SB0043 | Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office Amendments

Description
General Description: 

This bill clarifies the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office's role and implements distribution accountability requirements for non-public education trust beneficiaries.

Highlighted Provisions: 

This bill defines key terms, clarifies the authority and purpose of the advocacy office as the primary representative of trust beneficiaries, refines the duties of the advocacy office director, establishes accountability requirements for the use of trust distributions in response to a legislative audit, and updates the composition of the nominating committees for the trustee boards.

Bill Details
Year: 
2026
Status: 
Governor Signed
Last Action: 
Mar 19, 2026
Sponsor
Senator
Republican - District 27
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note Amount: 
$0
None
Utah PTA Response
Utah PTA Position
Support
Impact on Children: 

This bill strengthens the systems that protect and manage the School Land Trusts, helping ensure those funds are used responsibly and in ways that support their long‑term well‑being of Utah's school children.

Commission: 
Trust Lands
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions: 

Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage State and local officials to take all necessary steps to assure that management of the School Trust Lands is in accordance with trust duties and principles including undivided loyalty to the beneficiaries, a duty to make trust property productive, a duty to keep and render accounts, and a duty to exercise prudence and skill in administering the trust, thereby obtaining much-needed revenue for Utah's public schools; and be if further Resolved, That Utah PTA work to encourage Federal and State officials to fulfill their responsibilities under the Enabling Act by assisting the State in proper management of School Trust Lands for their intended purpose to support public schools; and in cases where management for trust purposes would conflict with other important purposes, such as protection of archaeological, aesthetic, or other environmental or cultural resources, that the Federal Government or State purchase, or trade the affected lands for other lands of comparable value; and be it further Resolved, That Utah PTA encourage the State Legislature to protect the permanent State School Fund for dedication to K-12 public education;

Utah PTA Legislative Policy: 

To advocate for laws that further the education, physical and mental health, welfare, and safety of children and youth.