over its energy resources and consult the state before making energy rules.
SJR011 | Joint Resolution Regarding Critical Minerals
Millner, A.
This resolution calls for the critical minerals mining industry to establish a working group formed of industry, government, and academic professionals in order to build a statewide strategy for rare earth minerals in the state of Utah.