SB 130

Enrolled Copy  S.B. 130
1River Restoration Amendments
  2026 GENERAL SESSION
  STATE OF UTAH
  Chief Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore
  House Sponsor: Cheryl K. Acton
  Cosponsor:
  Stephanie Pitcher
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill addresses provisions related to Jordan River improvement projects.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7      This bill:
8      ▸ modifies how the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (division) expends money
9  related to a Jordan River improvement project, including:
10●   allowing the division to expend money for an activity along the entire length of the
11  Jordan River; and
12●   requiring the division to consult with the Jordan River Commission before expending
13  money for an improvement project;
14      ▸ creates a matching grant program for a county, municipality, or the Jordan River
15  Commission to fund improvement projects that increase access to a recreational activity
16  on the Jordan River;
17      ▸ appropriates funding for the matching grant program; and
18      ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
19  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20      This bill appropriates $2,000,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027, all
21  of which is from the General Fund.
22  Other Special Clauses:
23      None
24  Utah Code Sections Affected:
25  AMENDS:
S.B. 130  Enrolled Copy
2665A-2-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapters 223, 357
27
28   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29Section 1. Section 65A-2-8 is amended to read:
3065A-2-8 . Jordan River improvement projects -- Grants.
31   [(1) As used in this section:]
32[(a) "Commission" means the Jordan River Commission created by interlocal agreement.]
33[(b) "Zone" means the Jordan River Recreation Area, the area 250 yards on each side of
34the Jordan River from the edge of the river between SR-201 and 5400 South.]
35   [(2) The division, subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances and
36Subsections (3) through (5), may:]
37[(a) expend money for the following purposes:]
38[(i) enhancing safety, recreation, and conservation in the zone;]
39[(ii) capital improvements within the zone, including:]
40[(A) lighting along the Jordan River and within the zone;]
41[(B) completing construction of a paved pathway on both sides of the Jordan
42River within the zone;]
43[(C) building a boat launch, picnic pavilion, bench, restroom, or other amenity
44within the zone; and]
45[(D) supporting Tracy Aviary, a nature area, bike or boat rental concessionaire, or
46other partnerships to enhance recreation in the zone;]
47[(iii) funding programs to clean the zone, remove invasive species, and restore
48riparian habitat;]
49[(iv) hiring or contracting for personnel to perform tasks as directed by the
50commission;]
51[(v) partnering or contracting with an urban ranger or conservation corp operated by a
52state institution of higher education or similar service-oriented organizations or
53programs:]
54[(A) to provide trail, river, and parkway maintenance, invasive species removal
55and revegetation, emergency care, and environmental education for the area
56250 yards on each side of the Jordan River from the edge of the river for the
57entire length of the river; and]
58[(B) to report to the appropriate public official all health, safety, or law
59enforcement concerns that the organization encounters, as directed by the
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Enrolled Copy  S.B. 130
60commission; and]
61[(vi) partnering or contracting with local law enforcement or a certified peace officer
62to provide patrol, security, and law enforcement for the area 250 yards on each
63side of the Jordan River from the edge of the river for the entire length of the
64river; and]
65      [(b) purchase, lease, sell, or dispose of property or an easement within the zone to
66achieve the goals in Subsection (2)(a).]
67  [(3)(a) Before engaging in any activity described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) through
68      (2)(a)(iii) or Subsection (2)(b), the division shall receive the approval of:]
69[(i) the commission;]
70[(ii) any relevant governmental entity that owns or is responsible for the maintenance
71of real property within the zone, including Salt Lake County Flood Control; and]
72[(iii) the relevant municipality within the zone.]
73      [(b) Before engaging in any activity described in Subsections (2)(a)(iv) through (2)(a)(vi),
74the division shall:]
75[(i) receive the approval of the commission; and]
76[(ii) consult with:]
77[(A) any relevant governmental entity that owns or is responsible for the
78maintenance of real property within the zone; and]
79[(B) the relevant municipality within the zone.]
80  (1) As used in this section, "commission" means the Jordan River Commission created by
81      interlocal agreement.
82  (2) Subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws and Subsections (3) through (5), the
83      division may expend money for:
84      (a) enhancing safety, recreation, and conservation along the Jordan River;
85      (b) a capital improvement project that increases access to a recreational activity on the
86Jordan River;
87      (c) a partnership to increase access to a recreational activity on the Jordan River,
88including a bike or boat rental concessionaire, an animal preserve or sanctuary, or
89other partnership;
90      (d) hiring or contracting personnel:
91(i) to provide, for the benefit of the Jordan River:
92(A) trail, river, and parkway maintenance;
93(B) invasive species removal and revegetation;
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 S.B. 130  Enrolled Copy
94(C) emergency care; and
95(D) environmental education; and
96(ii) to report to the appropriate public official a health, safety, or law enforcement
97concern along the Jordan River; and
98(e) partnering or contracting with local law enforcement or a certified peace officer to
99provide patrol, security, and law enforcement along the Jordan River.
100   (3) Before expending money for an activity described in Subsection (2), the division shall
101consult with the commission.
102   (4) The commission shall work with the Department of Transportation, created in Section
10372-1-201, to:
104(a) have the Department of Transportation post[ by no later than July 1, 2025], as
105funding allows, consistent and attractive signs where a highway that is designated as
106a state highway under Title 72, Chapter 4, Designation of State Highways Act, but is
107not a freeway crosses the Jordan River; and
108(b) advise in the development of methods to provide access from a state highway to the
109trails along the Jordan River where the trail can be safely accessed.
110   (5)(a) The [programs] activities described in this section may only be implemented as
111appropriations from the Legislature allow.
112(b)(i) Money appropriated to [programs] an activity in this section is managed by the
113division in accordance with this section and may include the division [dispersing
114money through ]issuing grants.
115(ii) The division shall:
116(A) [before December 31, 2022, ]issue a five-year grant to a zoo, aviary, nature
117center, or other educational program located [within the zone] along the Jordan
118River; and
119(B) renew the grant described in Subsection (5)(b)(ii)(A) every five years.
120(iii) The division may issue a matching grant to a county, municipality, or the
121commission for an improvement project that increases recreational access on the
122Jordan River, if the county, municipality, or commission:
123(A) provides at least an equal amount of matching funds; and
124(B) certifies that the county, municipality, or commission will spend the grant
125funds on an improvement project that increases recreational access or improves
126public safety along the Jordan River.
127(c) Money that the Legislature appropriates to [programs] an activity or program
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 Enrolled Copy  S.B. 130
128described in this section is nonlapsing in accordance with Section 63J-1-602.2.
129Section 2. FY 2027 Appropriations.
130The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
131  2026, and ending June 30, 2027. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
132  fiscal year 2027.
133Subsection 2(a). Operating and Capital Budgets
134Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
135  Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
136  the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
137  ITEM 1      To Department of Natural Resources - Forestry, Fire, and State Lands
138From General Fund, One-time  2,000,000
139Schedule of Programs:
140Project Management  2,000,000
141The Legislature intends that the Division of
142Forestry, Fire, and State Lands use the funds under this
143item for Jordan River recreational access grants
144described in Subsection 65A-2-8(5)(b)(iii).
146
145Section 3. Effective Date.
147  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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