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HB 30UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah establishes Wildlife Management Area access permits, stewardship fund, and tiered entry rules for adults

Original title: Wildlife Management Area Amendments

Last action · March 25, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Dave Shallenberger and 1 other

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

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What This Bill Does

Utah enacts legislation requiring adults aged 18 and older to obtain a or hold a hunting, fishing, or combination license to enter wildlife management areas, rolling out the requirement statewide in phases between July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2028. The measure creates the to support habitat restoration, trail maintenance, and volunteer coordination, while permitting voluntary financial contributions and volunteer labor programs.

Why it matters

Recreational users and residents visiting state wildlife areas must complete a free online educational video to secure a unless they hold a hunting or fishing license or meet specific exemptions. The legislation establishes a tiered rollout starting in urban counties before expanding statewide, and creates a dedicated funding mechanism for conservation and trail upkeep.

Background
  • Wildlife management areas in Utah are state-owned lands managed primarily to protect and enhance wildlife habitats and provide public opportunities for hunting, fishing, and viewing wildlife. context
  • The Utah Legislature meets annually in a general session, during which bills addressing state agencies, natural resources, and state appropriations are introduced, debated, and enacted. 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

recreational users

Adult recreational users must complete a free educational video to obtain a digital access permit before entering wildlife management areas during the phased rollout.

Directly affected

hunters, trappers, and anglers

Individuals holding valid hunting, fishing, or combination licenses retain public access rights to wildlife management areas without needing a separate digital access permit.

Directly affected

livestock operators

Individuals are permitted to access wildlife management areas without a permit or license to the extent necessary to recover authorized grazing livestock.

Directly affected

Division of Wildlife Resources

The division is tasked with approving educational videos, issuing digital access permits, overseeing volunteer labor programs, managing the stewardship fund, and reporting annually.

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

Do I need a hunting or fishing license to visit a wildlife management area?
Not necessarily. Adults aged 18 and older can access wildlife management areas by completing a free online educational video to obtain a , unless they already hold a valid hunting, fishing, or combination license, or qualify for specific exemptions.
When does the new access permit requirement take effect?
The requirement is phased in: starting July 1, 2026, for first- and second-class county wildlife management areas; starting July 1, 2027, for first through fourth-class counties; and starting July 1, 2028, for all wildlife management areas across the state.
Am I required to pay a fee to watch the educational video?
No, the educational video concerning wildlife management area access is made available on the internet free of charge.
Can I travel through a wildlife management area on a public road without a permit?
Yes, individuals may travel on highways, state or s, and qualifying trails that cross wildlife management areas without complying with the requirement.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

46 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 40 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 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Mar 4, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  7. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading Calendar
  8. Mar 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3nd Reading Calendar to Rules
  9. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
  10. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  11. Feb 18, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  12. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspension
  13. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  14. Feb 17, 2026Senate
    Senate/ committee report favorable
  15. Feb 12, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  16. Feb 5, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0030
  17. Feb 5, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  18. Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  19. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  20. Feb 3, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  21. Feb 3, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  22. Feb 3, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  23. Jan 29, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0030S01
  24. Jan 26, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  25. Jan 26, 2026House
    House/ comm rpt/ substituted/ amended
  26. Jan 23, 2026House
    House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  27. Jan 23, 2026House
    House Comm - Amendment Recommendation
  28. Jan 23, 2026House
    House Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  29. Jan 23, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0030S01
  30. Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0030S01
  31. Jan 21, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0030S01
  32. Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
    House/ to standing committee
  33. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  34. Jan 14, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  35. Jan 13, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0030
  36. Dec 5, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  37. Dec 5, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed
  38. Nov 17, 2025Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0030
  39. Oct 30, 2025Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0030
  40. Oct 30, 2025Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0030

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

Dave ShallenbergerHouse · District 58RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Keven StrattonSenate · District 24RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

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

policy shift95% confidence

Expansion of WMA Access Requirements Beyond Hunters and Anglers

The legislation shifts state policy from exclusively tying wildlife management area access to hunting and fishing licenses toward a broader model requiring recreational users to complete educational safety and conservation videos.

Division of Wildlife ResourcesWildlife Board

Connected Entities

Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee, David Shallenberger, Division of Wildlife Resources and 4 more
OrganizationNatural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee“Legislative subcommittee receiving annual fund reports”Map →
PersonDavid Shallenberger“Chief Sponsor of HB 30”Map →
OrganizationDivision of Wildlife Resources“State division tasked with overseeing wildlife management areas, educational vid”Map →
OrganizationWildlife Board“Board authorized to make rules regarding access, educational programs, and volun”Map →
PersonKeven J. Stratton“Senate Sponsor of HB 30”Map →
OrganizationDivision of Technology Services“Department coordinating with the Wildlife Board on rulemaking for educational vi”Map →
OrganizationWildlife Management Area Stewardship Fund“Expendable special revenue fund created by the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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