HB 324

 Enrolled Copy  H.B. 324
1Utah Marriage Commission Fee Amendments
                                       2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                            STATE OF UTAH
                                    Chief Sponsor: Melissa G. Ballard
                                       Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill modifies funds the Utah Marriage Commission receives.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7      This bill:
8      ▸ increases the $400,000 limit to $600,000 on funds the Utah Marriage Commission may
9  receive from county marriage license fees.
10  Money Appropriated in this Bill:
11      None
12  Other Special Clauses:
13      None
14  Utah Code Sections Affected:
15  AMENDS:
16      17-66-303, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session,
17      Chapter 13
18
19  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
20Section 1. Section 17-66-303 is amended to read:
2117-66-303 . Fees of county officers.
22  (1) As used in this section, "county officer" means a county officer enumerated in Section
23      17-66-102 except a county recorder, a county constable, or a county sheriff.
24  (2)(a) A county officer shall collect, in advance, for exclusive county use and benefit:
25(i) a fee established by the county legislative body under Section 17-63-707; and
26(ii) any other fee authorized or required by law.
27      (b) As long as the Children's Legal Defense Account is authorized by Section 51-9-408,
28the county clerk shall:
 H.B. 324  Enrolled Copy
29(i) assess $10 in addition to whatever fee for a marriage license is established under
30authority of this section; and
31(ii) transmit $10 from each marriage license fee to the Division of Finance for deposit
32into the Children's Legal Defense Account.
33      (c)(i) As long as the Division of Child and Family Services, created in Section
3480-2-201, has the responsibility under Section 80-2-301 to provide services,
35including temporary shelter, for victims of domestic violence, the county clerk
36shall:
37(A) collect $10 in addition to whatever fee for a marriage license is established
38under authority of this section and in addition to the amount described in
39Subsection (2)(b), if an applicant chooses, as provided in Subsection (2)(c)(ii),
40to pay the additional $10; and
41(B) to the extent actually paid, transmit $10 from each marriage license fee to the
42Division of Finance for distribution to the Division of Child and Family
43Services for the operation of shelters for victims of domestic violence.
44(ii)(A) The county clerk shall provide a method for an applicant for a marriage
45license to choose to pay the additional $10 referred to in Subsection (2)(c)(i).
46(B) An applicant for a marriage license may choose not to pay the additional $10
47referred to in Subsection (2)(c)(i) without affecting the applicant's ability to be
48issued a marriage license.
49      (d) If a county operates an online marriage application system, the county clerk of that
50county:
51(i) may assess $20 in addition to the other fees for a marriage license established
52under this section;
53(ii) except as provided in Subsection (2)(d)(iii), shall transmit $20 from the marriage
54license fee to the state treasurer for deposit annually as follows:
55(A) the first [$400,000 ] $600,000 shall accrue to the Utah Marriage Commission,
56created in Title 63M, Chapter 15, Utah Marriage Commission, as dedicated
57credits for the operation of the Utah Marriage Commission; and
58(B) proceeds in excess of [$400,000 ] $600,000 shall be deposited into the General
59Fund; and
60(iii) may not transmit $20 from the marriage license fee to the state treasurer under
61this Subsection (2)(d) if both individuals seeking the marriage license certify that
62they have completed premarital counseling or education in accordance with
                                                    -2-
 Enrolled Copy  H.B. 324
63Section 81-2-206.
64  (3) This section does not apply to a fee currently being assessed by the state but collected
65      by a county officer.
66Section 2. Effective Date.
67  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
                                                -3-