Legislative Priorities
2026 UTIA Legislative Priorities
letter icon Tourism Marketing Performance Fund (TMPF)
The tourism industry supports ongoing investments into the Utah Office of Tourism (UOT) through the Tourism Marketing Performance (TMPF). The TMPF is at its lowest funding level in nearly a decade. This fund is essential to supporting the UOT's marketing efforts and the UOT Co-Op marketing grant program.
letter icon Transient Room Tax (TRT)
During the 2025 Legislative Session, HB 456 - Transient Room Tax Amendments (Rep. Bolinder, Bridger) made some of the most significant updates to the transient room tax (TRT) in recent history. As these changes take effect, the industry supports allowing ample time for implementation, evaluation, and collaboration with local and state partners before considering further adjustments to TRT policy.
letter icon Short Term Rental Policy
The industry’s priority remains ensuring that short term rentals (STRs) and other marketplace facilitators are brought fully into compliance by supporting accurate tax collection, remittance, and distribution to the correct jurisdictions. This effort ensures all participants contribute fairly to the visitor economy, alongside compliant lodging businesses. Our commitment includes ongoing engagement with local government partners as we work towards a solution.
letter icon Restaurant Tax
The tourism industry opposes the proposed repeal of the restaurant tax. The restaurant tax is part of a broader suite of tourism-related taxes authorized under the Tourism, Recreation, Cultural, Convention, and Airports Facilities (TRCCA) Tax Act. These revenues provide a dedicated funding source to county governments for tourism promotion and to develop, operate, and maintain critical community infrastructure. Including airports, convention centers, cultural venues, recreation assets, and other tourist facilities. These assets are shared by visitors and residents alike and contribute to local quality of life and economic vitality.
The Utah Legislature has long directed that visitors should help offset the incremental costs and services generated by travel, rather than placing that burden solely on local residents. The restaurant tax remains a clear and effective way to accomplish this goal, as dining is an integral and unavoidable component of the visitor experience.
letter icon Alcohol Policy
The tourism industry supports targeted, incremental updates to Utah’s alcohol laws to address operational barriers within the hospitality sector. Legislative priorities include:
- Permitting alcohol license portability for all hotels that have at least one license.
- Supporting the repeal of the restaurant portion of the state’s 100% ID Check Law enacted under HB 437. Along with the implementation of common sense of age-based ID checks to minimize operational impacts across bars and restaurants, particularly for international visitors.
- Beverage portability between bar license and nearby restaurant license, with common ownership.
- Modernizing the 70/30 food-to-alcohol sales ratio requirement on many restaurant liquor licensees.
- Expanding on-mountain alcohol licenses at ski resorts to include wine containers and ready-to-drinks.
- Increase number of special event permits per venue and expedite repeat special event permit approvals. Currently set at 24.
- Seek bulk pricing benefits for licensees when purchasing at DABS.
- Updating proximity requirements to allow for additional appropriately located bars and restaurants.
letter icon Outdoor Recreation Management
In 2025, the tourism industry increased its contributions towards outdoor recreation management solutions through the new Outdoor Recreation Mitigation Grant, created under HB 456, and SB 1005 Local Option Sales Tax Amendments (Sen. Owens, Derrin). As more Utahns are recreating in public areas, many are not contributing to the local economy and tax base needed to fund the management and maintenance of these spaces.
Utah's Legislative Session
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