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Spaceport Exploration Committee
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill creates the Spaceport Exploration Committee.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ creates the Spaceport Exploration Committee; and
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▸ establishes membership and duties of the committee.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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This bill appropriates $500,000 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2026, all of
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which is from the General Fund.
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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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63I-1-272, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Third Special Session, Chapter 5
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ENACTS:
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72-10-1301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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72-10-1302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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72-10-1303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 63I-1-272 is amended to read:
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63I-1-272 . Repeal dates: Title 72.
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(1) Section 72-2-134, Transportation Infrastructure General Fund Support Subfund, is
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repealed July 1, 2027.
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(2) Title 72, Chapter 4, Part 3, Utah State Scenic Byway Program, is repealed January 2,
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2030.
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(3) Title 72, Chapter 10, Part 13, Spaceport Exploration Committee, is repealed July 1,
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Section 2. Section 72-10-1301 is enacted to read:
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CHAPTER 10. AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACT
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Part 13. Spaceport Exploration Committee
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72-10-1301 . Definitions.
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As used in this part:
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(1) "Committee" means the Spaceport Exploration Committee created in Section
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72-10-1302.
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(2) "Spaceport feasibility study" means a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a
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spaceport and that includes:
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(a) a market analysis that evaluates the demand for space launch services, including
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potential government, commercial, and international customers and competitors;
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(b) an economic impact assessment that analyzes the projected economic benefits of
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developing a spaceport, including job creation, local business growth, revenue
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generation, and an analysis of projected customers that could use the spaceport;
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(c) a business case that describes how the spaceport could meet customer needs and
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attract private financing for the spaceport;
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(d) detailed cost estimates for construction, operation, and maintenance of a spaceport,
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including infrastructure, technology, and human resources;
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(e) consideration of the activities at the spaceport that the committee identifies the
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spaceport should support; and
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(f) in consultation with the Utah National Guard and the Utah Test and Training Range,
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an assessment of opportunities to leverage military airspace and infrastructure and
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uses the military might have for a spaceport.
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(3) "Spaceport siting assessment" means an assessment that is informed by the results of a
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spaceport feasibility study to determine potential locations for a spaceport that includes
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an analysis of:
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(a) the extent to which the site can accomplish the spaceport objectives that the
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committee identifies;
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(b) geographic and environmental considerations, including the site's size, location, and
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environmental impact;
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(c) whether the site is remote enough to minimize risk to populated areas and complies
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with environmental regulations;
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(d) infrastructure needs, including existing infrastructure and upgrades needed to support
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spaceport resources including launchpads, control centers, roads, utilities, and
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facilities;
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(e) potential sources of significant infrastructure upgrades;
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(f) accessibility, including consideration for the site's accessibility for transportation and
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logistics;
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(g) connections to major highways, airports, and ports;
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(h) regulatory compliance with applicable federal law, including regulations from the
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Federal Aviation Administration and Environmental Protection Agency;
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(i) resources the state may leverage for a particular site, including tax benefits, land
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ownership, land use authority, and regulatory benefits; and
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(j) activities that the committee identifies that the spaceport should support.
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(4) "Supported activities" means the types of activities that could occur at a spaceport
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including:
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(a) satellite launches;
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(b) scientific missions;
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(c) national defense missions;
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(d) commercial space flights;
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(e) space exploration;
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(f) space cargo and resupply missions;
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(g) space tourism; and
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(h) space industry research and development.
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Section 3. Section 72-10-1302 is enacted to read:
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72-10-1302 . Spaceport Exploration Committee creation.
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(1) There is created the Spaceport Exploration Committee, comprising of the following
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members:
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(a) two members of the Senate, whom the president of the Senate appoints;
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(b) two members of the House of Representatives, whom the speaker of the House of
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Representatives appoints;
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(c) the executive director of the department or the executive director's designee;
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(d) the president of a nonprofit organization owned by Utah State University that is a
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University Affiliated Research Center that specializes in aerospace technology,
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missions, and defense;
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(e) the executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority created in Section 11-58-201;
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(f) the range director from the Utah Testing and Training Range at Hill Air Force Base
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or the range director's designee;
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(g) the president of the state's largest aerospace and defense industry group as certified
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by the executive director of the department;
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(h) the Utah adjutant general described in Section 39A-1-201 or the adjutant general's
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designee; and
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(i) four members that the governor appoints as follows:
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(i) one member from the propulsion division of a large defense contractor in the state;
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(ii) one member from a national law firm with expertise in space law;
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(iii) one member representing a company located in the state that produces specialty
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chemicals for the aerospace and defense industry; and
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(iv) one member representing a nonprofit organization that:
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(A) is located in Utah;
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(B) collaborates with government and private entities; and
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(C) specializes in defense and aerospace matters.
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(2) The following shall co-chair the committee:
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(a) a committee member that is a legislator described in Subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b)
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whom the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate
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jointly designate; and
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(b) a committee member whom the governor selects.
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(3) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the appointing authority or
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qualification described in Subsection (1) applies to the replacement in the same manner
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as the filling of the original position.
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(4) A majority of members of the committee constitutes a quorum.
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(5) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but may
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receive per diem and travel expenses as allowed in:
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(a) Section 63A-3-106;
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(b) Section 63A-3-107; and
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(c) rules made by the Division of Finance according to Sections 63A-3-106 and
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63A-3-107.
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(6) The department, in conjunction with the entity described in Subsection (1)(g), shall
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provide staffing and administrative support to the committee.
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Section 4. Section 72-10-1303 is enacted to read:
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72-10-1303 . Spaceport Exploration Committee duties.
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(1) The committee shall:
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(a) establish key objectives that the state should pursue in establishing a spaceport;
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(b) evaluate the supported activities that would be most feasible for a spaceport in the
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state;
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(c) conduct a spaceport feasibility study;
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(d) conduct a spaceport siting assessment;
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(e) evaluate the advantages and disadvantages the state has in establishing a spaceport;
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and
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(f) make recommendations to the Legislature regarding whether it is in the state's best
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interest to establish a spaceport.
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(2) The committee may:
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(a) contract with one or more consultants to perform research, analysis, and legal work,
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or to provide other assistance necessary to accomplish the committee's duties; and
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(b) establish any advisory committees or working groups needed to fulfill the
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committee's responsibilities.
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(3) The committee shall:
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(a) create a report that:
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(i) details the committee's conclusions on the items described in Subsection (1); and
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(ii) includes recommendations on legislation needed to implement the committee's
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conclusions; and
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(b) report to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee
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and the Transportation Interim Committee no later than September 30, 2026.
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Section 5. FY 2026 Appropriation.
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The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1,
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2025, and ending June 30, 2026. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for
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fiscal year 2026.
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Subsection 5(a). Operating and Capital Budgets
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Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the
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Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for
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the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
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ITEM 1 To Transportation - Support Services
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From General Fund, One-time 500,000
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Schedule of Programs:
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Administrative Services 500,000
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Section 6. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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