Friday May 8, 2026

Important Truth in Taxation Changes

ULCT has worked with the Tax Commission on their updated checklist for entities going through truth-in-taxation. ULCT also prepared a supplement that provides more details about the budgeting and truth-in-taxation processes in state law and recommended best practices.

Moderate Income Housing Plan (MIHP) Report Changes

2026 H.B. 436 added a substantial change to the 2026 MIHP report. There will be a one-year pause to full MIH reporting. Municipalities that were compliant and/or had priority consideration in 2025 will automatically receive the same determination in 2026. Despite the one-year pause to full MIH reporting, municipalities will still be required to report the number of residential certificates of occupancy the municipality issued between May 1, 2025 - April 30, 2026 by July 1, 2026.

In addition to the reporting pause, 2026 H.B. 68 restructured housing programs at the state level. The bill is shifting housing and community development programs, including the MIH program, to the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED). During this transition, municipalities must submit the certificates of occupancy data via a survey that can be found on the MIH webpage here.

WFRC Newsletter Sign-Up

Are you receiving the Wasatch Front Regional Council newsletter in addition to the LAA Connection? For more on planning, policy, and ways to be more involved in WFRC, sign up for the WFRC Newsletter here.

Tourism Cooperative Marketing Grant - Due June 10

The Utah Office of Tourism’s Cooperative Marketing Grant is designed to help local destinations, non-profit attractions, non-profit events, federally recognized tribes, and municipalities amplify their advertising efforts and attract out-of-state visitors. This grant is for marketing only. It requires a strict 1:1 exact cash match and is dedicated exclusively to external marketing and advertising initiatives (such as digital media, print ads, billboards, and PR campaigns).

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant 

The BRIC grant provides funding to local governments to create resilient infrastructure. By supporting pre-disaster and hazard mitigation projects like infrastructure improvements, relocating critical facilities out of flood areas, and securing pump stations, BRIC aims to save lives, protect property, and reduce the cost of future disaster response and recovery. BRIC program managers have indicated it can take up to a year to put together an application for the BRIC program. If you have existing infrastructure that you think may qualify for this opportunity, please reach out to me and I can coordinate with the Utah BRIC Program to begin the application process for FY28. If you have any additional questions about the opportunity, please reach out to marandamiller@utah.gov or masonkemp@utah.gov.

It's a Taxing Situation: Understanding the New Truth in Taxation Process Webinar

Did you catch the new Truth in Taxation webinar hosted by ULCT last week? Here is a link to the recording if you would like to learn more about the new legislative changes to the Truth in Taxation process.

ULCT Legislative Policy Committee (LPC) - June 1 12:00 -1:00 p.m.

The Legislature released the 2026 Interim Schedule, and ULCT will be hosting the first Legislative Policy Committee meeting of the interim. Register here to join the webinar hosted on June 1.

New! I'm excited to introduce a new section in the LAA Connection, brought to you by the Office of Data Privacy. This section will include periodic updates covering legislative changes, new guidance from the Office of Data Privacy, and training resources to help your municipality stay ahead on data privacy in Utah.

Site Updates & Improvements

Privacy.utah.gov is being updated to reflect Utah’s evolving privacy landscape, including changes taking effect under House Bill 450 on May 6, 2026. The redesigned site features improved navigation, updated visuals, and a refreshed Tools & Resources page, making key privacy information easier to find and use.

At the same time, the Utah Office of Data Privacy is expanding its workshop offerings with a new initiative: New Topic. This extension of the weekly workshop series delivers on-demand sessions focused on emerging, high interest privacy issues. Topics are introduced as needs arise and may be repeated based on demand. Each session includes practical guidance and live Q&A to help participants work through real world scenarios.

What New Topic would you like the Utah Office of Data Privacy to cover next? Feel free to share details or specific challenges here that you’d like addressed.

Sincerely,

Madison Aviles

Local Administrative Advisor