Legislative Priorities

During the 2025 Legislative Session, HB 456 - Transient Room Tax Amendments (Rep. Bolinder, Bridger) made some of the most significant updates to the transient room tax (TRT) in recent history. As these changes take effect, the lodging industry supports allowing ample time for implementation, evaluation, and collaboration with local and state partners before considering further adjustments to TRT policy.

The FY25 GSA lodging rate increase of $3, bringing the daily total to $110, delivered an estimated $100 million impact to the U.S. hotel industry. However, flat rates in FY26 and potentially FY27 risk falling behind ongoing inflation and workforce pressures, particularly in communities that rely on federal employee travel. Support timely, market-based data and transparent methodologies when setting federal per diem rates to ensure they reflect current lodging costs and economic realities.

The H-2B and J-1 visa programs remain critical in helping the hospitality industry address persistent seasonal labor shortages in resort and leisure destinations during peak travel seasons. As Utah prepares to welcome the world, from the Temple Square Open House Celebration to the 2034 Utah Olympic & Paralympic Games, we support modernizing the H-2B program through a needs-based allocation model. Enabling commonsense reforms that reduce red tape for returning workers and advance workable solutions to grow the legal labor pool while protecting U.S. workers and supporting local economies.

The industry’s priority remains ensuring that all short term rentals (STRs), traditional lodging partners, and other marketplace facilitators are brought fully into compliance by supporting accurate tax collection, remittance, and distribution to the correct jurisdictions. This effort ensures all participants contribute fairly to the visitor economy, alongside compliant lodging businesses. Our commitment includes ongoing engagement with local government partners as we work towards a solution.

The lodging industry supports targeted, incremental updates to Utah’s alcohol laws that address operational barriers within the hospitality sector. This includes ensuring hotel portability provisions function effectively for properties currently authorized to use them and expanding eligibility to all hotel property types.