Outdoor Recreation Bills Passed During the 2025 Utah Legislative Session

HB0034 | State Campgrounds Amendments

Eliason, S.

This bill set up a process for creating state campgrounds, which may now be designated through a concurrent resolution by the Legislature and the Governor and will be managed by the Division of State Parks.

HB0036 | Provo Canyon Resource Management Plan Amendments

Bennion, G.

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This bill extended the sunset date to 2027 for the Provo Canyon resource management plan.

HB0098 | Landowner Liability Amendments

Shallenberger, D.

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This bill added new activities (via ferrata climbing and target shooting) to the definition of “recreational purpose” in the context of landowner liability

HB0200 | Outdoor Recreation Amendments

Cutler, P.

This bill allows the governor to keep Utah’s federal public lands, such as national parks, national monuments, national forests, national recreation areas, and lands managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, open and operational during a fiscal emergency.

HB0439 | Outdoor Recreation Revisions

Chew, S.

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This bill defined “off highway vehicle facility”, and allowed the Division of Outdoor Recreation to award upfront cash grants from the Off-highway Vehicle Account for projects in counties of the third through sixth class.

HB0456 | Transient Room Tax Amendments

Bolinder, B.

This bill let Utah counties use a portion of their transient room tax (TRT) revenue—collected from hotels, motels, vacation rentals—to fund outdoor recreation and tourism-related mitigation (like search and rescue, road repairs, and solid waste disposal), not only for promotion. It raised the state TRT rate by 0.75% (from 0.32% to 1.07%) and creates the Outdoor Recreation Mitigation Grant Program, which uses 25% of the new revenue to support eligible counties. The remaining new revenue feeds into the Long-Term Capital Projects Fund. The bill clarified definitions, reporting requirements, and permits counties to share TRT revenue with municipalities through interlocal agreements. It also extended the sunset date for the State Search and Rescue Advisory Board. No direct appropriations are included, but it reallocates revenue and establishes grant funding.

SB0336 | Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District Modifications

Sandall, S.

This bill aims to amend the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District (UFAIR) framework to provide greater flexibility for future developments. Modifications include lowering the stadium seating requirement and allowing for multiple sports venues. It also adjusts tax policies, designates funding for infrastructure, and authorizes the creation of a district police force for public safety.

SB0200 S01 | Watercraft Amendments

McCay, D.

This bill was introduced to revise regulations concerning the registration and taxation of recreational watercraft and related vehicles. The bill aims to standardize and simplify the registration process by implementing uniform statewide fees for various types of recreational vehicles, including personal watercraft, snowmobiles, and trailers. Notably, the legislation specifies that vessels under 31 feet in length will be subject to these new fees. Additionally, the bill introduces the “Boating Grant Tax,” a new tax intended to fund boating-related projects and initiatives. It also makes technical changes to existing laws to improve clarity and consistency.

SB0276 | Utah Horse Racing Commission Amendments

McKell, M.

The bill requires the Utah Horse Racing Commission to report any rulemaking actions to a legislative committee before those rules take effect. This provision ensures legislative oversight of the Commission’s regulatory changes. Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to the existing statutes governing horse racing in Utah. Its primary aim is to enhance transparency and accountability in the Commission’s rulemaking process, allowing for legislative review of proposed rules.