Bills / H.B. 291
H.B. 291 Security and Land Restriction Amendments
- Introduced
- House committee
- House vote
- Senate committee
- Senate vote
- Signed into law
What this bill does
This bill lowers the ownership share that makes a foreign restricted entity, such as entities tied to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, unable to hold Utah land from 51% to 25%. It also requires the Department of Public Safety to send notices to suspected entities, which have 30 days to prove they are not restricted, with fines for not responding and a process for the state to take back and sell land.
Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.
Official description
- lowers the percentage of ownership a restricted foreign entity may maintain in a separate entity before the separate entity is considered a restricted foreign entity
- provides that the Department of Public Safety (department) shall send a letter to an entity the department suspects of being a restricted foreign entity
- provides that an entity to which the department sends a letter shall provide evidence that demonstrates the entity is not a restricted foreign entity within 30 days after the day on which the entity receives the letter
- provides that the attorney general shall coordinate with the Division of Facilities and Construction Management when conducting a sale of a restricted foreign entity's interest in land
- provides that if an entity does not respond to a letter from the department, the department may impose a fine for each day the entity does not respond
- makes technical changes
What it costs you
- The official fiscal note on residents and businesses:
Businesses and individuals found in violation of the provisions of this bill could pay a fine of $500 per day. The individual and aggregate amounts are unknown.
From the bill's latest official fiscal note, counting the state's tax funds (General, Income Tax, Education, Uniform School, and Transportation) in the first full budget year after the session. Some bills take effect partway through that year, so later years can be larger; the note shows each year. Household count: U.S. Census Bureau. An average is a starting point, not your bill.
Your legislators on this bill
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Quotes come from the official recordings' automatic captions, which can mishear words. Speakers and summaries are identified by AI and can be wrong. Use the ▶ links to check the recording.
Take action
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Every vote
- 9 yes, 0 no, 5 absentHouse Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: Amendment Recommendation · Jan 28, 2026Who voted how
- 9 yes, 0 no, 5 absentHouse Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 28, 2026Who voted how
- 64 yes, 0 no, 11 absentFinal House vote · Feb 6, 2026Who voted how
- 4 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee: vote to approve it · Feb 17, 2026Who voted how
- 27 yes, 1 no, 1 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 19, 2026Who voted how
- 23 yes, 0 no, 6 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 20, 2026Who voted how
Hearings and debates
- Jan 28, 2026 House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (25 turns) →
- Feb 6, 2026 House floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (7 turns) →
- Feb 17, 2026 Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee▶ WatchRead the transcript (8 turns) →
- Feb 19, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (17 turns) →
- Feb 20, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ WatchRead the transcript (6 turns) →