Bill > SB0234

This bill amends existing Utah law to establish new requirements for rules related to environmental health and waste management, which are defined as rules concerning drinking water, water pollution control, hazardous substances, contaminated site remediation, air quality, solid waste handling, or hazardous waste handling. Specifically, it introduces a "sound science requirement" that dictates how agencies must develop new or change existing numeric criteria or limitations for regulated materials, which are defined as individual chemical substances, mixtures, contaminants, pollutants, hazardous substances, solid waste, hazardous constituents, or hazardous waste. The bill states that agencies cannot initiate rulemaking proceedings for stricter or more extensive rules than federal law if federal standards exist for the same or similar topics. If no federal standard exists, agencies must base their rules on the "best available science" and the "weight of scientific evidence." "Best available science" is defined as reliable, unbiased, and verifiable information that maximizes quality and integrity, including statistical data, scientific studies, and human health risk assessments, all supported by scientifically defensible methods. "Weight of scientific evidence" refers to an approach where each piece of relevant information is considered based on its quality and relevance, and then transparently integrated with other information. For rules intended to protect human health, safety, or welfare, the bill requires a direct causal link between exposure at or above the rule's limits and "manifest bodily harm," which is defined as a presently existing and diagnosable physical disease or injury not solely based on the presence of a substance or increased risk. This causal link can be established through human studies or, in their absence, through animal or cell studies if the harm can be extrapolated to humans. The bill also provides exceptions, such as for rules required by federal law, site-specific state rules, rules that are less stringent than federal law, or emergency rules. The bill takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Business and Industry

https://le.utah.gov/~2026/bills/static/SB0234.html