HB 530

Enrolled Copy  H.B. 530
1State Permitting Council
                                      2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                            STATE OF UTAH
                                    Chief Sponsor: Jason B. Kyle
                                   Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins
2
3  LONG TITLE
4  General Description:
5      This bill creates a permitting coordinator within the Governor's Office of Economic
6  Opportunity.
7  Highlighted Provisions:
8      This bill:
9      ▸ defines terms;
10      ▸ creates a permitting coordinator within the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity
11  (office), appointed by the executive director of the office;
12      ▸ establishes duties for the permitting coordinator, including serving as a central point of
13  contact for projects or activities requiring one or more state permits, providing
14  permitting information and guidance, and facilitating coordination among state, federal,
15  and tribal entities;
16      ▸ authorizes the permitting coordinator to work with governmental entities to identify
17  administrative and legislative changes that may improve the efficiency, transparency,
18  and predictability of state permitting;
19      ▸ clarifies that the permitting coordinator does not have the authority to issue, approve,
20  deny, or modify a permit;
21      ▸ authorizes the permitting coordinator to share information with state, federal, tribal, and
22  local governmental entities on permitting matters;
23      ▸ clarifies that the permitting coordinator's activities and sharing of information with other
24  governmental entities does not obligate the state or a permitting agency to approve a
25  permit or enter into a binding agreement; and
26      ▸ requires the office to include, in the office's annual report, a summary of the permitting
27  coordinator's assistance and coordination activities and any recommendations for
H.B. 530  Enrolled Copy
28   administrative or legislative changes to improve state permitting.
29   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
30None
31   Other Special Clauses:
32None
33   Utah Code Sections Affected:
34   ENACTS:
3563N-22-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
3663N-22-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
3763N-22-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
3863N-22-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
3963N-22-204, Utah Code Annotated 1953
4063N-22-205, Utah Code Annotated 1953
41
42   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
43Section 1. Section 63N-22-101 is enacted to read:
44CHAPTER 22. Permitting Coordination
45Part 1. General Provisions
4663N-22-101 . Definitions.
47      As used in this chapter:
48   (1) "Permit" means written authorization to engage in an activity that is regulated under
49state law.
50   (2) "Permitting agency" means a state department, division, office, or agency that issues,
51administers, or enforces a permit.
52   (3) "Permitting coordinator" means the individual appointed by the executive director under
53Section 63N-22-201.
54Section 2. Section 63N-22-201 is enacted to read:
55Part 2. Permitting Coordinator
5663N-22-201 . Permitting coordinator created -- Appointment -- Status.
57   (1) There is created within the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity the position of
58permitting coordinator.
59   (2) The executive director shall appoint the permitting coordinator after consulting with one
60or more permitting agencies that the executive director determines are relevant to the
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Enrolled Copy  H.B. 530
61      duties of the permitting coordinator under Section 63N-22-202.
62  (3) The permitting coordinator:
63      (a) serves at the pleasure of the executive director; and
64      (b) shall report to the executive director or the executive director's designee.
65Section 3. Section 63N-22-202 is enacted to read:
6663N-22-202 . Duties of permitting coordinator.
67  (1) With respect to projects, activities, or undertakings that require one or more permits
68      from one or more permitting agencies, the permitting coordinator shall:
69      (a) assist individuals and entities seeking one or more permits by identifying applicable
70state permitting requirements and the permitting agencies that may have authority
71over a proposed activity that requires a permit;
72      (b) serve as a central source of information for state permitting requirements and
73procedures and for permitting agency points of contact for federal officers, federal
74agencies, persons seeking permits, and other interested parties;
75      (c) develop and make available guidance materials to assist persons seeking permits in
76navigating state permitting requirements and application processes;
77      (d) coordinate among permitting agencies to promote clarity, transparency, and efficient
78administration of permit review and timely permit decisions;
79      (e) in coordination with the governor's office:
80(i) engage with tribal governments on matters relating to permits; and
81(ii) serve as a point of contact and liaison for the state with federal agencies on
82matters involving state and federal permits, including the federal Permitting
83Steering Council created in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 4370m et seq.;
84      (f) identify opportunities to improve coordination between state permitting agencies and
85federal agencies for projects requiring both state and federal permits; and
86      (g) in conjunction with permitting agencies, identify:
87(i) administrative or procedural improvements within existing permitting
88requirements that may improve the administration of permit review and permit
89issuance and, upon request, assist permitting agencies with implementation of
90those improvements; and
91(ii) potential legislative changes relating to permitting requirements that may improve
92the timeliness, predictability, or efficiency of state permit review and permit
93issuance.
94  (2) In carrying out the duties described in Subsection (1), the permitting coordinator shall
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95act in coordination with the executive director and applicable permitting agencies.
96Section 4. Section 63N-22-203 is enacted to read:
9763N-22-203 . Limitation on authority.
98   (1) The permitting coordinator may not issue, deny, condition, or modify a permit.
99   (2) Nothing in this chapter:
100(a) alters the jurisdiction or authority of a permitting agency;
101(b) creates a right to expedited or preferential review by a permitting agency of a permit
102application or permit request; or
103(c) creates a presumption that a permitting agency is required to issue or approve a
104permit.
105   (3) The duties of the permitting coordinator do not include assisting with a permit that is
106primarily ministerial in nature or that relates to personal licensure, registration, or
107identification.
108Section 5. Section 63N-22-204 is enacted to read:
10963N-22-204 . Coordination with other governmental entities.
110   (1) To carry out the duties described in this chapter, the executive director or the permitting
111coordinator, as authorized by the executive director, may participate in coordination,
112consultation, or information-sharing efforts with state, federal, tribal, or local
113governmental entities concerning permitting requirements.
114   (2) Participation under this chapter does not obligate the state or a permitting agency to
115approve a permit, modify a permitting requirement or procedure, or enter into a binding
116agreement unless otherwise expressly authorized by law.
117Section 6. Section 63N-22-205 is enacted to read:
11863N-22-205 . Annual report.
119   (1) The executive director shall include, in the annual report described in Section
12063N-1a-306, a report regarding the activities of the permitting coordinator.
121   (2) The report described in Subsection (1) shall include:
122(a) a description of the assistance, coordination, or outreach activities performed under
123this chapter;
124(b) identification of recurring procedural or administrative challenges associated with
125state permitting requirements, as observed through the permitting coordinator's
126activities; and
127(c) recommendations, if any, for any administrative or legislative changes described in
128Subsection 63N-22-202(1)(g).
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 Enrolled Copy  H.B. 530
129Section 7. Effective Date.
130  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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