Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

S.B. 62 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Sen. Stevenson, Jerry W.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/27/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates the Spaceport Exploration Committee; and
• establishes membership and duties of the committee.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

34
63I-1-272
72-10-1301
72-10-1302
72-10-1303
0
Spaceport Exploration Committee
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson
House Sponsor: Val L. Peterson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates the Spaceport Exploration Committee.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
creates the Spaceport Exploration Committee; and
establishes membership and duties of the committee.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
This bill appropriates 
$1,000,000
 in operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2026, all 
of which is from the various sources as detailed in this bill.
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
63I-1-272
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Third Special Session, Chapter 5
ENACTS:
72-10-1301
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
72-10-1302
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
72-10-1303
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
63I-1-272
 is amended to read:
63I-1-272
. Repeal dates: Title 72.
(1)
Section 
72-2-134
, Transportation Infrastructure General Fund Support Subfund, is 
repealed July 1, 2027.
(2)
Title 72, Chapter 4, Part 3, Utah State Scenic Byway Program, is repealed January 2, 
2030.
(3)
Title 72, Chapter 10, Part 13, Spaceport Exploration Committee, is repealed July 1, 
2027.
Section 2, Section 
72-10-1301
 is enacted to read:
10. AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ACT
13. Spaceport Exploration Committee
72-10-1301
. Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1)
"Committee" means the Spaceport Exploration Committee created in Section 
72-10-1302
.
(2)
"Spaceport feasibility study" means a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a 
spaceport and that includes:
(a)
a market analysis that evaluates the demand for space launch services, including 
potential government, commercial, and international customers and competitors;
(b)
an economic impact assessment that analyzes the projected economic benefits of 
developing a spaceport, including job creation, local business growth, revenue 
generation, and an analysis of projected customers that could use the spaceport;
(c)
a business case that describes how the spaceport could meet customer needs and 
attract private financing for the spaceport;
(d)
detailed cost estimates for construction, operation, and maintenance of a spaceport, 
including infrastructure, technology, and human resources;
(e)
consideration of the activities at the spaceport that the committee identifies the 
spaceport should support; and
(f)
in consultation with the Utah National Guard and the Utah Test and Training Range, 
an assessment of opportunities to leverage military airspace and infrastructure and 
uses the military might have for a spaceport.
(3)
"Spaceport siting assessment" means an assessment that is informed by the results of a 
spaceport feasibility study to determine potential locations for a spaceport that includes 
an analysis of:
(a)
the extent to which the site can accomplish the spaceport objectives that the 
committee identifies;
(b)
geographic and environmental considerations, including the site's size, location, and 
environmental impact;
(c)
whether the site is remote enough to minimize risk to populated areas and complies 
with environmental regulations;
(d)
infrastructure needs, including existing infrastructure and upgrades needed to support 
spaceport resources including launchpads, control centers, roads, utilities, and 
facilities;
(e)
potential sources of significant infrastructure upgrades;
(f)
accessibility, including consideration for the site's accessibility for transportation and 
logistics;
(g)
connections to major highways, airports, and ports;
(h)
regulatory compliance with applicable federal law, including regulations from the 
Federal Aviation Administration and Environmental Protection Agency;
(i)
resources the state may leverage for a particular site, including tax benefits, land 
ownership, land use authority, and regulatory benefits;
(j)
whether the site preserves the viability of the Utah Test and Training Range and all 
Department of Defense missions in the state;
(k)
the existing uses and needs of Utah airspace, including for an international airport in 
a county of the first class; and
(l)
activities that the committee identifies that the spaceport should support.
(4)
"Supported activities" means the types of activities that could occur at a spaceport 
including:
(a)
satellite launches;
(b)
scientific missions;
(c)
national defense missions;
(d)
commercial space flights;
(e)
space exploration;
(f)
space cargo and resupply missions;
(g)
space tourism; and
(h)
space industry research and development.
Section 3, Section 
72-10-1302
 is enacted to read:
72-10-1302
. Spaceport Exploration Committee creation.
(1)
There is created the Spaceport Exploration Committee, comprising of the following 
members:
(a)
two members of the Senate, whom the president of the Senate appoints;
(b)
two members of the House of Representatives, whom the speaker of the House of 
Representatives appoints;
(c)
the executive director of the department or the executive director's designee;
(d)
the executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority created in Section 
11-58-201
;
(e)
the president, or the president's designee, of a nonprofit organization owned by Utah 
State University that is a University Affiliated Research Center that specializes in 
aerospace technology, missions, and defense;
(f)
two liaisons from local military organizations, whom the co-chairs jointly appoint;
(g)
the president of the state's largest aerospace and defense industry group as certified 
by the executive director of the department;
(h)
the executive director of an international airport within a county of the first class, or 
the executive director's designee; and
(i)
four members whom the governor appoints.
(2)
The following shall co-chair the committee:
(a)
a committee member that is a legislator described in Subsection 
(1)
(a) or (1)(b) 
whom the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate 
jointly designate; and
(b)
a committee member whom the governor selects.
(3)
When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the appointing authority or 
qualification described in Subsection 
(1)
 applies to the replacement in the same manner 
as the filling of the original position.
(4)
A majority of members of the committee constitutes a quorum.
(5)
A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member's service, but may 
receive per diem and travel expenses as allowed in:
(a)
Section 
63A-3-106
;
(b)
Section 
63A-3-107
; and
(c)
rules made by the Division of Finance according to Sections 
63A-3-106
 and 
63A-3-107
.
(6)
The department shall provide staffing and administrative support to the committee.
Section 4, Section 
72-10-1303
 is enacted to read:
72-10-1303
. Spaceport Exploration Committee duties.
(1)
The committee shall:
(a)
establish key objectives that the state should pursue in establishing a spaceport;
(b)
evaluate the supported activities that would be most feasible for a spaceport in the 
state;
(c)
conduct a spaceport feasibility study;
(d)
conduct a spaceport siting assessment;
(e)
evaluate the advantages and disadvantages the state has in establishing a spaceport; 
and
(f)
make recommendations to the Legislature regarding whether it is in the state's best 
interest to establish a spaceport.
(2)
The committee may:
(a)
authorize the department to contract with one or more consultants to perform 
research, analysis, and legal work, or to provide other assistance necessary to 
accomplish the committee's duties;
(b)
establish any advisory committees or working groups needed to fulfill the 
committee's responsibilities;
(c)
by majority vote, add up to three non-voting committee members; and
(d)
appoint one or more working groups to advise and assist the committee.
(3)
The committee shall:
(a)
create a report that:
(i)
details the committee's conclusions on the items described in Subsection 
(1)
; and
(ii)
includes recommendations on legislation needed to implement the committee's 
conclusions; and
(b)
report to the Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee 
and the Transportation Interim Committee no later than September 30, 2026.
Section 5. 
FY 2026 Appropriations.
The following sums of money are appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 
2025, and ending June 30, 2026. These are additions to amounts previously appropriated for 
fiscal year 2026. 
Subsection 5(a).
Operating and Capital Budgets
Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, the 
Legislature appropriates the following sums of money from the funds or accounts indicated for 
the use and support of the government of the state of Utah.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Transportation
ITEM 1
Transportation - Aeronautics
From General Fund Restricted - Industrial Assistance 
Account, One-time
1,000,000
Administration
1,000,000
Section 6. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-12-25 1:47 PM