59-23-4. 1/1/2026 Brine shrimp royalty -- Royalty rate -- Commission to prepare billing statement -- Deposit of revenue.

616 words·~3 min read·/ut/title-59/chapter-23/59-23-4

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 7/1/2026

(1)A person shall pay for each tax year a brine shrimp royalty of:

(a)for a tax year ending on or before January 31, 2026, 3.25 cents multiplied by the total number of pounds of unprocessed brine shrimp eggs that the person harvests within the state during the tax year; and

(b)for a tax year beginning on or after February 1, 2026, 3.75 cents multiplied by the total number of pounds of unprocessed brine shrimp eggs that the person harvests within the state during the tax year.

(a)A person that harvests unprocessed brine shrimp eggs shall report to the Division of Wildlife Resources the total number of pounds of unprocessed brine shrimp eggs harvested by that person for that tax year on or before the February 15 immediately following the last day of that tax year.

(b)The Division of Wildlife Resources shall provide the following information to the commission on or before the March 1 immediately following the last day of a tax year:

(i)the total number of pounds of unprocessed brine shrimp eggs harvested for that tax year; and

(ii)for each person that harvested unprocessed brine shrimp eggs for that tax year:

(A)the total number of pounds of unprocessed brine shrimp eggs harvested by that person for that tax year; and

(B)a current billing address for that person; and

(iii)any additional information required by the commission.

(i)The commission shall prepare and mail a billing statement to each person that harvested unprocessed brine shrimp eggs in a tax year by the March 30 immediately following the last day of a tax year.

(ii)The billing statement under Subsection (2)(c)(i) shall specify:

(A)the total number of pounds of unprocessed brine shrimp eggs harvested by that person for that tax year;

(B)the brine shrimp royalty that the person owes; and

(C)the date that the brine shrimp royalty payment is due as provided in Section 59-23-5 .

(d)In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the commission may make rules prescribing the information required under Subsection (2)(b)(iii) .

(3)Revenue generated by the brine shrimp royalty shall be deposited as follows:

(a)the first $125,000 of the revenue generated in each fiscal year by the brine shrimp royalty shall be deposited into the Sovereign Lands Management Account created in Section 65A-5-1 ;

(b)for fiscal year 2027 and fiscal year 2028, the remainder of the revenue generated in each fiscal year by the brine shrimp royalty after the deposit under Subsection (3)(a) shall be deposited into the Species Protection Account created in Section 23A-3-214 , except that if the aggregate amount of revenue deposited under Subsections 23A-3-214(2)(a) , (c), (d), and (e):

(i)equals or exceeds $800,000, the Division of Finance shall transfer all brine shrimp royalty revenue collected under Subsection 23A-3-214(2)(b) from the Species Protection Account to the Sovereign Lands Management Account for the fiscal year; and

(ii)is less than $800,000, the Division of Finance shall:

(A)retain brine shrimp royalty revenue in the Species Protection Account in an amount equal to cover the shortfall below $800,000; and

(B)once the $800,000 threshold is met, transfer any remaining brine shrimp royalty revenue to the Sovereign Lands Management Account for the fiscal year; and

(c)on and after July 1, 2028, the remainder of the revenue generated in each fiscal year by the brine shrimp royalty after the deposit under Subsection (3)(a) shall be deposited into the Sovereign Lands Management Account.

Amended by Chapter 411 , 2026 General Session