Pending Legislation
Senate Bill 164: School Construction Amendments
Introduced: Senator Chris Wilson (R-02)
Summary: The bill concerns accepted construction methods for school projects within the state.
Design-Build Impact: The bill authorizes and encourages the use of design-build on school projects within the state that cost over $3,000,000. For projects under this amount districts will use design-bid-build unless an alternative delivery method is approved by the state’s the Division of Facilities Construction and Management. These guidelines will lead to more design-build projects within the state’s education sector.
Last Action: March 5, 2026: The bill has passed both Houses and has been enrolled with a draft of the enrolled bill prepared for Legislative Research and General Counsel. The bill is eligible for the Governor. The bill has a Governor’s deadline of March 26.
Status: Passed both houses, enrolled
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Low
Utah House Bill 473: Colorado River Authority Amendments
Introduced: Representative Scott Chew (R-68)
Summary: This bill, known as Colorado River Authority Amendments, proposes to restructure the Colorado River Authority of Utah by moving it from the governor’s office to the Department of Natural Resources. The authority’s membership, appointment processes, and powers while addressing operations, funding, and the river commissioner role are also modified, with there also being an appropriation of $1,638,500 for the 2027 fiscal year operations.
Design-Build Impact: The bill does not directly impact design-build authority, but given Utah’s wide-ranging design-build permissions, the Colorado River Authority will likely continue to have design-build permissions under the Department of Natural Resources and will now have ample funding within the 2027 fiscal year budget for its continued operations.
Last Action: March 12, 2026: The bill passed through both the HOUSE and SENATE Committees on NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, and ENVIORNMENT and has now passed both the HOUSE and the SENATE. The bill is eligible for the Governor’s desk. The bill has been enrolled and sent to the Governor. The bill has a Governor’s deadline of March 26.
Status: Sent to the Governor
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Low