Legislative Activity

The Moab UMTRA Project Transition Act of 2025 directs the Department of Energy to transfer the Moab site to Grand County, Utah, at no cost, once the Department of Energy has completed sufficient remedial action. Grand County is prohibited from transferring the land to any private entity or nonprofit organization. The Department of Energy will retain necessary water rights to continue fulfilling its responsibilities under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act.

The "Healthy Lunch for Healthy Kids Act" amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, prohibiting ultraprocessed foods and foods containing specific additives: potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, Yellow Dye 5, Yellow Dye 6, Blue Dye 1, Blue Dye 2, Green Dye 3, Red Dye 3, or Red Dye 40.

The "Ensuring Medicaid Eligibility Act of 2025" prevents the implementation of a Medicaid streamlining rule issued on April 2, 2024. It mandates verification of citizenship or immigration status before Medicaid enrollment and requires states to verify income-based eligibility quarterly. Additionally, the bill limits Medicaid coverage for parolees, asylum seekers, and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

The United States Research Protection Act amends the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of "foreign country" to "foreign country of concern" regarding malign foreign talent recruitment. This act broadens the scope of what is considered a foreign talent recruitment program by including activities indirectly supported by foreign countries of concern. It also updates the list of countries of concern.

This bill prohibits "natural asset companies" – corporations managing land for conservation or sustainability – from entering agreements related to land or natural assets within Utah. This restriction aims to prevent these companies from controlling or managing Utah's natural resources.

The "Let's Get to Work Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, modifying SNAP work requirements by shortening the exemption period for parents with dependent children to 6 months and revising exemptions. It mandates work requirements for public housing residents and those receiving tenant-based rental assistance, aligning with SNAP rules.

The "Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act of 2025" amends existing legislation to include Utah as a state eligible for resources under the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004. This change allows Utah to establish a research institute focused on forest health and wildfire prevention, potentially receiving federal support for its operation.

The Historic Roadways Protection Act restricts the Secretary of the Interior from using federal funds to finalize or implement new travel management plans in specific areas of Utah until certain lawsuits are resolved. These lawsuits involve Utah counties versus the United States regarding R. S. 2477. The affected travel management areas include: Henry Mountains and Fremont Gorge, Dinosaur (North), Book Cliffs, Nine Mile Canyon, San Rafael Swell, Dolores River, Trail Canyon, and Paunsaugunt. It also restricts the implementation of specific travel management plans within Utah during the same period.