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HB 509UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah directs Department of Natural Resources to study wetlands in first and second class counties and report findings by 2027

Original title: Wetlands Study Amendments

Last action · March 25, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Doug Owens and 1 other

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

The Utah Department of Natural resources is directed to complete a study on the status of wetlands in first or second class counties, report its findings and legislative recommendations by October 30, 2027, and resume publishing land use permits collected by the Utah Geological Survey on its website, taking effect on May 6, 2026.

Why it matters

Changes state reporting and study mandates for wetland conditions, outdoor recreation impacts, and mitigation programs in major Utah counties, affecting state agency duties and legislative policy planning.

Background
  • The Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee is a standing legislative body in Utah that reviews environmental and resource policies between legislative sessions. context
  • The Utah Geological Survey operates within the Department of Natural Resources to provide geological and mineralogical information across the state. 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

Department of Natural Resources

The department is assigned new statutory duties to complete a wetland study, report to an interim committee, and publish land use permits on its website.

Directly affected

Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee

The committee receives mandatory progress and final reports regarding wetland studies and policy recommendations.

Directly affected

Utah Geological Survey

The survey collects land use permits for wetlands that the department is now required to publish publicly online.

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

What is the Department of Natural Resources required to do under this bill?
The department must complete a study on wetland status in first or second class counties, submit progress and final reports to an interim legislative committee, and publish land use permits collected by the Utah Geological Survey on its website.
When are the study reports due to the legislative committee?
A progress report is due before November 30, 2026, and a complete report with findings and recommendations is due before October 30, 2027.
When does this legislation take effect?
The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

55 actions
  1. Mar 25, 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 11, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 11, 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 49 earlier actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Mar 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  7. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  8. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ concurs with Senate amendment
  9. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  10. Mar 5, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  11. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House with amendments
  12. Mar 4, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  13. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ substituted
  14. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  15. Mar 3, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0509S03
  16. Mar 3, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0509S03
  17. Mar 2, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0509S03
  18. Mar 2, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0509S03
  19. Mar 2, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  20. Mar 2, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  21. Feb 27, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  22. Feb 26, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  23. Feb 25, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  24. Feb 24, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  25. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  26. Feb 24, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  27. Feb 24, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  28. Feb 23, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0509S02
  29. Feb 19, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0509S01
  30. Feb 19, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0509S02
  31. Feb 18, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0509S01
  32. Feb 18, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  33. Feb 18, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted
  34. Feb 17, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  35. Feb 17, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  36. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0509S02
  37. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0509S02
  38. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0509S01
  39. Feb 17, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0509S01
  40. Feb 12, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  41. Feb 11, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  42. Feb 11, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0509
  43. Feb 11, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0509
  44. Feb 6, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  45. Feb 6, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  46. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0509
  47. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0509
  48. Feb 6, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  49. Feb 6, 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

Doug OwensHouse · District 33DemocraticPrimary sponsor
Mike McKellSenate · District 25RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift95% confidence

Resumption of Public Permit Publishing

The bill restores a requirement for the department to publish Utah Geological Survey wetland land use permits on its website.

Department of Natural ResourcesUtah Geological Survey

Connected Entities

Department of Natural Resources, Michael K. McKell, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee and 6 more
OrganizationDepartment of Natural Resources“State department directed to conduct studies and publish permits”Map →
PersonMichael K. McKell“Senate Sponsor”Map →
OrganizationNatural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee“Legislative committee receiving study reports”Map →
PersonDoug Owens“Chief Sponsor in the House”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Army Corps of Engineers“Consulted federal entity”Map →
OrganizationUtah Geological Survey“State agency collecting land use permits for wetlands”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service“Consulted federal entity”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Environmental Protection Agency“Consulted federal entity”Map →
OrganizationUtah Department of Environmental Quality“Consulted entity for in-lieu fee program study”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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