Cox Signs Three Bills, Backs Nuclear Industry Expansion

Governor Spencer Cox Signs Three Bills During 2026 Legislative Session

Governor Spencer Cox’s office recently announced the signing of three significant bills during the 2026 legislative session. These bills include House Bill 47, House Concurrent Resolution 1, and Senate Bill 140. Each of these pieces of legislation addresses different aspects of state law and policy, reflecting a range of priorities for Utah.

House Bill 47: Changes to Vehicle Insurance Requirements

House Bill 47 introduces amendments to the legal provisions regarding vehicle liability insurance. Previously, Utah law required resident vehicle owners to have liability insurance if they operated a motor vehicle on highways, quasi-public roads, or parking areas within the state. Additionally, owners were required to maintain insurance if their vehicle was registered in the state.

HB 47 modifies this requirement by removing the provision that mandates insurance solely based on vehicle registration. Under the new law, vehicle owners are only required to have liability insurance when the vehicle is being operated, not merely because it is registered. This change aims to reduce the burden on vehicle owners who may not be actively using their vehicles but still face insurance obligations.

The full text of HB 47 can be accessed here.

House Concurrent Resolution 1: Support for Advanced Nuclear Manufacturing

In addition to HB 47, Governor Cox signed House Concurrent Resolution 1 into law. This resolution focuses on advanced nuclear manufacturing and expresses Utah's support for the industry. The resolution states, “Be it resolved that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein, declares state support for the advanced nuclear manufacturing industry and expresses Utah’s desire to have nuclear manufacturing done in Utah.”

The resolution also highlights Utah’s commitment to assisting technology companies in overcoming challenges related to the safety of the nuclear industry in manufacturing, transportation, and waste management. It signals that Utah is open to welcoming innovative nuclear technology companies to the state.

The entire text of HCR 1 can be read here.

Senate Bill 140: Adjustments to Ballot Position Lists

The third bill signed into law was Senate Bill 140, which amends provisions relating to candidates for public offices. Specifically, SB 140 modifies the deadline for the state lieutenant governor to create a master ballot position list.

A master ballot position list is a system that randomly assigns the 26 letters of the alphabet to numbers from one to 26. Candidates are then listed on the ballot according to the first letter of their surname. If two candidates share the same initial, the process continues with subsequent letters of their surnames.

Previously, the lieutenant governor was required to create the master ballot position list within 30 calendar days after the candidate filing deadline. SB 140 changes this requirement, stipulating that the list must be created no earlier than 30 days before and no later than 14 days before the fourth Wednesday in April.

The full text of SB 140 can be accessed here.

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