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HB 431UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah creates Wildlife Crossing Account funded by vehicle fees and tax earmarks

Original title: Wildlife Crossing Amendments

Last action · March 18, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Scott Chew and 7 others

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

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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

This bill establishes the Wildlife Crossing Account within the Transportation Investment Fund of 2005 to finance and livestock protection projects, supported by a portion of sales tax revenues and voluntary driver donations starting July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Establishes a dedicated funding stream for wildlife overpasses, underpasses, and livestock safety infrastructure, shifting how transportation projects incorporate animal-vehicle collision mitigation.

Background
  • Utah's Transportation Investment Fund of 2005 serves as the primary capital projects fund for state highway infrastructure and major transit projects. context
  • Vehicle-animal collisions present significant safety hazards and economic costs on rural and mountain highways across Utah. context

Who It Affects

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

Directly affected

Utah drivers

Drivers are given the option to make voluntary financial contributions when renewing vehicle registrations and are impacted by improved road safety regarding wildlife and livestock.

Directly affected

Department of Transportation

The department is tasked with administering account funds, consulting with wildlife agencies, and recommending projects to the Transportation Commission.

Directly affected

Division of Wildlife Resources

The division collaborates with the Department of Transportation on recommending wildlife connectivity projects and collects voluntary permit contributions.

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

How is the Wildlife Crossing Account funded?
The account receives an annual $2,000,000 from sales and use tax revenues, legislative appropriations, private donations, and voluntary contributions made by residents during motor vehicle registrations and wildlife permit applications.
What types of projects can be funded using this account?
Money can be used for wildlife overpasses and underpasses, directional fencing, escape ramps, culvert replacements for fish and stream connectivity, livestock safety infrastructure, and related research and planning.
When does this law go into effect?
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

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

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

49 actions
  1. Mar 18, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 12, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 10, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 10, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 43 earlier actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Mar 5, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0431S02
  3. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  4. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  5. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  6. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  7. Mar 4, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  8. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  9. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  10. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  11. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  12. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  13. Mar 4, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0431S02
  14. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  15. Mar 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0431S02
  16. Mar 4, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0431S02
  17. Mar 2, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Held
  18. Feb 26, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Motion to Recommend Failed
  19. Feb 24, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  20. Feb 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  21. Feb 19, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  22. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  23. Feb 19, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  24. Feb 19, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  25. Feb 12, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  26. Feb 12, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ amended
  27. Feb 11, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  28. Feb 11, 2026House
    House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  29. Feb 10, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0431S01
  30. Feb 9, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0431S01
  31. Feb 9, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  32. Feb 9, 2026House Rules Committee
    Bill Substituted by Sponsor in House Rules Comm
  33. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0431S01
  34. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0431S01
  35. Feb 2, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  36. Feb 2, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0431
  37. Feb 2, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0431
  38. Jan 30, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  39. Jan 30, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  40. Jan 30, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0431
  41. Jan 30, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0431
  42. Jan 30, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  43. Jan 30, 2026Legislative 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

Scott ChewHouse · District 68RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Carl AlbrechtHouse · District 70RepublicanCosponsor
Tiara AuxierHouse · District 4RepublicanCosponsor
Burton, J.HouseCosponsorNo profile match
Jill KofordHouse · District 10RepublicanCosponsor
Show 3 more sponsors
Dave ShallenbergerHouse · District 58RepublicanCosponsor
Rex ShippHouse · District 71RepublicanCosponsor
Derrin OwensSenate · District 27RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

financial connection95% confidence

Sales Tax Reallocation for Wildlife Safety

The legislation carves out a specific $2,000,000 annual slice from existing sales tax distributions originally designated for general transportation investment.

Transportation Investment Fund of 2005Wildlife Crossing Account

Connected Entities

Rex P. Shipp, Tiara Auxier, Derrin R. Owens and 8 more
PersonRex P. Shipp“Cosponsor”Map →
PersonTiara Auxier“Cosponsor”Map →
PersonDerrin R. Owens“Senate Sponsor”Map →
PersonCarl R. Albrecht“Cosponsor”Map →
PersonScott H. Chew“Chief Sponsor in the House”Map →
PersonDavid Shallenberger“Cosponsor”Map →
OrganizationDivision of Wildlife Resources“Consults on wildlife connectivity projects”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Transportation“Recommends and administers transportation and wildlife projects”Map →
PersonJefferson S. Burton“Cosponsor”Map →
OrganizationTransportation Commission“Prioritizes and approves projects for funding”Map →
PersonJill Koford“Cosponsor”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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