HB 173

01-20 18:09  1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 173
  Trevor Lee proposes the following substitute bill:
1Disabled Parking Permit Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Trevor Lee
  Senate Sponsor:
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill creates a temporary parking permit for expectant mothers.
6   Highlighted Provisions:
7This bill:
8▸ defines terms;
9▸ creates a temporary parking placard, allowing expectant mothers to park in accessible
10   parking spaces; and
11▸ makes technical changes.
12   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
13None
14   Other Special Clauses:
15This bill provides a special effective date.
16   Utah Code Sections Affected:
17   AMENDS:
  1st Sub. H.B. 173
1841-1a-414, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 294
1941-6a-217, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
20
21   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
22Section 1. Section 41-1a-414 is amended to read:
2341-1a-414 . Parking privileges for individuals with disabilities and expectant
24   mothers.
25   (1) As used in this section:
26(a) "Accessible parking space" means a parking space that:
27(i) is clearly identified as reserved for use by [a person ] an individual with a disability
28and includes:
29[(i)] (A) vertical signage, including the international symbol of accessibility, that is
1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 173  01-20 18:09
30visible from a passing vehicle; and
31[(ii)] (B) a clearly marked access aisle, if provided, that is adjacent to and
32considered part of the parking space[.] ; and
33(ii) an individual with a disability or an expectant mother may use for parking, in
34accordance with the requirements of this part.
35(b) "Expectant mother" means an individual who is pregnant, as confirmed by a
36physician.
37(c) "Expectant mother parking placard" means a temporary removable windshield
38placard that includes, conspicuously displayed:
39(i) the expiration date of the placard; and
40(ii) the following statement, in bold, "An expectant mother parking placard may be
41issued only to an expectant mother and is valid for up to one year after the date of
42issuance."
43(d) "Physician" means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-1a-420.
44(e)(i) "Removable windshield placard" means a placard that is removable and meant
45to be displayed on, or visible from, the windshield of a vehicle.
46(ii) "Removable windshield placard" includes:
47(A) an expectant mother parking placard;
48(B) a temporary removable windshield placard;
49(C) a temporary wheelchair user placard; and
50(D) a wheelchair user placard.
51(f) "Temporary removable windshield placard" means a removable windshield placard
52with an expiration date.
53[(b)] (g) "Temporary wheelchair user placard" means the same as that term is defined in
54Section 41-1a-420.
55[(c)] (h) "Van accessible parking space" means an accessible parking space that is
56marked for use by a qualifying [person ] individual with a walking disability who has
57a temporary wheelchair user placard or a wheelchair user placard and includes:
58(i) vertical signage with the international symbol of accessibility and the words "van
59accessible" that is visible from a passing vehicle; and
60(ii) a clearly marked access aisle that is adjacent to and considered part of the parking
61space.
62[(d)] (i) "Walking disability" means a physical disability that requires the use of a
63walking-assistive device or wheelchair or similar low-powered motorized or
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64mechanically propelled vehicle that is specifically designed to assist [a person ] an
65individual who has a limited or impaired ability to walk.
66[(e)] (j) "Wheelchair user placard" means the same as that term is defined in Section
6741-1a-420.
68   (2) Except in parking areas designated for emergency use, [a person] an individual with a
69disability, qualifying under rules made in accordance with Section 41-1a-420, may park
70an appropriately marked vehicle for reasonable periods without charge in metered
71parking zones and restricted parking areas, in a manner that allows proper access to the
72vehicle by the [person ] individual with a disability.
73   (3)(a) The division shall create an expectant mother parking placard.
74(b) The division shall provide for the design, size, color, and placement of the expectant
75mother parking placard described in Subsection (3)(a).
76   (4) The division shall issue an expectant mother parking placard to an applicant who:
77(a) is an expectant mother;
78(b) completes an application as required under this section; and
79(c) pays a $15 application fee.
80   (5) The division shall deposit the application fee described in Subsection (4)(c) into the
81License Plate Restricted Account described in Section 41-1a-122.
82   (6) An application for an expectant mother parking placard shall include:
83(a) a certification by a physician that the applicant is an expectant mother;
84(b) the certifying physician's name and address; and
85(c) the signatures of:
86(i) the certifying physician; and
87(ii) the applicant.
88   [(3)(a) Only those vehicles carrying a person with a disability special group license
89plate, temporary removable windshield placard, or removable windshield placard and
90transporting a qualifying person with a disability may park in an accessible parking
91space.]
92[(b) A violation of Subsection (3)(a) is a class C misdemeanor.]
93[(c) A person described in Subsection (3)(a) is encouraged to avoid parking in a van
94accessible parking space unless:]
95[(i) the person has a walking disability and has a temporary wheelchair user placard;]
96[(ii) the person has a wheelchair user placard; or]
97[(iii) all other accessible parking spaces that are not van accessible parking spaces are
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98occupied.]
99   (7)(a) A vehicle may park in an accessible parking space if:
100(i) the vehicle displays:
101(A) a disability special group license plate;
102(B) a temporary removable windshield placard; or
103(C) a removable windshield placard; and
104(ii) the vehicle is transporting a qualifying individual with a disability or an expectant
105mother.
106(b) An individual who violates Subsection (7)(a) is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
107(c) An individual parking a vehicle described in Subsection (7)(a) is encouraged to avoid
108parking in a van accessible parking space unless:
109(i) the individual has a walking disability and has a temporary wheelchair user
110placard;
111(ii) the individual has a wheelchair user placard; or
112(iii) all other accessible parking spaces that are not van accessible parking spaces are
113occupied.
114   [(4)] (8) This section applies to and may be enforced on public property and on private
115property that is used or intended for use by the public.
116   [(5)] (9) The parking privileges granted by this section also apply to vehicles [displaying a
117person ]with a:
118(a) disability special group license plate[,] ;
119(b) temporary removable windshield placard described in this section[,] ; or
120(c) removable windshield placard issued by another jurisdiction if displayed on a vehicle
121being used by [a person ] an individual with a disability.
122   [(6)] (10) In addition to required accessible parking spaces, a person may provide and
123designate parking spaces for veterans and service members, including those with a
124disability.
125Section 2. Section 41-6a-217 is amended to read:
12641-6a-217 . Volunteers may be authorized to enforce certain parking provisions.
127   (1) [Any ] A law enforcement agency authorized to enforce parking laws in this state may
128appoint volunteers to issue citations for violations of:
129(a) [the provisions of ]Subsections [41-1a-414(3) and (4) ] 41-1a-414(7) and (8) related
130to parking for [a person ] an individual with a disability;
131(b) [any ] a municipal or county accessible parking privileges ordinance for [a person ] an
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132individual with a disability; or
133(c) [the provisions of ]Subsection 41-6a-1307(4) related to parking in a school bus
134parking zone.
135   (2) A volunteer appointed under this section must be at least 21 years [of age] old.
136   (3) The law enforcement agency appointing a volunteer may establish any other
137qualification for the volunteer that the agency finds desirable.
138   (4) A volunteer may not issue citations until the volunteer has received training from the
139appointing law enforcement agency.
140   (5) A citation issued by a volunteer under this section has the same [force and ]effect as a
141citation issued by a peace officer for the same offense.
142Section 3. Effective Date.
143   This bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
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