Enrolled Copy H.B. 266
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Veteran Housing Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jennifer Dailey-Provost
Senate Sponsor: Calvin R. Musselman
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill addresses veteran homelessness.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ requires the Utah Homeless Services Board and the Department of Veterans and Military
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Affairs to work in conjunction to create best practices for assisting veterans experiencing
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homelessness; and
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▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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None
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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35A-16-205, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapters 204, 338 and 349
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71A-1-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 44 and last amended by
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Coordination Clause, Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 154
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 35A-16-205 is amended to read:
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35A-16-205 . Duties of the board.
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(1) The board:
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(a) shall provide final approval for:
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(i) a funding formula developed by the steering committee under Section 35A-16-211;
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(ii) the homeless services budget; H.B. 266 Enrolled Copy
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(iii) the strategic plan; and
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(iv) the awarding of funding for the provision of homeless services as described in
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Subsection 35A-16-203(1)(d);
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(b) in cooperation with the coordinator, shall:
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(i) develop and maintain the homeless services budget;
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(ii) develop and maintain the strategic plan; and
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(iii) review applications and approve funding for the provision of homeless services
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in the state as described in Subsection 35A-16-203(1)(d);
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(c) shall review local and regional plans for providing services to individuals
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experiencing homelessness;
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(d) shall cooperate with local homeless councils to:
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(i) develop a common agenda and vision for reducing homelessness in each local
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oversight body's respective region;
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(ii) as part of the homeless services budget, develop a spending plan that coordinates
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the funding supplied to local stakeholders; and
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(iii) align local funding to projects that improve outcomes and target specific needs in
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each community;
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(e) shall coordinate gap funding with private entities for providing services to
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individuals experiencing homelessness;
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(f) shall recommend performance and accountability measures for service providers,
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including the support of collecting consistent and transparent data;
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(g) when reviewing and giving final approval for requests as described in Subsection
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35A-16-203(1)(d):
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(i) may only recommend funding if the proposed recipient has a policy to share
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client-level service information with other entities in accordance with state and
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federal law to enhance the coordination of services for individuals who are
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experiencing homelessness; and
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(ii) shall identify specific targets and benchmarks that align with the strategic plan for
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each recommended award;
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(h) shall regularly update the state strategic plan on homelessness to reflect proven
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strategies to reduce homelessness among:
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(i) the unsheltered;
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(ii) the chronically or episodically homeless; and
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(iii) the situationally homeless;
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(i) shall develop annual state and local goals for reducing homelessness among the target
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subpopulations identified by the board;
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(j) shall work with the local homeless councils to carry out the requirements of
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Subsection 35A-16-211(3);
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(k) shall develop metrics for measuring the effectiveness of providers in assisting clients
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to successfully progress through the services coordinated by a continuum of care;
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(l) shall create best practices for a service provider to administer services to an
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individual experiencing homelessness, including promotion of:
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(i) a recognition of the human dignity of clients served;
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(ii) a need to develop self-reliance;
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(iii) the value of work;
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(iv) personal accountability; and
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(v) personal progress toward greater personal independence;
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(m) shall make recommendations for uniform standards for enforcing pedestrian safety
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and camping laws and ordinances;
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(n) shall identify best practices for responding to unsheltered individuals experiencing
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mental health disorder and substance use disorder;
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(o) shall make recommendations for strategies to reduce illegal drug use within
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homeless shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing;
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(p) shall facilitate client connection to alternative support systems, including behavioral
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health services, addiction recovery, and residential services;
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(q) shall facilitate participation in HMIS, where appropriate and in alignment with
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established HMIS policies, and data sharing agreements among all participants in a
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client support network, including homeless services, physical health systems, mental
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health systems, and the criminal justice system;
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(r) shall make recommendations to the office for defining "successful exit,"
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"unsuccessful exit," and "neutral exit";
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(s) shall evaluate additional opportunities for the office to become a collaborative
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applicant;
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(t) shall coordinate with the continuums of care to provide for cooperative distribution of
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available funding;
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(u) shall work in conjunction with the executive directors of the Department of
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Workforce Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the
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Department of Corrections to create best practices for helping individuals exiting
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from incarceration or an institution to avoid homelessness;[ and]
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(v) shall establish standards for the prioritization of beds located in homeless shelters in
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accordance with Section 35A-16-205.1; and
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(w) shall work in conjunction with the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to
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create best practices for helping veterans, as that term is defined in Section 68-3-12.5,
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avoid homelessness.
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(2)(a) In approving a funding formula, as described in Subsection (1)(a)(i), the board
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shall take action on a proposed funding formula by a two-thirds vote.
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(b) If the board cannot approve a proposed funding formula, the board shall refer the
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proposed funding formula back to the steering committee for further consideration.
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(3)(a) The executive committee shall act in an advisory capacity for the board and make
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recommendations regarding the board's duties under Subsection (1).
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(b) The executive committee does not have authority to make decisions independent of
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the board.
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Section 2. Section 71A-1-201 is amended to read:
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71A-1-201 . Department of Veterans and Military Affairs -- Creation --
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Appointment of executive director -- Department responsibilities.
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(1) There is created the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs.
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(2) The governor shall appoint an executive director for the department who is subject to
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Senate confirmation.
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(3) The executive director shall be a veteran.
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(4) The department shall:
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(a) conduct and supervise all veteran and military affairs activities as provided in this
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title;
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(b) adopt rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
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Rulemaking Act, to carry out the provisions of this title;
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(c) in accordance with Section 41-1a-418:
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(i) determine which campaign or combat theater awards are eligible for a special
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group license plate;
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(ii) verify that an applicant for a campaign or combat theater award special group
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license plate is qualified to receive it; and
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(iii) provide an applicant that qualifies a form indicating the campaign or combat
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theater award special group license plate for which the applicant qualifies;
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(d) maintain liaison with local, state, and federal veterans agencies and with Utah
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veterans organizations;
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(e) provide current information to veterans, service members, their surviving spouses
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and family members, and Utah veterans and military organizations on benefits they
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are entitled to;
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(f) assist veterans, service members, and their families in applying for benefits and
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services;
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(g) cooperate with other state entities in the receipt of information to create and maintain
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a record of veterans in Utah;
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(h) create and administer a veterans assistance registry in accordance with Chapter 5,
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Veterans Assistance Registry, with recommendations from the council, that provides
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contact information to the qualified donors of materials and labor for certain qualified
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recipients;
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(i) identify military-related issues, challenges, and opportunities, and develop plans for
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addressing them;
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(j) develop, coordinate, and maintain relationships with military leaders of Utah military
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installations, including the Utah National Guard;
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(k) develop and maintain relationships with military-related organizations in Utah;[ and]
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(l) consult with municipalities and counties regarding compatible use plans as described
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in Sections 10-9a-537 and 17-27a-533; and
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(m) work in conjunction with the Utah Homeless Services Board to create best practices
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for helping veterans, as that term is defined in Section 68-3-12.5, avoid homelessness.
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(5)(a) The department may award grants for the purpose of supporting veteran and
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military outreach, employment, education, healthcare, homelessness prevention, and
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recognition events.
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(b) The department may award a grant described in Subsection (5)(a) to:
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(i) an institution of higher education listed in Section 53B-1-102;
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(ii) a nonprofit organization involved in veterans or military-related activities; or
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(iii) a political subdivision of the state.
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(c) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
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department shall make rules for the administration of grants, including establishing:
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(i) the form and process for submitting an application to the department;
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(ii) the method and criteria for selecting a grant recipient;
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(iii) the method and formula for determining a grant amount; and
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(iv) the reporting requirements of a grant recipient.
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(6) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
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department may make rules related to:
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(a) the consultation with municipalities and counties regarding compatible use plans as
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required in Subsection (4)(l); and
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(b) criteria to evaluate whether a proposed land use is compatible with military
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operations.
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(7) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as altering or preempting any provisions of
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Title 39A, National Guard and Militia Act, as specifically related to the Utah National
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Guard.
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Section 3. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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