HB 376

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 376
1Land Management Funding Amendments
                                         2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                              STATE OF UTAH
                                     Chief Sponsor: Carl R. Albrecht
                                      Senate Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill addresses funding for watershed restoration and forest health.
6  Highlighted Provisions:
7      This bill:
8      ▸ defines terms;
9      ▸ establishes the Utah Forest Restoration Institute (institute) in connection with Utah State
10  University;
11      ▸ provides funding to the institute;
12      ▸ requires the institute to:
13●    conduct research as provided by state and federal law;
14●    study how the state can improve forest and watershed health;
15●    recommend mitigation strategies that reduce the risks and impact of wildfire;
16●    coordinate with the Watershed Restoration Initiative to fund watershed and forest
17  restoration projects;
18●    review and respond to, in a timely manner, an emergency request for funding a
19  watershed restoration project in response to a natural disaster; and
20●    monitor the long-term effectiveness of watershed and forest restoration projects;
21      ▸ requires the Watershed Restoration Initiative to:
22●    coordinate funding decisions with the institute on partnership watershed restoration
23  projects;
24●    coordinate the long-term monitoring of a watershed restoration project with the
25  institute;
26●    collect data required by the institute;
27●    provide research and learning opportunities for higher education students and faculty
H.B. 376  Enrolled Copy
28   associated with the institute; and
29●   submit an annual report to the institute and two legislative committees; and
30▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
31   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
32This bill appropriates $1,900,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2027, all
33   of which is from the Income Tax Fund.
34   Other Special Clauses:
35None
36   Utah Code Sections Affected:
37   AMENDS:
3879-2-601, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 34
3979-2-602, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 51
4079-2-605, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2022, Chapter 51
41   ENACTS:
4253H-4-317, Utah Code Annotated 1953
43
44   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
45Section 1. Section 53H-4-317 is enacted to read:
4653H-4-317 . Utah Forest Restoration Institute.
47   (1) As used in this section:
48(a) "Institute" means the Utah Forest Restoration Institute created in Subsection (2).
49(b) "Watershed Restoration Initiative" means the initiative created in Section 79-2-602.
50   (2) There is created the Utah Forest Restoration Institute in connection with Utah State
51University.
52   (3) The institute shall:
53(a) conduct research as provided by state and federal laws governing the establishment
54and maintenance of southwest ecological restoration institutes;
55(b) study how the state can improve the health of forests, woodland ecosystems, and
56watersheds;
57(c) recommend mitigation strategies that reduce the risks and impacts of wildfire;
58(d) coordinate with the Watershed Restoration Initiative to fund watershed and forest
59restoration projects in accordance with Subsection (4); and
60(e) monitor the long-term effectiveness of watershed and forest restoration projects
61funded by the state.
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Enrolled Copy  H.B. 376
62  (4) To coordinate the funding of watershed and forest restoration projects with the
63      Watershed Restoration Initiative, the institute shall:
64      (a) review a prioritized list of watershed restoration projects submitted by the Watershed
65Restoration Initiative;
66      (b) approve funding for watershed restoration projects based on:
67(i) immediate need for watershed and forest health;
68(ii) the projected short-term and long-term benefit to watershed and forest health;
69(iii) available funds; and
70(iv) recommendations from the Watershed Restoration Initiative; and
71      (c) before May 1 of each year, notify the Watershed Restoration Initiative of the
72approved watershed restoration projects from the prioritized list described in
73Subsection (4)(a).
74  (5)(a) The Watershed Restoration Initiative may submit an emergency request for
75      funding to the institute in response to a wildfire, flooding event, or other natural
76      disaster.
77      (b) If the institute receives an emergency request for funding from the Watershed
78Restoration Initiative, the institute shall:
79(i) within 72 hours of receiving the request, review the emergency request for
80funding;
81(ii) within 96 hours of receiving the request, notify the Watershed Restoration
82Initiative of the institute's decision to provide funding for the request; and
83(iii) within a reasonable time of receiving the request, if the institute decides to
84provide funding for the request, distribute funding to the Watershed Restoration
85Initiative.
86  (6)(a) The institute shall prepare and submit an annual report on or before July 1 of each
87      year to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality
88      Appropriations Subcommittee.
89      (b) The report shall include:
90(i) a list of programs funded by the institute;
91(ii) any programs or research completed in the previous year and an assessment of the
92programs or research; and
93(iii) a complete operating and financial statement for the preceding fiscal year.
94Section 2. Section 79-2-601 is amended to read:
9579-2-601 . Definitions.
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96      As used in this part:
97   (1) "Administrative costs" means the costs of administering the initiative, including costs
98for staffing, rent, data processing, legal, finance, accounting, travel, maintenance, and
99office supplies.
100   (2) "Director" means the director of the initiative who is appointed under Section 79-2-602.
101   (3) "Division" means the Division of Wildlife Resources created in Section 23A-2-201.
102   (4) "Initiative" means the Watershed Restoration Initiative created in Section 79-2-602.
103   (5) "Restoration" means to assist the recovery of ecosystems and ecosystem services that
104have been mismanaged, degraded, or destroyed.
105   (6) "Utah Forest Restoration Institute" means the institute created in Section 53H-4-317.
106   [(6)] (7) "Watershed" means the geographical surface area that drains water into a stream,
107river, or other body of water.
108Section 3. Section 79-2-602 is amended to read:
10979-2-602 . Watershed Restoration Initiative -- Creation -- Objectives.
110   (1) There is created within the department the Watershed Restoration Initiative under the
111general supervision of the executive director.
112   (2) The policies and objectives of the initiative are to manage, restore, and improve
113watershed ecosystems throughout the state by focusing on improving:
114(a) watershed health and biological diversity;
115(b) water quality and yield; and
116(c) opportunities for sustainable uses of natural resources.
117   (3) The initiative shall:
118(a) submit a prioritized list of watershed restoration projects to the Utah Forest
119Restoration Institute in accordance with Section 53H-4-317; and
120(b) coordinate the long-term monitoring of a watershed restoration project with the Utah
121Forest Restoration Institute, including:
122(i) collecting data required by the Utah Forest Restoration Institute; and
123(ii) providing research and learning opportunities for higher education students and
124faculty associated with the Utah Forest Restoration Institute.
125   [(3)] (4) Consistent with this part, the initiative may integrate, coordinate, or partner with
126federal, state, local, private, and non-profit plans and programs to further the initiative's
127objectives.
128   [(4)] (5) To achieve and implement the policies and objectives under [Subsection (2)]
129Subsections (2) and (3), the initiative shall:
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130      (a) develop and oversee a watershed restoration project proposal process to develop
131statewide watershed restoration priorities, including ranking criteria;
132      (b) maintain a website that includes:
133(i) an events calendar;
134(ii) tracking of watershed restoration projects;
135(iii) a description of the watershed restoration project proposal process, including
136applicable ranking criteria; and
137(iv) the name and contact information of each person with decision-making
138responsibilities related to ranking and selecting watershed restoration project
139proposals;
140      (c) organize and oversee a biennial statewide watershed restoration workshop;
141      (d) assign funding to watershed restoration projects, and manage and track project
142budgets;
143      (e) submit a request to the Utah Forest Restoration Institute for funding a partnership
144watershed restoration project;
145      [(e)] (f) provide initiative partners with contract support, reporting, and tracking
146assistance regarding incoming and outgoing watershed restoration project funds;
147      [(f)] (g) ensure that watershed restoration projects meet applicable cultural resource
148requirements;
149      [(g)] (h) upon request and as appropriate, provide performance reporting and initiative
150information to the media, partners, and the executive and legislative branches of state
151government;
152      [(h)] (i) prepare and provide training and technical support for watershed restoration
153project managers; and
154      [(i)] (j) provide the executive director and the Utah Forest Restoration Institute with
155reports and recommendations regarding the initiative's performance and funding.
156Section 4. Section 79-2-605 is amended to read:
15779-2-605 . Reporting.
158  (1) The initiative shall prepare and submit an annual report on or before November 1 of
159      each year to:
160      (a) the Utah Forest Restoration Institute;
161      (b) the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee; and
162      (c) the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations
163Subcommittee.
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164   (2) The annual report described in Subsection (1) shall include:
165(a) by source, the initiative's total annual resources, including partner funds;
166(b) the initiative's historical annual funding amounts from year to year;
167(c) the amount of funds received from the Utah Forest Restoration Institute for
168partnership projects;
169(d) the total amount of state funding used to leverage non-state partner resources;
170(e) the total administrative costs related to the initiative, including the costs of each
171initiative partner that receives funds through the initiative; and
172(f) performance metrics that demonstrate the initiative's impact and effectiveness.
173
174   [   The initiative shall prepare and submit to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
175   Environment Interim Committee, on or before November 1 of each year, an annual report that
176   includes:]
177   [(1) by source, the initiative's total annual resources, including partner funds;]
178   [(2) the initiative's historical annual funding amounts from year to year;]
179   [(3) the total amount of state funding used to leverage non-state partner resources;]
180   [(4) the total administrative costs related to the initiative, including the costs of each
181initiative partner that receives funds through the initiative; and]
182   [(5) performance metrics that demonstrate the initiative's impact and effectiveness.]
183Section 5. FY 2027 Appropriations.
184The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
185   2026, and ending June 30, 2027. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
186   fiscal year 2027.
187Subsection 5(a). Operating and Capital Budgets
188Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
189   Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
190   the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
191   ITEM 1       To Utah State University - Education and General
192From Income Tax Fund  (650,000)
193Schedule of Programs:
194Public Service  (650,000)
195The Legislature intends to reallocate the ongoing
196appropriations under this item to Utah State University's
197Utah Forest Restoration Institute from Utah State
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198University Extension.
199  ITEM 2     To Utah State University - Special Projects
200From Income Tax Fund  2,550,000
201Schedule of Programs:
202Utah Forest Restoration Institute  2,550,000
203The Legislature intends that the Utah Forest
204Restoration Institute at Utah State University use, of the
205ongoing appropriations under this item:
206(1) no more than $800,000 for operations and
207staffing purposes; and
208(2) at least $1,750,000 to fund and study
209watershed restoration projects as required under
210Subsections 53H-4-317(4) and (5).
211Section 6. Effective Date.
212  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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