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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

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Utah bill tracker

H.B. 88: Public Assistance Amendments

2026 General Session · Originating chamber: House

Saved official records and Ledger coverage. The outcome below is from the Legislature’s own step list.

What the bill does

Did not pass both chambers; the bill was filed on March 6, 2026.

This bill addresses lawful presence for receipt of public benefits.

  • Removes authority for an agency or political subdivision of the state to skip verification of lawful presence for receipt of a state or local public benefit or a federal public benefit the state administers
  • Prohibits an agency or political subdivision of the state from providing state or local public benefits to an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States, with certain exceptions
  • Requires an agency or department to conduct certain audits
  • Provides that the Office of the Legislative Auditor General may conduct a certain audit under certain circumstances
  • Provides for criminal or civil penalties under certain circumstances
  • Makes technical and conforming changes

The description and list come from the bill's own long title as recorded by the Legislature. Read the official bill. The Ledger takes no position on it.

Subjects: Economic Development · Health and Human Services · Health Care · Public Assistance · Labor and Employment · Workforce Services · Immigration · Immunizations · Governmental Immunity · Government Operations (State Issues)

How it moved

  1. · House1st reading (Introduced)Rules Committee
  2. · Houseto standing committeeLaw Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
  3. · HouseHouse Comm - Substitute RecommendationLaw Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
  4. · HouseHouse Comm - Favorable RecommendationLaw Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee
  5. · Housefiledfile for bills not passed

Steps as the Legislature recorded them; clerical and fiscal-staff entries are left out. Numbers such as 54-14-7 are yeas, nays and absent.

Fiscal note

From the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's note on 6th Sub. H.B. 88 (Ivory), dated February 25, 2026. A fiscal note estimates direct costs and revenue; it is not an appropriation.

  • State revenue: Enactment of this legislation could reduce the year-end transfer to the General Fund from the Commerce Service Account by $1.4 million ongoing and by $151,000 one-time in FY 2027.
  • State expenditures: Enactment of this legislation would end the state CHIP Alternative Eligibility program and require citizenship verification for most health and human services programs, resulting in savings of $8,229,000 ongoing General Fund.
  • Local government: Enactment of this legislation could increase costs to local governments due to the need to verify lawful presence for most aid programs including immunization, shelter, and food assistance. Aggregate impact is unknown.
  • Individuals and businesses: Enactment of this legislation likely will not result in direct expenditures from tax or fee changes for Utah residents and businesses.

Bill overview

Sponsor: Trevor Lee

Legislature passed-list status: Not available in the saved metadata.

Passed-list membership is not a finding that a bill was signed or took effect. A bill absent from that list is not necessarily pending or defeated.

Latest recorded action

filed
Action date:

The full step list is above. Find the bill in the official session list for status, hearings and committee records.

Recorded floor votes

No floor-vote records for this bill and session are available here. This does not mean no vote occurred; consult the official bill record.

Ledger coverage

No Ledger stories with an explicit source link to this bill and session are listed here.