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5
53-1-106
63I-2-253
0
Driver License Division and Motor Vehicle Division Consolidation Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
House Sponsor: Kay J. Christofferson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill requires the Department of Public Safety and the State Tax Commission to
conduct a joint study regarding the feasibility of consolidating certain motor vehicle-related
divisions under a single umbrella agency.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
requires the Department of Public Safety and the State Tax Commission to jointly study
the feasibility of combining the Motor Vehicle Division, the Motor Vehicle Enforcement
Division, and the Driver License Division under a single umbrella agency;
requires the study to evaluate potential cost savings, efficiency gains, and improvements
to customer experience;
requires a written report of findings and recommendations to the Transportation Interim
Committee; and
provides a repeal date.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
53-1-106
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 506
63I-2-253
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, First Special Session, Chapter 9
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
53-1-106
is amended to read:
53-1-106
. Department duties -- Powers.
(1)
In addition to the responsibilities contained in this title, the department shall:
(a)
make rules and perform the functions specified in Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic Code,
including:
(i)
setting performance standards for towing companies to be used by the department,
as required by Section
41-6a-1406
; and
(ii)
advising the Department of Transportation regarding the safe design and
operation of school buses, as required by Section
41-6a-1304
;
(b)
make rules to establish and clarify standards pertaining to the curriculum and
teaching methods of a motor vehicle accident prevention course under Section
31A-19a-211
;
(c)
aid in enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking;
(d)
meet with the Division of Technology Services to formulate contracts, establish
priorities, and develop funding mechanisms for dispatch and telecommunications
operations;
(e)
provide assistance to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice and the Utah
Office for Victims of Crime in conducting research or monitoring victims' programs,
as required by Section
63M-7-507
;
(f)
develop sexual assault exam protocol standards in conjunction with the Utah Hospital
Association;
(g)
engage in emergency planning activities, including preparation of policy and
procedure and rulemaking necessary for implementation of the federal Emergency
Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986, as required by Section
53-2a-702
;
(h)
implement the provisions of Section
53-2a-402
, the Emergency Management
Assistance Compact;
(i)
ensure that any training or certification required of a public official or public
employee, as those terms are defined in Section
63G-22-102
, complies with Title
63G, Chapter 22, State Training and Certification Requirements, if the training or
certification is required:
(i)
under this title;
(ii)
by the department; or
(iii)
by an agency or division within the department;
(j)
employ a law enforcement officer as a public safety liaison to be housed at the State
Board of Education who shall work with the State Board of Education to:
(i)
support training with relevant state agencies for school resource officers as
described in Section
53G-8-702
;
(ii)
coordinate the creation of model policies and memorandums of understanding for
a local education agency and a local law enforcement agency; and
(iii)
ensure cooperation between relevant state agencies, a local education agency,
and a local law enforcement agency to foster compliance with disciplinary related
statutory provisions, including Sections
53E-3-516
and
53G-8-211
;
(k)
provide for the security and protection of public officials, public officials' staff, and
the capitol hill complex in accordance with the provisions of this part;
(l)
fulfill the duties described in Sections
77-36-2.1
and
78B-7-120
related to lethality
assessments; and
(m)
fulfill the duties described in Section
63L-13-201
related to restricted foreign
entities.
(2)
(a)
The department shall establish a schedule of fees as required or allowed in this
title for services provided by the department.
(b)
All fees not established in statute shall be established in accordance with Section
63J-1-504
.
(3)
The department may establish or contract for the establishment of an Organ
Procurement Donor Registry in accordance with Section
26B-8-319
.
(4)
(a)
The department and the State Tax Commission shall jointly study the feasibility of
combining the motor vehicle-related divisions under a single umbrella agency,
including the Driver License Division, the Motor Vehicle Division, and the Motor
Vehicle Enforcement Division.
(b)
The study described in Subsection
(4)(a)
shall include an evaluation of:
(i)
potential cost savings, including administrative, operational, and
technology-related savings;
(ii)
potential efficiency gains in governance, staffing, data sharing, and service
delivery;
(iii)
potential improvements to customer experience, including service accessibility,
processing times, and coordination of services; and
(iv)
legal, operational, and fiscal barriers to consolidation.
(c)
In conducting the study, the department may:
(i)
consult with employees and leadership of each motor vehicle-related division;
(ii)
review consolidation and organization models from other states;
(iii)
consult with relevant stakeholders;
(iv)
conduct surveys or studies with users and customers; and
(v)
identify statutory changes that would be required to implement consolidation.
(d)
On or before November 30, 2026, the department shall submit a written report of the
study described in this section to the Transportation Interim Committee.
(e)
The report required under Subsection
(4)(d)
shall include:
(i)
findings and conclusions from the study; and
(ii)
recommendations, including whether consolidation should be pursued and, if so,
an implementation framework.
Section 2. Section
63I-2-253
is amended to read:
63I-2-253
. Repeal dates: Titles 53 through 53G.
(1)
Subsection
53-1-106(4)
, with regard to a feasibility study to consolidate motor
vehicle-related divisions, is repealed on July 1, 2027.
(1)
(2)
Title
53, Chapter 2c
, COVID-19 Health and Economic Response Act, is repealed
July 1, 2026.
(2)
(3)
Section
53-22-104.1
, School Security Task Force -- Membership -- Duties -- Per
diem -- Report -- Expiration, is repealed December 31, 2025.
(3)
(4)
Section
53-22-104.2
, The School Security Task Force -- Education Advisory
Board, is repealed December 31, 2025.
(4)
(5)
Section
53-25-103
, Airport dangerous weapon possession reporting requirements,
is repealed December 31, 2031.
(5)
(6)
Subsection
53-25-602(4)(b)
, regarding the rights of a peace officer placed onto a
prosecution agency's Brady identification system before May 7, 2025, is repealed
December 1, 2025.
(6)
(7)
Subsection
53-29-302(2)(b)(ii)
, regarding the requirement for the Department of
Corrections to submit the results of risk assessments for sex offenders to the State
Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, is repealed January 1, 2030.
(7)
(8)
Subsection
53E-3-501(7)(e)(ii)
, regarding a report on the packet method, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
(8)
(9)
Subsection
53F-2-504(6)
, regarding a report on the Salary Supplement for Highly
Needed Educators, is repealed July 1, 2026.
(9)
(10)
Section
53F-5-221
, Management of energy and water use pilot program, is
repealed July 1, 2028.
(10)
(11)
Section
53F-5-222
, Mentoring and Supporting Teacher Excellence and
Refinement Pilot Program, is repealed July 1, 2028.
(11)
(12)
Section
53F-5-223
, Stipends for Future Educators Grant Program, is repealed
July 1, 2028.
(12)
(13)
Subsection
53G-11-502(1)
, regarding implementation of the educator evaluation
process, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(13)
(14)
Section
53G-11-506
, Establishment of educator evaluation program -- Joint
committee, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(14)
(15)
Section
53G-11-507
, Components of educator evaluation program, is repealed
July 1, 2029.
(15)
(16)
Section
53G-11-508
, Summative evaluation timelines -- Review of summative
evaluations, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(16)
(17)
Section
53G-11-509
, Mentor for provisional educator, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(17)
(18)
Section
53G-11-510
, State board to describe a framework for the evaluation of
educators, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(18)
(19)
Section
53G-11-511
, Rulemaking for privacy protection, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(19)
(20)
Subsection
53G-11-520(1)
, regarding optional alternative educator evaluation
processes, is repealed July 1, 2029.
(20)
(21)
Subsection
53G-11-520(2)
, regarding an exception from educator evaluation
process requirements, is repealed July 1, 2029.
Section 3.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
May 6, 2026
.
3-12-26 1:12 PM