UT
Utah House Bill HB0073

Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HB0073 Compare Versions

OldNewDifferences
1-Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
1+12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
22 1
33 Administrative Procedures Act Amendments
44 2025 GENERAL SESSION
55 STATE OF UTAH
66 Chief Sponsor: Karianne Lisonbee
7-Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler
87 2
98
109 3
1110 LONG TITLE
1211 4
12+Committee Note:
13+5
14+The Judiciary Interim Committee recommended this bill.
15+6 Legislative Vote:12 voting for0 voting against5 absent
16+7
1317 General Description:
14-5
18+8
1519 This bill modifies provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act.
16-6
20+9
1721 Highlighted Provisions:
18-7
22+10
1923 This bill:
20-8
24+11
2125 ▸ provides cross references;
22-9
26+12
2327 ▸ describes when an order or decree constitutes a final agency action; and
24-10
28+13
2529 ▸ makes technical changes.
26-11
30+14
2731 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
28-12
32+15
2933 None
30-13
34+16
3135 Other Special Clauses:
32-14
36+17
3337 None
34-15
38+18
3539 Utah Code Sections Affected:
36-16
40+19
3741 AMENDS:
38-17
42+20
3943 19-1-301.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2018, Chapter 281
40-18
44+21
4145 59-1-205, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 80
42-19
46+22
4347 63G-4-302, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
44-20
48+23
4549 63G-4-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 433
46-21
50+24
4751 63G-4-403, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 158
48-22
52+25
4953 78A-3-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 344
50-23
54+26
5155 78A-4-103, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 516
52-24
56+27
5357
54-25
58+28
5559 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
56-26
60+29
5761 Section 1. Section 19-1-301.5 is amended to read:
58-27
62+30
5963 19-1-301.5 . Permit review adjudicative proceedings.
60-28
61-(1) As used in this section: H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
62-29
64+31
65+(1) As used in this section: H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
66+32
6367 (a) "Dispositive action" means a final agency action that:
64-30
68+33
6569 (i) the executive director takes as part of a special adjudicative proceeding; and
66-31
70+34
6771 (ii) is subject to judicial review, in accordance with Subsection (16).
68-32
72+35
6973 (b) "Dispositive motion" means a motion that is equivalent to:
70-33
74+36
7175 (i) a motion to dismiss under Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 12(b)(6);
72-34
76+37
7377 (ii) a motion for judgment on the pleadings under Utah Rules of Civil Procedure,
74-35
78+38
7579 Rule 12(c); or
76-36
80+39
7781 (iii) a motion for summary judgment under Utah Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 56.
78-37
82+40
7983 (c) "Financial assurance determination" means a decision on whether a facility, site,
80-38
84+41
8185 plan, party, broker, owner, operator, generator, or permittee has met financial
82-39
86+42
8387 assurance or financial responsibility requirements as determined by the director of the
84-40
88+43
8589 Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control.
86-41
90+44
8791 (d) "Party" means:
88-42
92+45
8993 (i) the director who issued the permit order or financial assurance determination that
90-43
94+46
9195 is being challenged in the special adjudicative proceeding under this section;
92-44
96+47
9397 (ii) the permittee;
94-45
98+48
9599 (iii) the person who applied for the permit, if the permit was denied;
96-46
100+49
97101 (iv) the person who is subject to a financial assurance determination; or
98-47
102+50
99103 (v) a person granted intervention by the administrative law judge.
100-48
104+51
101105 (e) "Permit" means any of the following issued under this title:
102-49
106+52
103107 (i) a permit;
104-50
108+53
105109 (ii) a plan;
106-51
110+54
107111 (iii) a license;
108-52
112+55
109113 (iv) an approval order; or
110-53
114+56
111115 (v) another administrative authorization made by a director.
112-54
116+57
113117 (f)(i) "Permit order" means an order issued by a director that:
114-55
118+58
115119 (A) approves a permit;
116-56
120+59
117121 (B) renews a permit;
118-57
122+60
119123 (C) denies a permit;
120-58
124+61
121125 (D) modifies or amends a permit; or
122-59
126+62
123127 (E) revokes and reissues a permit.
124-60
128+63
125129 (ii) "Permit order" does not include an order terminating a permit.
126-61
130+64
127131 (g) "Special adjudicative proceeding" means a proceeding under this section to resolve a
128-62
132+65
129133 challenge to a:
130-- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
131-63
134+- 2 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
135+66
132136 (i) permit order; or
133-64
137+67
134138 (ii) financial assurance determination.
135-65
139+68
136140 (2) This section governs special adjudicative proceedings.
137-66
141+69
138142 (3) Except as expressly provided in this section, the provisions of Title 63G, Chapter 4,
139-67
143+70
140144 Administrative Procedures Act, do not apply to a special adjudicative proceeding under
141-68
145+71
142146 this section.
143-69
147+72
144148 (4) If a public comment period was provided during the permit application process or the
145-70
149+73
146150 financial assurance determination process, a person who challenges an order or
147-71
151+74
148152 determination may only raise an issue or argument during the special adjudicative
149-72
153+75
150154 proceeding that:
151-73
155+76
152156 (a) the person raised during the public comment period; and
153-74
157+77
154158 (b) was supported with information or documentation that is cited with reasonable
155-75
159+78
156160 specificity and sufficiently enables the director to fully consider the substance and
157-76
161+79
158162 significance of the issue.
159-77
160-(5)(a) Upon request by a party, the executive director shall issue a notice of appointment
161-78
162-appointing an administrative law judge, in accordance with Subsections 19-1-301(5)
163-79
164-and (6), to conduct a special adjudicative proceeding under this section.
165163 80
164+(5)(a) Upon request by a party, the executive director shall issue a notice of
165+81
166+appointment appointing an administrative law judge, in accordance with Subsections
167+82
168+19-1-301(5) and (6), to conduct a special adjudicative proceeding under this section.
169+83
166170 (b) The executive director shall issue a notice of appointment within 30 days after the
167-81
171+84
168172 day on which a party files a request.
169-82
173+85
170174 (c) A notice of appointment shall include:
171-83
175+86
172176 (i) the agency's file number or other reference number assigned to the special
173-84
177+87
174178 adjudicative proceeding;
175-85
179+88
176180 (ii) the name of the special adjudicative proceeding; and
177-86
181+89
178182 (iii) the administrative law judge's name, title, mailing address, email address, and
179-87
183+90
180184 telephone number.
181-88
185+91
182186 (6)(a) Only the following may file a petition for review of a permit order or financial
183-89
187+92
184188 assurance determination:
185-90
189+93
186190 (i) a party; or
187-91
191+94
188192 (ii) a person who is seeking to intervene under Subsection (7).
189-92
193+95
190194 (b) A person who files a petition for review of a permit order or a financial assurance
191-93
195+96
192196 determination shall file the petition for review within 30 days after the day on which
193-94
197+97
194198 the permit order or the financial assurance determination is issued.
195-95
199+98
196200 (c) The department may, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
197-96
201+99
198202 Rulemaking Act, make rules allowing the extension of the filing deadline described
199-- 3 - H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
200-97
203+- 3 - H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
204+100
201205 in Subsection (6)(b).
202-98
206+101
203207 (d) A petition for review shall:
204-99
208+102
205209 (i) be served in accordance with department rule;
206-100
210+103
207211 (ii) include the name and address of each person to whom a copy of the petition for
208-101
212+104
209213 review is sent;
210-102
214+105
211215 (iii) if known, include the agency's file number or other reference number assigned to
212-103
216+106
213217 the special adjudicative proceeding;
214-104
218+107
215219 (iv) state the date on which the petition for review is served;
216-105
220+108
217221 (v) include a statement of the petitioner's position, including, as applicable:
218-106
222+109
219223 (A) the legal authority under which the petition for review is requested;
220-107
224+110
221225 (B) the legal authority under which the agency has jurisdiction to review the
222-108
226+111
223227 petition for review;
224-109
228+112
225229 (C) each of the petitioner's arguments in support of the petitioner's requested relief;
226-110
230+113
227231 (D) an explanation of how each argument described in Subsection (6)(d)(v)(C)
228-111
232+114
229233 was preserved;
230-112
234+115
231235 (E) a detailed description of any permit condition to which the petitioner is
232-113
236+116
233237 objecting;
234-114
238+117
235239 (F) any modification or addition to a permit that the petitioner is requesting;
236-115
240+118
237241 (G) a demonstration that the agency's permit decision is based on a finding of fact
238-116
242+119
239243 or conclusion of law that is clearly erroneous;
240-117
244+120
241245 (H) if the agency director addressed a finding of fact or conclusion of law
242-118
246+121
243247 described in Subsection (6)(d)(v)(G) in a response to public comment, a
244-119
248+122
245249 citation to the comment and response that relates to the finding of fact or
246-120
250+123
247251 conclusion of law and an explanation of why the director's response was
248-121
252+124
249253 clearly erroneous or otherwise warrants review; and
250-122
254+125
251255 (I) a claim for relief.
252-123
256+126
253257 (e) A person may not raise an issue or argument in a petition for review unless the issue
254-124
258+127
255259 or argument:
256-125
260+128
257261 (i) was preserved in accordance with Subsection (4); or
258-126
262+129
259263 (ii) was not reasonably ascertainable before or during the public comment period.
260-127
264+130
261265 (f) To demonstrate that an issue or argument was preserved in accordance with
262-128
266+131
263267 Subsection (4), a petitioner shall include the following in the petitioner's petition for
264-129
268+132
265269 review:
266-130
270+133
267271 (i) a citation to where the petitioner raised the issue or argument during the public
268-- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
269-131
272+- 4 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
273+134
270274 comment period; and
271-132
275+135
272276 (ii) for each document upon which the petitioner relies in support of an issue or
273-133
277+136
274278 argument, a description that:
275-134
279+137
276280 (A) states why the document is part of the administrative record; and
277-135
281+138
278282 (B) demonstrates that the petitioner cited the document with reasonable specificity
279-136
283+139
280284 in accordance with Subsection (4)(b).
281-137
285+140
282286 (7)(a) A person who is not a party may not participate in a special adjudicative
283-138
287+141
284288 proceeding under this section unless the person is granted the right to intervene under
285-139
289+142
286290 this Subsection (7).
287-140
291+143
288292 (b) A person who seeks to intervene in a special adjudicative proceeding under this
289-141
293+144
290294 section shall, within 30 days after the day on which the permit order or the financial
291-142
295+145
292296 assurance determination being challenged was issued, file:
293-143
297+146
294298 (i) a petition to intervene that:
295-144
299+147
296300 (A) meets the requirements of Subsection 63G-4-207(1); and
297-145
301+148
298302 (B) demonstrates that the person is entitled to intervention under Subsection
299-146
303+149
300304 (7)(d)(ii); and
301-147
305+150
302306 (ii) a timely petition for review.
303-148
307+151
304308 (c) In a special adjudicative proceeding to review a permit order, the permittee is a party
305-149
309+152
306310 to the special adjudicative proceeding regardless of who files the petition for review
307-150
311+153
308312 and does not need to file a petition to intervene under Subsection (7)(b).
309-151
313+154
310314 (d) An administrative law judge shall grant a petition to intervene in a special
311-152
315+155
312316 adjudicative proceeding, if:
313-153
317+156
314318 (i) the petition to intervene is timely filed; and
315-154
319+157
316320 (ii) the petitioner:
317-155
321+158
318322 (A) demonstrates that the petitioner's legal interests may be substantially affected
319-156
323+159
320324 by the special adjudicative proceeding;
321-157
325+160
322326 (B) demonstrates that the interests of justice and the orderly and prompt conduct
323-158
327+161
324328 of the special adjudicative proceeding will not be materially impaired by
325-159
329+162
326330 allowing the intervention; and
327-160
331+163
328332 (C) in the petitioner's petition for review, raises issues or arguments that are
329-161
333+164
330334 preserved in accordance with Subsection (4).
331-162
335+165
332336 (e) An administrative law judge:
333-163
337+166
334338 (i) shall issue an order granting or denying a petition to intervene in accordance with
335-164
339+167
336340 Subsection 63G-4-207(3)(a); and
337-- 5 - H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
338-165
341+- 5 - H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
342+168
339343 (ii) may impose conditions on intervenors as described in Subsections
340-166
344+169
341345 63G-4-207(3)(b) and (c).
342-167
346+170
343347 (f) The department may, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
344-168
348+171
345349 Rulemaking Act, make rules allowing the extension of the filing deadline described
346-169
350+172
347351 in Subsection (7)(b).
348-170
352+173
349353 (8)(a) Unless the parties otherwise agree, or the administrative law judge otherwise
350-171
354+174
351355 orders, a special adjudicative proceeding shall be conducted as follows:
352-172
356+175
353357 (i) the director shall file and serve the administrative record within 40 days after the
354-173
358+176
355359 day on which the executive director issues a notice of appointment, unless
356-174
360+177
357361 otherwise ordered by the administrative law judge;
358-175
362+178
359363 (ii) any dispositive motion shall be filed and served within 15 days after the day on
360-176
364+179
361365 which the administrative record is filed and served;
362-177
366+180
363367 (iii) the petitioner shall file and serve an opening brief of no more than 30 pages:
364-178
368+181
365369 (A) within 30 days after the day on which the director files and serves the
366-179
370+182
367371 administrative record; or
368-180
372+183
369373 (B) if a party files and serves a dispositive motion, within 30 days after the day on
370-181
374+184
371375 which the administrative law judge issues a decision on the dispositive motion,
372-182
376+185
373377 including a decision to defer the motion;
374-183
378+186
375379 (iv) each responding party shall file and serve a response brief of no more than 30
376-184
380+187
377381 pages within 15 days after the day on which the petitioner files and serves the
378-185
382+188
379383 opening brief;
380-186
384+189
381385 (v) the petitioner may file and serve a reply brief of not more than 15 pages within 15
382-187
386+190
383387 days after the day on which the response brief is filed and served; and
384-188
388+191
385389 (vi) if the petitioner files and serves a reply brief, each responding party may file and
386-189
390+192
387391 serve a surreply brief of no more than 15 pages within five business days after the
388-190
392+193
389393 day on which the petitioner files and serves the reply brief.
390-191
394+194
391395 (b)(i) A reply brief may not raise an issue that was not raised in the response brief.
392-192
396+195
393397 (ii) A surreply brief may not raise an issue that was not raised in the reply brief.
394-193
395-(9)(a) An administrative law judge shall conduct a special adjudicative proceeding based
396-194
397-only on the administrative record and not as a trial de novo.
398-195
398+196
399+(9)(a) An administrative law judge shall conduct a special adjudicative proceeding
400+197
401+based only on the administrative record and not as a trial de novo.
402+198
399403 (b) To the extent relative to the issues and arguments raised in the petition for review,
400-196
404+199
401405 the administrative record consists of the following items, if they exist:
402-197
406+200
403407 (i)(A) for review of a permit order, the permit application, draft permit, and final
404-198
408+201
405409 permit; or
406-- 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
407-199
410+- 6 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
411+202
408412 (B) for review of a financial assurance determination, the proposed financial
409-200
413+203
410414 assurance determination from the owner or operator of the facility, the draft
411-201
415+204
412416 financial assurance determination, and the final financial assurance
413-202
417+205
414418 determination;
415-203
419+206
416420 (ii) each statement of basis, fact sheet, engineering review, or other substantive
417-204
421+207
418422 explanation designated by the director as part of the basis for the decision relating
419-205
423+208
420424 to the permit order or the financial assurance determination;
421-206
425+209
422426 (iii) the notice and record of each public comment period;
423-207
427+210
424428 (iv) the notice and record of each public hearing, including oral comments made
425-208
429+211
426430 during the public hearing;
427-209
431+212
428432 (v) written comments submitted during the public comment period;
429-210
433+213
430434 (vi) responses to comments that are designated by the director as part of the basis for
431-211
435+214
432436 the decision relating to the permit order or the financial assurance determination;
433-212
437+215
434438 (vii) any information that is:
435-213
439+216
436440 (A) requested by and submitted to the director; and
437-214
441+217
438442 (B) designated by the director as part of the basis for the decision relating to the
439-215
443+218
440444 permit order or the financial assurance determination;
441-216
445+219
442446 (viii) any additional information specified by rule;
443-217
447+220
444448 (ix) any additional documents agreed to by the parties; and
445-218
449+221
446450 (x) information supplementing the record under Subsection (9)(c).
447-219
451+222
448452 (c)(i) There is a rebuttable presumption against supplementing the record.
449-220
453+223
450454 (ii) A party may move to supplement the record described in Subsection (9)(b) with
451-221
455+224
452456 technical or factual information.
453-222
457+225
454458 (iii) The administrative law judge may grant a motion to supplement the record
455-223
459+226
456460 described in Subsection (9)(b) with technical or factual information if the moving
457-224
461+227
458462 party proves that:
459-225
463+228
460464 (A) good cause exists for supplementing the record;
461-226
465+229
462466 (B) supplementing the record is in the interest of justice; and
463-227
467+230
464468 (C) supplementing the record is necessary for resolution of the issues.
465-228
469+231
466470 (iv) The department may, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
467-229
471+232
468472 Administrative Rulemaking Act, make rules permitting further supplementation of
469-230
473+233
470474 the record.
471-231
475+234
472476 (10)(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the administrative law judge shall
473-232
477+235
474478 review and respond to a petition for review in accordance with Subsections
475-- 7 - H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
476-233
479+- 7 - H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
480+236
477481 63G-4-201(3)(d) and (e), following the relevant procedures for formal adjudicative
478-234
482+237
479483 proceedings.
480-235
484+238
481485 (b) The administrative law judge shall require the parties to file responsive briefs in
482-236
486+239
483487 accordance with Subsection (8).
484-237
488+240
485489 (c) If an administrative law judge enters an order of default against a party, the
486-238
490+241
487491 administrative law judge shall enter the order of default in accordance with Section
488-239
492+242
489493 63G-4-209.
490-240
494+243
491495 (d) The administrative law judge, in conducting a special adjudicative proceeding:
492-241
496+244
493497 (i) may not participate in an ex parte communication with a party to the special
494-242
498+245
495499 adjudicative proceeding regarding the merits of the special adjudicative
496-243
500+246
497501 proceeding unless notice and an opportunity to be heard are afforded to all parties;
498-244
502+247
499503 and
500-245
504+248
501505 (ii) shall, upon receiving an ex parte communication, place the communication in the
502-246
506+249
503507 public record of the proceeding and afford all parties an opportunity to comment
504-247
508+250
505509 on the information.
506-248
510+251
507511 (e) In conducting a special adjudicative proceeding, the administrative law judge may
508-249
512+252
509513 take judicial notice of matters not in the administrative record, in accordance with
510-250
514+253
511515 Utah Rules of Evidence, Rule 201.
512-251
516+254
513517 (f) An administrative law judge may take any action in a special adjudicative proceeding
514-252
518+255
515519 that is not a dispositive action.
516-253
520+256
517521 (11)(a) A person who files a petition for review has the burden of demonstrating that an
518-254
522+257
519523 issue or argument raised in the petition for review has been preserved in accordance
520-255
524+258
521525 with Subsection (4).
522-256
526+259
523527 (b) The administrative law judge shall dismiss, with prejudice, any issue or argument
524-257
528+260
525529 raised in a petition for review that has not been preserved in accordance with
526-258
530+261
527531 Subsection (4).
528-259
532+262
529533 (12) In response to a dispositive motion, within 45 days after the day on which oral
530-260
534+263
531535 argument takes place, or, if there is no oral argument, within 45 days after the day on
532-261
536+264
533537 which the reply brief on the dispositive motion is due, the administrative law judge shall:
534-262
538+265
535539 (a) submit a proposed dispositive action to the executive director recommending full or
536-263
540+266
537541 partial resolution of the special adjudicative proceeding, that includes:
538-264
542+267
539543 (i) written findings of fact;
540-265
544+268
541545 (ii) written conclusions of law; and
542-266
546+269
543547 (iii) a recommended order; or
544-- 8 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
545-267
548+- 8 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
549+270
546550 (b) if the administrative law judge determines that a full or partial resolution of the
547-268
551+271
548552 special adjudicative proceeding is not appropriate, issue an order that explains the
549-269
553+272
550554 basis for the administrative law judge's determination.
551-270
555+273
552556 (13) For each issue or argument that is not dismissed or otherwise resolved under
553-271
557+274
554558 Subsection (11)(b) or (12), the administrative law judge shall:
555-272
559+275
556560 (a) provide the parties an opportunity for briefing and oral argument in accordance with
557-273
561+276
558562 this section;
559-274
563+277
560564 (b) conduct a review of the director's order or determination, based on the record
561-275
565+278
562566 described in Subsections (9)(b), (9)(c), and (10)(e); and
563-276
567+279
564568 (c) within 60 days after the day on which the reply brief on the dispositive motion is due,
565-277
569+280
566570 submit to the executive director a proposed dispositive action, that includes:
567-278
571+281
568572 (i) written findings of fact;
569-279
573+282
570574 (ii) written conclusions of law; and
571-280
575+283
572576 (iii) a recommended order.
573-281
577+284
574578 (14)(a) When the administrative law judge submits a proposed dispositive action to the
575-282
579+285
576580 executive director, the executive director may:
577-283
581+286
578582 (i) adopt, adopt with modifications, or reject the proposed dispositive action; or
579-284
583+287
580584 (ii) return the proposed dispositive action to the administrative law judge for further
581-285
585+288
582586 action as directed.
583-286
587+289
584588 (b) On review of a proposed dispositive action, the executive director shall uphold all
585-287
589+290
586590 factual, technical, and scientific agency determinations that are not clearly erroneous
587-288
591+291
588592 based on the petitioner's marshaling of the evidence.
589-289
593+292
590594 (c) In reviewing a proposed dispositive action during a special adjudicative proceeding,
591-290
595+293
592596 the executive director may take judicial notice of matters not in the record, in
593-291
597+294
594598 accordance with Utah Rules of Evidence, Rule 201.
595-292
599+295
596600 (d) The executive director may use the executive director's technical expertise in making
597-293
601+296
598602 a determination.
599-294
603+297
600604 (15)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (15)(b), the executive director may not
601-295
605+298
602606 participate in an ex parte communication with a party to a special adjudicative
603-296
607+299
604608 proceeding regarding the merits of the special adjudicative proceeding, unless notice
605-297
609+300
606610 and opportunity to be heard are afforded to all parties involved in the proceeding.
607-298
611+301
608612 (b) The executive director may discuss ongoing operational matters that require the
609-299
613+302
610614 involvement of a division director without violating Subsection (15)(a).
611-300
615+303
612616 (c) Upon receiving an ex parte communication from a party to a proceeding, the
613-- 9 - H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
614-301
617+- 9 - H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
618+304
615619 executive director shall place the communication in the public record of the
616-302
620+305
617621 proceeding and afford all parties to the proceeding with an opportunity to comment
618-303
622+306
619623 on the communication.
620-304
624+307
621625 (16)(a) A party may seek judicial review in the Utah Court of Appeals of a dispositive
622-305
626+308
623627 action in a special adjudicative proceeding, in accordance with Sections 63G-4-401,
624-306
628+309
625629 63G-4-403, and 63G-4-405.
626-307
630+310
627631 (b) An appellate court shall limit its review of a dispositive action of a special
628-308
632+311
629633 adjudicative proceeding under this section to:
630-309
634+312
631635 (i) the record described in Subsections (9)(b), (9)(c), (10)(e), and (14)(c); and
632-310
636+313
633637 (ii) the record made by the administrative law judge and the executive director during
634-311
638+314
635639 the special adjudicative proceeding.
636-312
640+315
637641 (c) During judicial review of a dispositive action, the appellate court shall:
638-313
642+316
639643 (i) review all agency determinations in accordance with Subsection [63G-4-403(4)]
640-314
644+317
641645 63G-4-403(5), recognizing that the agency has been granted substantial discretion
642-315
646+318
643647 to interpret its governing statutes and rules; and
644-316
648+319
645649 (ii) uphold all factual, technical, and scientific agency determinations that are not
646-317
650+320
647651 clearly erroneous based upon the petitioner's marshaling of the evidence.
648-318
652+321
649653 (17)(a) The filing of a petition for review does not:
650-319
654+322
651655 (i) stay a permit order or a financial assurance determination; or
652-320
656+323
653657 (ii) delay the effective date of a permit order or a portion of a financial assurance
654-321
658+324
655659 determination.
656-322
660+325
657661 (b) A permit order or a financial assurance determination may not be stayed or delayed
658-323
662+326
659663 unless a stay is granted under this Subsection (17).
660-324
664+327
661665 (c) The administrative law judge shall:
662-325
666+328
663667 (i) consider a party's motion to stay a permit order or a financial assurance
664-326
668+329
665669 determination during a special adjudicative proceeding; and
666-327
670+330
667671 (ii) within 45 days after the day on which the reply brief on the motion to stay is due,
668-328
672+331
669673 submit a proposed determination on the stay to the executive director.
670-329
674+332
671675 (d) The administrative law judge may not recommend to the executive director a stay of
672-330
676+333
673677 a permit order or a financial assurance determination, or a portion of a permit order
674-331
678+334
675679 or a portion of a financial assurance determination, unless:
676-332
680+335
677681 (i) all parties agree to the stay; or
678-333
682+336
679683 (ii) the party seeking the stay demonstrates that:
680-334
684+337
681685 (A) the party seeking the stay will suffer irreparable harm unless the stay is issued;
682-- 10 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
683-335
686+- 10 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
687+338
684688 (B) the threatened injury to the party seeking the stay outweighs whatever damage
685-336
689+339
686690 the proposed stay is likely to cause the party restrained or enjoined;
687-337
691+340
688692 (C) the stay, if issued, would not be adverse to the public interest; and
689-338
693+341
690694 (D) there is a substantial likelihood that the party seeking the stay will prevail on
691-339
695+342
692696 the merits of the underlying claim, or the case presents serious issues on the
693-340
697+343
694698 merits, which should be the subject of further adjudication.
695-341
699+344
696700 (e) A party may appeal the executive director's decision regarding a stay of a permit
697-342
701+345
698702 order or a financial assurance determination to the Utah Court of Appeals, in
699-343
703+346
700704 accordance with Section 78A-4-103.
701-344
705+347
702706 (18)(a) Subject to Subsection (18)(c), the administrative law judge shall issue a written
703-345
707+348
704708 response to a non-dispositive motion within 45 days after the day on which the reply
705-346
709+349
706710 brief on the non-dispositive motion is due or, if the administrative law judge grants
707-347
711+350
708712 oral argument on the non-dispositive motion, within 45 days after the day on which
709-348
713+351
710714 oral argument takes place.
711-349
715+352
712716 (b) If the administrative law judge determines that the administrative law judge needs
713-350
717+353
714718 more time to issue a response to a non-dispositive motion, the administrative law
715-351
719+354
716720 judge may issue a response after the deadline described in Subsection (18)(a) if,
717-352
721+355
718722 before the deadline expires, the administrative law judge gives notice to the parties
719-353
723+356
720724 that includes:
721-354
725+357
722726 (i) the amount of additional time that the administrative law judge requires; and
723-355
727+358
724728 (ii) the reason the administrative law judge needs the additional time.
725-356
729+359
726730 (c) If the administrative law judge grants oral argument on a non-dispositive motion, the
727-357
731+360
728732 administrative law judge shall hold the oral argument within 30 days after the day on
729-358
733+361
730734 which the reply brief on the non-dispositive motion is due.
731-359
735+362
732736 Section 2. Section 59-1-205 is amended to read:
733-360
737+363
734738 59-1-205 . Chairman -- Quorum -- Voting -- Sessions.
735-361
739+364
736740 (1) The governor shall designate one of the members of the commission as chairperson.
737-362
741+365
738742 (2)(a) Three members of the commission constitute a quorum for the transaction of
739-363
743+366
740744 business.
741-364
745+367
742746 (b) A quorum of the commission must participate in any order that constitutes a final
743-365
747+368
744748 agency action, as described in Section 63G-4-403, on:
745-366
749+369
746750 (i) a formal adjudicative proceeding over which the commission has jurisdiction;
747-367
751+370
748752 (ii) an informal adjudicative proceeding over which the commission has jurisdiction;
749-368
753+371
750754 or
751-- 11 - H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
752-369
755+- 11 - H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
756+372
753757 (iii) an initial hearing conducted pursuant to Section 59-1-502.5.
754-370
758+373
755759 (c) If a commission vote results in a tie vote on any matter described in Subsection (2)(b),
756-371
760+374
757761 the position of the taxpayer is considered to have prevailed.
758-372
762+375
759763 (3) The commission shall be in session and open for the transaction of business during
760-373
764+376
761765 ordinary business hours each day.
762-374
766+377
763767 (4) The commission may hold sessions or conduct investigations at any place in the state to
764-375
768+378
765769 facilitate the performance of its duties.
766-376
770+379
767771 Section 3. Section 63G-4-302 is amended to read:
768-377
772+380
769773 63G-4-302 . Agency review -- Reconsideration.
770-378
774+381
771775 (1)(a) Within 20 days after the date that an order is issued for which review by the
772-379
776+382
773777 agency or by a superior agency under Section 63G-4-301 is unavailable, and if the
774-380
778+383
775779 order would otherwise constitute final agency action as described in Section
776-381
780+384
777781 63G-4-403, any party may file a written request for reconsideration with the agency,
778-382
782+385
779783 stating the specific grounds upon which relief is requested.
780-383
784+386
781785 (b) Unless otherwise provided by statute, the filing of the request is not a prerequisite for
782-384
786+387
783787 seeking judicial review of the order.
784-385
788+388
785789 (2) The request for reconsideration shall be filed with the agency and one copy shall be
786-386
790+389
787791 mailed to each party by the person making the request.
788-387
792+390
789793 (3)(a) The agency head, or a person designated for that purpose, shall issue a written
790-388
794+391
791795 order granting the request or denying the request.
792-389
796+392
793797 (b) If the agency head or the person designated for that purpose does not issue an order
794-390
798+393
795799 within 20 days after the filing of the request, the request for reconsideration shall be
796-391
800+394
797801 considered to be denied.
798-392
802+395
799803 Section 4. Section 63G-4-401 is amended to read:
800-393
804+396
801805 63G-4-401 . Judicial review -- Exhaustion of administrative remedies -- Petition
802-394
806+397
803807 for judicial review.
804-395
808+398
805809 (1) A party aggrieved may obtain judicial review of final agency action, as described in
806-396
810+399
807811 Section 63G-4-403, except in actions where judicial review is expressly prohibited by
808-397
812+400
809813 statute.
810-398
814+401
811815 (2) A party may seek judicial review only after exhausting all administrative remedies
812-399
816+402
813817 available, except that:
814-400
818+403
815819 (a) a party seeking judicial review need not exhaust administrative remedies if this
816-401
820+404
817821 chapter or any other statute states that exhaustion is not required;
818-402
822+405
819823 (b) the court may relieve a party seeking judicial review of the requirement to exhaust
820-- 12 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
821-403
824+- 12 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
825+406
822826 any or all administrative remedies if:
823-404
827+407
824828 (i) the administrative remedies are inadequate; or
825-405
829+408
826830 (ii) exhaustion of remedies would result in irreparable harm disproportionate to the
827-406
831+409
828832 public benefit derived from requiring exhaustion.
829-407
833+410
830834 (3)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(c), a party shall file a petition for judicial
831-408
835+411
832836 review of final agency action within 30 days after the day on which the order:
833-409
837+412
834838 (i) constituting the final agency action is issued; or
835-410
839+413
836840 (ii) is considered to have been issued under Subsection 63G-4-302(3)(b).
837-411
841+414
838842 (b) The petition shall:
839-412
843+415
840844 (i) name the agency and all other appropriate parties as respondents; and
841-413
845+416
842846 (ii) meet the form requirements specified in this chapter.
843-414
847+417
844848 (c) If a party files a petition for judicial review of a final agency action resulting from a
845-415
849+418
846850 formal adjudicative proceeding within the 30-day time period described in
847-416
851+419
848852 Subsection (3)(a), any other party to the action may file a petition for judicial review
849-417
853+420
850854 if the petition is filed within the time period permitted for a cross petition under Rule
851-418
855+421
852856 14 of the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure.
853-419
857+422
854858 Section 5. Section 63G-4-403 is amended to read:
855-420
856-63G-4-403 . Judicial review -- Formal adjudicative proceedings -- Final agency
857-421
859+423
860+63G-4-403 . Judicial review -- Formal adjudicative proceedings - Final agency
861+424
858862 action.
859-422
863+425
860864 (1) As provided by statute, the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to
861-423
865+426
862866 review [all] a final agency action resulting from a formal adjudicative [proceedings as]
863-424
867+427
864868 proceeding originating from an entity described in Sections 78A-3-102 and 78A-4-103.
865-425
869+428
866870 (2) An order or decree from a formal adjudicative proceeding is a final agency action if:
867-426
871+429
868872 (a) the administrative decision-making has reached a stage where judicial review will
869-427
873+430
870874 not disrupt the orderly process of adjudication;
871-428
875+431
872876 (b) rights or obligations have been determined by, or legal consequences flow from, the
873-429
877+432
874878 order or decree; and
875-430
879+433
876880 (c) the order or decree, in whole or in part, is not preliminary, preparatory, procedural, or
877-431
881+434
878882 intermediate with regard to subsequent agency action.
879-432
883+435
880884 [(2)] (3)(a) To seek judicial review of final agency action resulting from formal
881-433
885+436
882886 adjudicative proceedings, the petitioner shall file a petition for review of agency
883-434
887+437
884888 action with the appropriate appellate court in the form required by the appellate rules
885-435
889+438
886890 of the appropriate appellate court.
887-436
891+439
888892 (b) The appellate rules of the appropriate appellate court shall govern all additional
889-- 13 - H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
890-437
893+- 13 - H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
894+440
891895 filings and proceedings in the appellate court.
892-438
896+441
893897 [(3)] (4) The contents, transmittal, and filing of the agency's record for judicial review of
894-439
898+442
895899 formal adjudicative proceedings are governed by the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure,
896-440
900+443
897901 except that:
898-441
902+444
899903 (a) all parties to the review proceedings may stipulate to shorten, summarize, or organize
900-442
904+445
901905 the record; and
902-443
906+446
903907 (b) the appellate court may tax the cost of preparing transcripts and copies for the record:
904-444
908+447
905909 (i) against a party who unreasonably refuses to stipulate to shorten, summarize, or
906-445
910+448
907911 organize the record; or
908-446
912+449
909913 (ii) according to any other provision of law.
910-447
914+450
911915 [(4)] (5) The appellate court shall grant relief only if, on the basis of the agency's record, it
912-448
916+451
913917 determines that a person seeking judicial review has been substantially prejudiced by
914-449
918+452
915919 any of the following:
916-450
920+453
917921 (a) the agency action, or the statute or rule on which the agency action is based, is
918-451
922+454
919923 unconstitutional on its face or as applied;
920-452
924+455
921925 (b) the agency has acted beyond the jurisdiction conferred by any statute;
922-453
926+456
923927 (c) the agency has not decided all of the issues requiring resolution;
924-454
928+457
925929 (d) the agency has erroneously interpreted or applied the law;
926-455
930+458
927931 (e) the agency has engaged in an unlawful procedure or decision-making process, or has
928-456
932+459
929933 failed to follow prescribed procedure;
930-457
934+460
931935 (f) the persons taking the agency action were illegally constituted as a decision-making
932-458
936+461
933937 body or were subject to disqualification;
934-459
938+462
935939 (g) the agency action is based upon a determination of fact, made or implied by the
936-460
940+463
937941 agency, that is not supported by substantial evidence when viewed in light of the
938-461
942+464
939943 whole record before the court; or
940-462
944+465
941945 (h) the agency action is:
942-463
946+466
943947 (i) an abuse of the discretion delegated to the agency by statute;
944-464
948+467
945949 (ii) contrary to a rule of the agency;
946-465
950+468
947951 (iii) contrary to the agency's prior practice, unless the agency justifies the
948-466
952+469
949953 inconsistency by giving facts and reasons that demonstrate a fair and rational basis
950-467
954+470
951955 for the inconsistency; or
952-468
956+471
953957 (iv) otherwise arbitrary or capricious.
954-469
958+472
955959 Section 6. Section 78A-3-102 is amended to read:
956-470
960+473
957961 78A-3-102 . Supreme Court jurisdiction.
958-- 14 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
959-471
962+- 14 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
963+474
960964 (1) The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction to answer questions of state law certified
961-472
965+475
962966 by a court of the United States.
963-473
967+476
964968 (2) The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction to issue all extraordinary writs and
965-474
969+477
966970 authority to issue all writs and process necessary to carry into effect its orders,
967-475
971+478
968972 judgments, and decrees or in aid of its jurisdiction.
969-476
973+479
970974 (3) The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, including jurisdiction of interlocutory
971-477
975+480
972976 appeals, over:
973-478
977+481
974978 (a) a judgment of the Court of Appeals;
975-479
979+482
976980 (b) cases certified to the Supreme Court by the Court of Appeals prior to final judgment
977-480
981+483
978982 by the Court of Appeals;
979-481
983+484
980984 (c) discipline of lawyers;
981-482
985+485
982986 (d) final orders of the Judicial Conduct Commission;
983-483
987+486
984988 (e) [final orders and decrees in formal adjudicative proceedings] a final agency action, as
985-484
989+487
986990 described in Section 63G-4-403, in a formal adjudicative proceeding originating [with]
987-485
991+488
988992 from:
989-486
993+489
990994 (i) the Public Service Commission;
991-487
995+490
992996 (ii) the State Tax Commission;
993-488
997+491
994998 (iii) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Board of Trustees;
995-489
999+492
9961000 (iv) the Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining;
997-490
1001+493
9981002 (v) the state engineer; or
999-491
1003+494
10001004 (vi) the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources reviewing actions
1001-492
1005+495
10021006 of the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands;
1003-493
1007+496
10041008 (f) final orders and decrees of the district court review of informal adjudicative
1005-494
1009+497
10061010 proceedings of agencies under Subsection (3)(e);
1007-495
1011+498
10081012 (g) a final judgment or decree of any court of record holding a statute of the United
1009-496
1013+499
10101014 States or this state unconstitutional on its face under the Constitution of the United
1011-497
1015+500
10121016 States or the Utah Constitution;
1013-498
1017+501
10141018 (h) interlocutory appeals from any court of record involving a charge of a first degree or
1015-499
1019+502
10161020 capital felony;
1017-500
1021+503
10181022 (i) appeals from the district court involving a conviction or charge of a first degree
1019-501
1023+504
10201024 felony or capital felony;
1021-502
1025+505
10221026 (j) orders, judgments, and decrees of any court of record over which the Court of
1023-503
1027+506
10241028 Appeals does not have original appellate jurisdiction; and
1025-504
1029+507
10261030 (k) appeals from the district court of orders, judgments, or decrees ruling on legislative
1027-- 15 - H.B. 73 Enrolled Copy
1028-505
1031+- 15 - H.B. 73 12-27 11:31
1032+508
10291033 subpoenas.
1030-506
1034+509
10311035 (4) The Supreme Court may transfer to the Court of Appeals any of the matters over which
1032-507
1036+510
10331037 the Supreme Court has original appellate jurisdiction, except:
1034-508
1038+511
10351039 (a) capital felony convictions or an appeal of an interlocutory order of a court of record
1036-509
1040+512
10371041 involving a charge of a capital felony;
1038-510
1042+513
10391043 (b) election and voting contests;
1040-511
1044+514
10411045 (c) reapportionment of election districts;
1042-512
1046+515
10431047 (d) retention or removal of public officers;
1044-513
1048+516
10451049 (e) matters involving legislative subpoenas; and
1046-514
1050+517
10471051 (f) those matters described in Subsections (3)(a) through (d).
1048-515
1052+518
10491053 (5) The Supreme Court has sole discretion in granting or denying a petition for writ of
1050-516
1054+519
10511055 certiorari for the review of a Court of Appeals adjudication, but the Supreme Court shall
1052-517
1056+520
10531057 review those cases certified to it by the Court of Appeals under Subsection (3)(b).
1054-518
1058+521
10551059 (6) The Supreme Court shall comply with the requirements of Title 63G, Chapter 4,
1056-519
1060+522
10571061 Administrative Procedures Act, in its review of agency adjudicative proceedings.
1058-520
1062+523
10591063 Section 7. Section 78A-4-103 is amended to read:
1060-521
1064+524
10611065 78A-4-103 . Court of Appeals jurisdiction.
1062-522
1066+525
10631067 (1) As used in this section, "adjudicative proceeding" does not include a proceeding under
1064-523
1068+526
10651069 Title 63G, Chapter 2, Part 4, Appeals, that precedes judicial review under Section
1066-524
1070+527
10671071 63G-2-404.
1068-525
1072+528
10691073 (2) The Court of Appeals has jurisdiction to issue all extraordinary writs and to issue all
1070-526
1074+529
10711075 writs and process necessary:
1072-527
1076+530
10731077 (a) to carry into effect its judgments, orders, and decrees; or
1074-528
1078+531
10751079 (b) in aid of its jurisdiction.
1076-529
1080+532
10771081 (3) The Court of Appeals has appellate jurisdiction, including jurisdiction of interlocutory
1078-530
1082+533
10791083 appeals, over:
1080-531
1084+534
10811085 (a)(i) a final [order or decree resulting from] agency action, as described in Section
1082-532
1086+535
10831087 63G-4-403, originating from:
1084-533
1088+536
10851089 (A) a formal adjudicative proceeding of a state agency;
1086-534
1090+537
10871091 (B) a special adjudicative proceeding, as described in Section 19-1-301.5; or
1088-535
1092+538
10891093 (C) a hearing before a local school board or the State Board of Education as
1090-536
1094+539
10911095 described in Section 53G-11-515; or
1092-537
1096+540
10931097 (ii) an appeal from the district court review of an informal adjudicative proceeding of
1094-538
1098+541
10951099 an agency other than the following:
1096-- 16 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 73
1097-539
1100+- 16 - 12-27 11:31 H.B. 73
1101+542
10981102 (A) the Public Service Commission;
1099-540
1103+543
11001104 (B) the State Tax Commission;
1101-541
1105+544
11021106 (C) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Board of Trustees;
1103-542
1107+545
11041108 (D) the Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, for an action reviewed by the
1105-543
1109+546
11061110 executive director of the Department of Natural Resources;
1107-544
1111+547
11081112 (E) the Board of Oil, Gas, and Mining; or
1109-545
1113+548
11101114 (F) the state engineer;
1111-546
1115+549
11121116 (b) appeals from the district court review of:
1113-547
1117+550
11141118 (i) adjudicative proceedings of agencies of political subdivisions of the state or other
1115-548
1119+551
11161120 local agencies; and
1117-549
1121+552
11181122 (ii) a challenge to agency action under Section 63G-3-602;
1119-550
1123+553
11201124 (c) appeals from the juvenile courts;
1121-551
1125+554
11221126 (d) interlocutory appeals from any court of record in criminal cases, except those
1123-552
1127+555
11241128 involving a charge of a first degree or capital felony;
1125-553
1129+556
11261130 (e) appeals from a court of record in criminal cases, except those involving a conviction
1127-554
1131+557
11281132 or charge of a first degree felony or capital felony;
1129-555
1133+558
11301134 (f) appeals from orders on petitions for extraordinary writs sought by persons who are
1131-556
1135+559
11321136 incarcerated or serving any other criminal sentence, except petitions constituting a
1133-557
1137+560
11341138 challenge to a conviction of or the sentence for a first degree or capital felony;
1135-558
1139+561
11361140 (g) appeals from the orders on petitions for extraordinary writs challenging the decisions
1137-559
1141+562
11381142 of the Board of Pardons and Parole except in cases involving a first degree or capital
1139-560
1143+563
11401144 felony;
1141-561
1145+564
11421146 (h) appeals from district court involving domestic relations cases, including, but not
1143-562
1147+565
11441148 limited to, divorce, annulment, property division, child custody, support, parent-time,
1145-563
1149+566
11461150 visitation, adoption, and paternity;
1147-564
1151+567
11481152 (i) appeals from the Utah Military Court; and
1149-565
1153+568
11501154 (j) cases transferred to the Court of Appeals from the Supreme Court.
1151-566
1155+569
11521156 (4) The Court of Appeals upon its own motion only and by the vote of four judges of the
1153-567
1157+570
11541158 court may certify to the Supreme Court for original appellate review and determination
1155-568
1159+571
11561160 any matter over which the Court of Appeals has original appellate jurisdiction.
1157-569
1161+572
11581162 (5) The Court of Appeals shall comply with the requirements of Title 63G, Chapter 4,
1159-570
1163+573
11601164 Administrative Procedures Act, in its review of agency adjudicative proceedings.
1161-571
1165+574
11621166 Section 8. Effective Date.
1163-572
1167+575
11641168 This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
11651169 - 17 -