SB 255

02-05 09:12  S.B. 255
1Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Amendments
                                       2026 GENERAL SESSION
                                            STATE OF UTAH
                                      Chief Sponsor: Nate Blouin
                                              House Sponsor:
2
3   LONG TITLE
4   General Description:
5This bill creates the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force.
6   Highlighted Provisions:
7This bill:
8▸ defines terms;
9▸ creates the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force (task force);
10▸ requires the task force to assess housing needs in certain counties for certain individuals
11   ahead of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games;
12▸ requires the task force to report to the Economic and Workforce Services Development
13   Interim Committee; and
14▸ provides a sunset date.
15   Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16None
17   Other Special Clauses:
18None
19   Utah Code Sections Affected:
20   AMENDS:
2163I-2-235, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 277
22   ENACTS:
2335A-8-2501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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24
25   Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26Section 1. Section 35A-8-2501 is enacted to read:
2735A-8-2501 . Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force -- Creation --
28   Membership -- Compensation -- Staff.
29   (1) As used in this section:
30(a) "Coordinator" means the state homelessness coordinator appointed under Section
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3163J-4-202.
32      (b) "Task force" means the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force created
33in Subsection (2).
34      (c) "Vulnerable populations" means individuals or families living in Davis County, Salt
35Lake County, Summit County, Utah County, and Weber County who experience
36barriers to obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing because of:
37(i) a developmental disability;
38(ii) domestic violence;
39(iii) severe mental illness;
40(iv) substance abuse;
41(v) age-based limitations on the individual's or family member's ability to work;
42(vi) financial hardship because of pregnancy, childbirth, or having an adult or child in
43the family who is medically frail or who has a disability;
44(vii) if a youth, aging out of foster care and having limited family support, assets, or
45work experience; or
46(viii) other limiting factors.
47  (2) There is created within the division the Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task
48      Force composed of the following 17 members:
49      (a)(i) the director of the division or the director's designee;
50(ii) the chair of the board of trustees of the Utah Housing Corporation or the chair's
51designee; and
52(iii) the state homelessness coordinator or the coordinator's designee;
53      (b) one individual representing the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and
54Paralympic Winter Games, nominated by the Organizing Committee;
55      (c) six individuals representing public housing authorities, recommended by the director,
56one each from:
57(i) the Davis Community Housing Authority;
58(ii) the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City;
59(iii) Housing Connect;
60(iv) the Summit Combined Housing Authority;
61(v) the Housing Authority of Utah County; and
62(vi) the Weber Housing Authority;
63      (d) three individuals representing the state's continuum of care organizations,
64recommended by the coordinator, one each from:
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65(i) Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness;
66(ii) Mountainland Continuum of Care; and
67(iii) Utah Balance of State Continuum of Care;
68(e) one individual representing the Utah Impact Partnership, recommended by the
69coordinator;
70(f) one individual representing Shelter the Homeless, recommended by the coordinator;
71(g) one individual representing a nonprofit organization that addresses issues related to
72affordable and supportive housing, recommended by the director; and
73(h) one individual representing a for-profit organization that develops projects that
74include deeply affordable housing, recommended by the director.
75   (3)(a) When a vacancy occurs in a position described under Subsection (2)(b) through (h),
76the nominating or recommending authority shall nominate or recommend an
77individual to fill the vacant position.
78(b) A member serves until the member's successor is appointed.
79   (4)(a) The task force shall select two members to serve as co-chairs, one of whom shall
80be a member described in Subsection (2)(a).
81(b) Subject to the other provisions of this Subsection (4), the co-chairs are responsible
82for the call and conduct of meetings.
83(c) The co-chairs shall call and hold meetings of the task force at least once per month.
84(d) One or more additional meetings may be called upon request by a majority of the
85task force's members.
86   (5) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum.
87   (6) The action of a majority of a quorum constitutes the action of the task force.
88   (7) A member of the task force described in Subsection (2) may not receive compensation
89or benefits for the member's service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in
90accordance with:
91(a) Section 63A-3-106;
92(b) Section 63A-3-107; and
93(c) rules made by the Division of Finance in accordance with Sections 63A-3-106 and
9463A-3-107.
95   (8) The task force shall, in anticipation of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:
96(a) assess the housing needs of vulnerable populations, including the need for homeless
97shelters, supportive housing, and affordable housing options;
98(b) determine what housing gaps may exist within the vulnerable populations, including
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99a lack of homeless shelters, safety concerns, and integrated or accessible affordable
100homes;
101      (c) analyze the risks of displacement of vulnerable populations from rental units, hotels,
102or motels due to increased 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games housing
103needs;
104      (d) analyze the costs of producing affordable housing to support vulnerable populations;
105and
106      (e) identify potential funding sources to support the affordable housing needs of
107vulnerable populations, including receiving funds from:
108(i) legislative appropriations;
109(ii) private donations or grants;
110(iii) public-private partnerships;
111(iv) private sponsors;
112(v) social impact bonds; or
113(vi) any other federal, state, or philanthropic source.
114  (9) The task force shall:
115      (a) create a report that:
116(i) details the task force's conclusions on the items described in Subsection (8); and
117(ii) includes recommendations on legislation needed to address or implement the task
118force's conclusions; and
119      (b) report on the findings described in Subsection (9)(a) to the Economic Development
120and Workforce Services Interim Committee no later than the November 2026,
121interim meeting.
122  (10) The division shall provide administrative support to the task force.
123  (11) Meetings of the task force are subject to Title 52, Chapter 4, Open and Public
124      Meetings Act.
125Section 2. Section 63I-2-235 is amended to read:
12663I-2-235 . Repeal dates: Title 35A.
127  (1) Section 35A-3-212, Use of COVID-19 relief funds -- Grants to child care providers
128      -- Reporting requirements, is repealed June 30, 2025.
129  (2) Section 35A-8-2501, Homelessness in Vulnerable Populations Task Force, is repealed
130      December 31, 2026.
131Section 3. Effective Date.
132  This bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.
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