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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 386

Overview

HB 386 (Utah, 2026) titled Immigration Amendments, aims to repeal several immigration-related programs and provisions, while preserving or adjusting certain verification and public-benefit rules. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Lisa Shepherd. The measure reports no direct funding within the bill.

Main purpose and intent

  • Eliminate the Guest Worker Program and associated employee verification provisions.
  • Repeal the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act.
  • Preserve the Private Employer Verification Act repeal timeline alongside other related changes.
  • Remove an existing provision that would have repealed the Guest Worker Program on its start date.
  • Make targeted amendments to how verification and public assistance eligibility operate, and implement technical/conforming changes.

In short, the bill is a broad rollback and simplification of Utah’s prior immigration verification framework, eliminating several programs and reconfiguring how verification and related records are handled.

Key provisions and changes

  • Repeals:
    • The Guest Worker Program and its related employee verification provisions.
    • The Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act.
    • Several prior obligations that would have repealed the Private Employer Verification Act on the Guest Worker start date.
    • The Identity Theft Victims Restricted Account that would have taken effect with the Guest Worker Program start date.
  • Verification and public assistance:
    • Amends exceptions to verification of lawful presence for the receipt of certain public assistance benefits.
    • Includes technical and conforming changes to various sections, aligning definitions and processes with the repeals.
  • Definitions and terminology updates:
    • Updates definitions related to private/private employers, status verification systems, and related employment verification concepts.
  • Administrative and recordkeeping:
    • Changes to how consumer complaints are classified and disclosed (including redaction and confidentiality rules) in connection with state enforcement activities.
    • Revisions to sections governing sharing of records, protected records, and related public disclosure rules to reflect the repeal and simplification of immigration verification programs.
  • Related Utah code sections affected:
    • 13-2-11 (Publication of consumer complaints)
    • 13-47-102 (Definitions; private vs. public employer and status verification)
    • 17-72-802 (Booking photographs; victim access)
    • 34-50-102 (Definitions; service members and veterans)
    • 53-13-106.13 (Federal officers notifying before alien release)
    • 53H-11-203 (Resident tuition; Utah tuition implications)
    • 53H-11-414 (Utah Promise Program)
    • 63G-2-206 (Sharing records)
    • 63G-2-305 (Protected records)
    • 63G-12-101 to 63G-12-306 (various related provisions, many repealed or amended)
    • 63G-2-305.5 (procedural cross-references)
    • Other listed code sections amended or repealed as part of the package

Who or what would be affected

  • Employers previously subject to the Guest Worker Program and related verification requirements.
  • Private employers relying on status verification systems for employee eligibility.
  • Immigrant and resident-immigrant programs such as the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act.
  • Public benefits recipients and the administration of public assistance where verification of lawful presence is required.
  • State agencies, the Utah judiciary, and institutions managing records and confidentiality, due to changes in protected/redirected records and disclosure rules.
  • Students and institutions under the Utah Promise Program and resident tuition provisions.
  • Victims or public safety entities due to changes in booking photographs, victim access, and related confidentiality rules.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill highlights repeals that would take effect by removing the Guest Worker Program and the Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act, with associated changes to the Private Employer Verification Act and identity-theft related accounts.
  • The text indicates a focus on technical and conforming changes rather than creating new programs, suggesting a transition period where affected agencies adjust records, notices, and public disclosures accordingly.
  • No new funding is approprated in the bill.

Note: This summary reflects the bill’s stated repeals, amendments, and related sections as indicated in HB 386S02 (compared to prior versions). For precise language, timelines, and any fiscal impact, consult the full enacted text and fiscal note.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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