04/01/2026
Dear Utah Property Managers:
The 2026 Utah Legislative Session wrapped up, and overall, this was a strong outcome for our industry. Several proposed changes that could have significantly increased costs or added operational burdens for property managers and owners did not pass—helping maintain stability for your portfolios and clients.
Here’s a breakdown of what matters most:
WHAT PASSED:
-HB 377 – Property Management Licensing (Effective Jan 1, 2027)
Introduces a formal Property Management License, establishes a Principal Property Manager role, and maintains broker supervision (with exceptions for large portfolios over 750 units). Additional education and compliance requirements will be rolled out.
-$900K in Housing Support Funding
-$450K → Eviction mediation programs
-$450K → Section 8 landlord incentive fund
These programs support both landlords and tenants by promoting stability and participation.
WHAT DID NOT PASS (Major Wins for Our Industry):
-SB 97 – Rental Property Tax Changes (FAILED)
Would've reduced the residential tax exemption → increasing costs for rental owners and renters.
Outcome: No change to the current tax structure.
-SB 309 – Portfolio Tax (FAILED)
Proposed a $2,000–$6,000 per unit tax on owners with 25+ single-family rentals.
Outcome: No new investor taxes (but likely to resurface).
-HB 29 – Consumer Protection Expansion (FAILED)
Would have expanded enforcement authority over rental housing and leases.
Outcome: Real estate remains under the Division of Real Estate.
-SB 76 & SB 187 – Mandatory Rent Reporting (FAILED)
Would have required landlords to report rent to credit agencies with limited cost recovery.
Outcome: No added administrative burden or restrictions.
-HB 478 – 60-Day Rent Increase Notice (FAILED)
Attempted to mandate rent increase timelines.
Outcome: Flexibility remains within your lease agreements.
BIG WINS - BECAUSE ADVOCACY MATTERS:
These outcomes do not happen by accident.
-These wins are a direct result of RPAC and PAC funding, which support agents and protect our industry.
-The Rental Housing Association Government Affairs Committee did an outstanding job again this year ensuring fair laws that protect property rights and business operations.
I highly encourage you to contribute to the Rental Housing Association PAC in any capacity. Your participation directly impacts outcomes like these.
Donate here: https://www.rhautah.org/products/website-pac-contribution
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU:
-Your current leasing structures and processes remain intact.
-No new administrative burdens or fee restrictions were added.
-Investor clients avoided major cost increases → expect continued activity.
-Property management remains one of the most stable, recurring income streams in real estate.
-The one major shift is the 2027 licensing change. This is an opportunity to elevate your professionalism, compliance, and value in the market. We will provide guidance and training as more details are finalized.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please review the full legislative recap here:
https://www.rhautah.org/news/legislative-update-2026-session-ends-copy
If you have questions or want to discuss how this impacts your clients or portfolio, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for all you do,
Kristin Matulonis
CEO | Equity Real Estate Property Management
The Rental Housing Association of Utah is a powerful force for the rental housing industry with a goal and drive to "Elevate the standards of the rental housing profession through ethics, legislative advocacy, education, and networking". Whether you own one rental home or thousands of apartments, we...
