Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 340 (2023GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Strong, M.A.

Final action

House/ to Governor 3/13/2023

Outcome

House/ to Governor

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• amends a provision related to trailers that are exempt from vehicle registration requirements to include a single-axle trailer unless the single-axle trailer is:
• a commercial vehicle;
• a trailer designed, used, and maintained for hire; or
• a travel trailer, camping trailer, or fifth wheel trailer with an unladen weight more than 750 pounds; and
• makes technical changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

TRAILER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Mark A. Strong
Senate Sponsor: 
 Chris H. Wilson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill exempts from the vehicle registration requirement certain single-axle trailers. 
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ amends a provision related to trailers that are exempt from vehicle registration
requirements to include a single-axle trailer unless the single-axle trailer is:
• a commercial vehicle;
• a trailer designed, used, and maintained for hire; or
• a travel trailer, camping trailer, or fifth wheel trailer with an unladen weight
more than 750 pounds; and
▸ makes technical changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
41-1a-202
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapters 251, 459
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
41-1a-202
 is amended to read:
41-1a-202.
Definitions -- Vehicles exempt from registration -- Registration of
vehicles after establishing residency.
(1) In this section:
(a) "Domicile" means the place:
(i) where an individual has a fixed permanent home and principal establishment;
(ii) to which the individual if absent, intends to return; and
(iii) in which the individual and his family voluntarily reside, not for a special or
temporary purpose, but with the intention of making a permanent home.
(b) (i) "Resident" means any of the following:
(A) an individual who:
(I) has established a domicile in this state;
(II) regardless of domicile, remains in this state for an aggregate period of six months
or more during any calendar year;
(III) engages in a trade, profession, or occupation in this state or who accepts
employment in other than seasonal work in this state and who does not commute into the state;
(IV) declares himself to be a resident of this state for the purpose of obtaining a driver
license or motor vehicle registration; or
(V) declares himself a resident of Utah to obtain privileges not ordinarily extended to
nonresidents, including going to school, or placing children in school without paying
nonresident tuition or fees; or
(B) any individual, partnership, limited liability company, firm, corporation,
association, or other entity that:
(I) maintains a main office, branch office, or warehouse facility in this state and that
bases and operates a motor vehicle in this state; or
(II) operates a motor vehicle in intrastate transportation for other than seasonal work.
(ii) "Resident" does not include any of the following:
(A) a member of the military temporarily stationed in Utah;
(B) an out-of-state student, as classified by the institution of higher education, enrolled
with the equivalent of seven or more quarter hours, regardless of whether the student engages
in a trade, profession, or occupation in this state or accepts employment in this state; and
(C) an individual domiciled in another state or a foreign country that:
(I) is engaged in public, charitable, educational, or religious services for a government
agency or an organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code
Section 501(c)(3);
(II) is not compensated for services rendered other than expense reimbursements; and
(III) is temporarily in Utah for a period not to exceed 24 months.
(iii) Notwithstanding Subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii), "resident" includes the owner of a
vehicle equipped with an automated driving system as defined in Section 
41-26-102.1
 if the
vehicle is physically present in the state for more than 30 consecutive days in a calendar year.
(2) (a) Registration under this chapter is not required for any:
(i) vehicle registered in another state and owned by a nonresident of the state or
operating under a temporary registration permit issued by the division or a dealer authorized by
this chapter, driven or moved upon a highway in conformance with the provisions of this
chapter relating to manufacturers, transporters, dealers, lien holders, or interstate vehicles;
(ii) vehicle driven or moved upon a highway only for the purpose of crossing the
highway from one property to another;
(iii) implement of husbandry, whether of a type otherwise subject to registration or not,
that is only incidentally operated or moved upon a highway;
(iv) special mobile equipment;
(v) vehicle owned or leased by the federal government;
(vi) motor vehicle not designed, used, or maintained for the transportation of
passengers for hire or for the transportation of property if the motor vehicle is registered in
another state and is owned and operated by a nonresident of this state;
(vii) vehicle or combination of vehicles designed, used, or maintained for the
transportation of persons for hire or for the transportation of property if the vehicle or
combination of vehicles is registered in another state and is owned and operated by a
nonresident of this state and if the vehicle or combination of vehicles has a gross laden weight
of 26,000 pounds or less;
(viii) trailer of 750 pounds or less unladen weight and not designed, used, and
maintained for hire for the transportation of property or person;
(ix) single-axle trailer unless that trailer is:
(A) a commercial vehicle;
(B) a trailer designed, used, and maintained for hire for the transportation of property
or person; or
(C) a travel trailer, camping trailer, of fifth wheel trailer of 750 pounds or more laden
weight;
[
(ix)
] 
(x)
 manufactured home or mobile home;
[
(x)
] 
(xi)
 off-highway vehicle currently registered under Section 
41-22-3
 if the
off-highway vehicle is:
(A) being towed;
(B) operated on a street or highway designated as open to off-highway vehicle use; or
(C) operated in the manner prescribed in Subsections 
41-22-10.3
(1) through (3);
[
(xi)
] 
(xii)
 off-highway implement of husbandry operated in the manner prescribed in
Subsections 
41-22-5.5
(3) through (5);
[
(xii)
] 
(xiii)
 modular and prebuilt homes conforming to the uniform building code and
presently regulated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development that
are not constructed on a permanent chassis;
[
(xiii)
] 
(xiv)
 electric assisted bicycle defined under Section 
41-6a-102
;
[
(xiv)
] 
(xv)
 motor assisted scooter defined under Section 
41-6a-102
; or
[
(xv)
] 
(xvi)
 electric personal assistive mobility device defined under Section
41-6a-102
.
(b) For purposes of an implement of husbandry as described in Subsection (2)(a)(iii),
incidental operation on a highway includes operation that is:
(i) transportation of raw agricultural materials or other agricultural related operations;
and
(ii) limited to 100 miles round trip on a highway.
(3) Unless otherwise exempted under Subsection (2), registration under this chapter is
required for any motor vehicle, combination of vehicles, trailer, semitrailer, or vintage vehicle
within 60 days of the owner establishing residency in this state.
(4) A motor vehicle that is registered under Section 
41-3-306
 is exempt from the
registration requirements of this part for the time period that the registration under Section
41-3-306
 is valid.
(5) A vehicle that has been issued a nonrepairable certificate may not be registered
under this chapter.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on January 1, 2024.