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HB 88UTAHSession 2026State Billdead
Did Not Advance

Utah Bill HB 88 Updates Lawful Presence Verification Rules for Public Assistance

Original title: Public Assistance Amendments

Last action · March 6, 2026: House/ filedSponsor: Trevor Lee

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Official description

This bill addresses lawful presence for receipt of public benefits.

Why it matters

Changes compliance procedures and verification requirements for state and local agencies administering public benefits, scholarships, and postsecondary financial assistance in Utah.

Background
  • Trevor Lee serves as the chief sponsor of House Bill 88 in the Utah House of Representatives. context
  • The federal SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) program is operated by the Department of Homeland Security to assist agencies in verifying immigration status. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Applicants for public benefits

Applicants aged 18 or older must undergo lawful presence verification and sign certifications under penalty of perjury to receive state, local, or federal public benefits.

Directly affected

State and local agencies

Agencies must enforce verification procedures, utilize the federal SAVE program, and submit annual compliance and error reports.

Directly affected

Institutions of higher education

Postsecondary institutions must adhere to updated residency tuition and Promise Program eligibility and verification rules.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who must verify an applicant's lawful presence under this bill?
Agencies or s of the state that provide state, local, or federal public benefits must verify the lawful presence of applicants aged 18 or older.
What documentation or certification is required from an applicant?
Applicants must sign a certificate under penalty of perjury stating that they are U.S. citizens or s lawfully present in the United States, and provide required identifying numbers such as a driver license or ID card.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · on the House floor.

Procedural history

46 actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ filed
  2. Mar 6, 2026House
    House/ strike enacting clause
  3. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ 3rd Reading Calendar to Rules
  4. Feb 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088S07
  5. Feb 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088S07
  6. Feb 25, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0088S06
Show 40 earlier actions
  1. Feb 25, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0088S06
  2. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ circled
  3. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ floor amendment
  4. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ floor amendment
  5. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ substituted
  6. Feb 23, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  7. Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088S06
  8. Feb 23, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088S06
  9. Feb 20, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0088S03
  10. Feb 20, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0088S04
  11. Feb 20, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0088S05
  12. Feb 19, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0088S05
  13. Feb 19, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0088S04
  14. Feb 19, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0088S03
  15. Feb 18, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  16. Feb 18, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  17. Feb 17, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  18. Feb 17, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  19. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088S05
  20. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088S05
  21. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088S04
  22. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088S04
  23. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088S03
  24. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088S03
  25. Feb 9, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  26. Feb 6, 2026House Rules Committee
    Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm
  27. Feb 5, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0088S02
  28. Feb 4, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0088S02
  29. Feb 3, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0088S01
  30. Feb 3, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0088S01
  31. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088S02
  32. Jan 26, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088S02
  33. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  34. Jan 14, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  35. Jan 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088S01
  36. Jan 13, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088S01
  37. Dec 23, 2025Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0088
  38. Dec 23, 2025Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0088
  39. Dec 23, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  40. Dec 23, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Trevor LeeHouse · District 16RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Comprehensive Public Benefit Verification Updates

HB 88 aligns multiple Utah Code sections regarding lawful presence verification for public assistance, postsecondary education programs, and occupational licenses.

Department of CommerceHigher Education Appropriations Subcommittee

Connected Entities

United States Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Attorney General, Division of Securities and 4 more
OrganizationUnited States Department of Homeland Security“Federal department receiving reports on SAVE program delays and errors”Map →
OrganizationOffice of the Attorney General“Office receiving information when applicants are not qualified aliens”Map →
OrganizationDivision of Securities“State division receiving applications”Map →
OrganizationHigher Education Appropriations Subcommittee“Subcommittee receiving electronic reports regarding the Utah Promise Program”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Commerce“State department verifying lawful presence for certain licenses”Map →
PersonTrevor Lee“Chief Sponsor of HB 88”Map →
PersonUtah Attorney General“Concurs with agencies on variations to verification requirements”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance20
    Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
  • Controversy70
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz35
    Current news / social attention level

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