English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Salt Lake City, UT

Sen. Wayne Harper is running a bill that would restrict some of Salt Lake City’s traffic-calming work.

Utah lawmakers threw up a stop sign for a bill that would restrict some of Salt Lake City’s traffic-calming efforts.

While none of the lawmakers on the House Transportation Committee explained their decision, those who voted against the bill questioned other parts of the legislation, including sections related to data sharing by towing companies and the placement of mobile food businesses, like food trucks.

The measure failed to advance Monday after a 4-4 vote, with four other committee members absent.

SB242, sponsored by Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, would allow a private towing dispatcher to create a database of tow requests. It also would put limits on the inclusion of personally identifiable data and make selling the data illegal.

Rep. Kristen Chevrier, R-Highland, questioned why the legislation did not include a penalty for those that do sell that data.

“I am just wondering what kind of auditing will be done to make sure that the information is not being sold,” she said. “Is anyone going to be looking and also, why not have a penalty? I think it would be a good idea, actually, to have a penalty attached.”

A trio of towing operators shared concerns about the bill, including Neil Schultz, the president of the Ogden Weber Towing Association.

“We don’t want to be compelled by state statute to break federal statute in reporting personal information,” he told lawmakers. “Now I know that that language has been modified within the bill to say, ‘Okay, you’re only going to enter this, this and this,’ which isn’t considered to be personal, but there’s no provision to patrol that or penalize it.”

The bill would also give cities and counties the power to restrict mobile food businesses from operating on a street that is closed for a temporary event, though it does not require it.

That provision piqued the interest of Rep. Rosalba Dominguez, D-Murray.

“I know a lot of businesses don’t have a kitchen,” she said, “and they bring in food trucks and they park them outside of their businesses, and, of course, it uses public walkways.”

Harper said the bill simply gives cities and counties the power to tell food trucks and stands they have to move if the street or sidewalk they are on is closed for a special event.

Reps. Mike Petersen, R-North Logan, and Jake Sawyer, R-West Haven, joined Dominguez and Chevrier in voting down the bill.

The hearing drew a crowd of residents concerned with the legislation’s focus on the capital city’s streets. It would bar any projects that reduce vehicle capacity on major roads, while enhancing the Utah Department of Transportation’s veto power over pedestrian safety measures on those thoroughfares and others. It also directs Salt Lake City and the agency to “mitigate the impacts” of new traffic-calming measures like protected bike lanes and curb extensions installed on 200 South, 400 South and 300 West.

Annie Dayton, of Rose Park, told lawmakers that her son was hit by car while riding his bike in 2019. Even though he was wearing a helmet, her son suffered a traumatic brain injury and a fractured skull.

“We still deal with the repercussions of that today,” she said, “and to see a bill that wants to mitigate those traffic-calming measures is really heartbreaking for me.”

Despite the bill’s failure, Senate Majority Whip Chris Wilson, R-Logan, told reporters Monday he had spoken with Harper and believed the bill would still pass.

“[Harper is] confident they’re going to bring it back tomorrow, and he thinks it will pass,” Wilson said. “He said there was a couple of no votes that were a little unsure of the policy. He explained it to them what the policy was, and they should be voting yes tomorrow.”

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SALT LAKE CITY — Winter is finally arriving in Utah's valleys, but that could make for a tricky commute Wednesday morning.

The National Weather Service on Tuesday expanded its winter storm warning to additional parts of northern and southwest Utah, including Beaver, Cedar City and Logan, where 3 to 7 inches of snow is possible between late Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. That's on top of any snow that falls earlier Tuesday, as the latest storm system finally dropped temperatures cold enough for valley snow.

Federal forecasters also issued a winter weather advisory covering other parts of northern Utah, including Brigham City, as well as the Wasatch Front and Tooele Valley, extending into central Utah. The alert, which takes effect early Wednesday, advises that 2 to 4 inches of snow are possible along the valley floors, and higher amounts close to 6 inches are possible along valley benches.

"Winter driving conditions are expected, particularly during the Wednesday morning commute, when snow rates will be the heaviest," the agency wrote, advising drivers to slow down and use caution while traveling.

While most of the snow will remain in the mountains, the valley snow will come from a "potent" cold front passing through the state in the morning, said KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson. It has the potential to deliver widespread snow during the normal peak commute hours. Scattered snow showers are possible through Wednesday afternoon and even into the evening for the state's mountains.

UTAH COLD FRONT: A cold front is set to move in tomorrow morning (FEB 18) between 5-11AM. Scattered snow showers will linger into the early afternoon with 1-4" possible in the valleys, 2-6" on the benches and 6-12" along the Wasatch Back. An additional 1-2 FT in the mountains. pic.twitter.com/Ym5rE2EtKk

— Matthew Johnson (@KSL_Matt) February 17, 2026

It's a rare advisory for Utah's lower elevations this winter, as this year hasn't produced much snow. Salt Lake City entered this week with just 0.1 inches of snowfall collected this season, which is over a foot below the record low of 14.3 inches set during the 1933-1934 season.

A similar story has played out across the state.

One of the weather service's sites in Logan has received only 5.1 inches of snow this year, a total that could double by the end of Wednesday. Provo has only collected 0.5 inches of snow, a few feet below its normal by now. Panguitch received 4.5 inches of snow from a storm that slammed southern Utah on Nov. 30, but only 0.1 inches outside that before this week, per weather service data.

"We just haven't been getting cores of storms (this season). They've been dodging us, but this one is going to move through," Johnson said.

The projected snow follows strong winds recorded ahead of the storm. Wind gusts of 55 to 65 mph were reported all over Utah's western half on Monday, and gusts even peaked at 89 mph near the marina at Great Salt Lake State Park. Several residents submitted photos of downed trees in their yards, while the Utah Department of Transportation briefly restricted high-profile vehicles from traveling on I-80 in Tooele County.

Some additional strong gusts are likely again on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the next major band of snow, Johnson said. He adds that more snow is expected to impact Utah's northern half by Thursday night, lingering into Friday morning.

Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online at the KSL Weather Center.

Bills aim to help conserve water in a year kicking off with drought and dismal snowpack

This article was written by Annie Knox.

Mountains without snow. A start to February that feels like April. The Great Salt Lake so dry, scientists warn of “serious adverse effects” on people, wildlife and the landscape.

Taking it all into account, it’s hard for Joe Martindale of Kearns not to feel a little on edge.

“I’m hopeful, but more on the anxious side,” said Martindale, 18, who’s among the high school and college students demanding lawmakers take big steps this year to save the lake.

“We need real, tangible action,” added Autumn Featherstone, 20.

State lawmakers say they feel the urgency, too.

“We have a moment in time where we can get it right,” said Rep. Jill Koford, R-Ogden. “Great Salt Lake is the single most important issue I think we’re facing as a state.”

Koford is sponsoring a proposal to remove red tape for farmers making deals with the state to conserve water. She said the bill would make it more attractive and faster for them to sign up to get paid for leaving some of their fields dry and unplanted for a time. And she’s behind another bill designed to help better track where exactly that water flows.

“It’s a start, and it’s an important start,” Koford said. Agriculture uses the most water diverted from the lake — 65% — according to the Utah Division of Water Resources.

Another bill under consideration would bar companies from using sprinklers on grass that is planted mainly for looks, rather than use. It would apply to new developments in northern and western Utah’s Great Salt Lake basin such as apartment buildings, but not schools, farms and houses.

All three proposals sailed through their first test at the Legislature, advancing from House committees and to the full House of Representatives. Still more bills await a public hearing at the Capitol.

The state didn’t wait to make a different move cheered by Gov. Spencer Cox and conservationists. It bought an out-of-commission Magnesium plant on the southwest shores that state leaders say comes with a significant amount of water they can now make sure stays in the lake.

Cox set an ambitious goal to get the lake back in top shape for the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. But in the meantime, lawmakers’ inboxes are filling with emails from voters about its poor health and the ripple effects on their families, birds and the future of the state, said Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla.

Dust from the toxic lakebed and its effects on public health need to be “at the forefront of everything we do and say,” she recently told reporters. Utah poured $1 million into a dust monitoring program last year to capture dust particles and analyze them. The move followed other investments in recent years, including the creation of a trust in 2023 that began with $40 million in public funding.

“The reality is, if the Great Salt Lake continues to deplete at this level, we can’t even be here,” said Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City.

Drought and climate change are making matters worse. On Feb. 1, Utah hit a record low for snowpack, which melts in spring and summer to fill rivers and reservoirs, providing 95% of the state’s water.

Martindale, a student at Kearns High School, and Featherstone, who attends the University of Utah, said the time for incremental steps has passed. Featherstone noted a version of the bill restricting sprinkler use on ornamental grass failed to pass last year.

“I think it’s frustrating when even the lowest hanging fruit doesn’t get taken up,” she said.

The students point out that by some estimates, restoration of the lake will take billions of dollars. With that in mind, they want lawmakers to embrace a longshot bill they helped to craft that would set aside $200 million in public money for the cause.

Young Utahns played a “real role” in shaping the proposal that would reroute money from a Bear River development project to the lake, Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Millcreek, told colleagues on the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee Monday.

High school and college students urged the committee to pass it, but the measure stalled. The panel decided not to vote on it, saying it needed more work and input from the office of the Great Salt Lake commissioner.

Away from the Capitol, Featherstone and Martindale said they grew up witnesses to the tragedy of the lake’s decline. Now they are trying to fathom that they may be watching its last act.

“Any time we’re talking about anything far off in the future — say, establishing a career or maybe having kids — it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, but the drying Great Salt Lake. I can’t be here,’” Featherstone said. “People aren’t trusting that they can have a future in this state.”

Other bills to watch this session on water conservation and the Great Salt Lake:

SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that could drastically alter how Utah's capital city implements traffic safety projects cleared its first test in this year's legislative session.

Members of the Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Committee voted 4-2 on Monday to favorably recommend SB242. The annual omnibus transportation bill features several transportation topics, but impacts on Salt Lake City road projects overshadowed the rest of the bill for the second straight year.

Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, introduced a revised version before the vote, which mostly clarified sections tied to Salt Lake City road projects. The new version would still require Salt Lake City to partner with the Utah Department of Transportation on certain traffic calming or lane reduction projects, but it:

Those changes, he said, came after he met with city representatives following the unveiling of the bill last week, which reignited some of the controversy surrounding a similar bill passed in 2025. It doesn't change the bill's intent, which he said is to protect UDOT-owned roads and other state investments in the city.

While Salt Lake City leaders would prefer local control over city roads, they are supportive of Harper's inclusion of the city's concerns in the bill, Salt Lake City Council Chairman Alejandro Puy told KSL after the meeting. He attended the meeting as the city's representative to outline the city's position.

"We still have some work to do, but we are encouraged by (the latest version)," he said. "We think ... these decisions need to be made at the local level, but the state is so invested in our city, we understand this is the best outcome — trying to do it this way."

How we got here

Last year's transportation bill paused some of Salt Lake City's traffic-calming projects for a year and asked the Utah Department of Transportation to study the effects of projects within a large city corridor.

The agency released its findings in October, determining that the projects had little effect on traffic. Those that did experience some commute impacts made up for them with safety improvements.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall unveiled the city's formal response to the study a month later, creating a plan that would remove highway reduction strategies — such as new bike lanes and traffic calming measures — on certain roads. UDOT would have to sign off on certain projects for roads that aren't as busy as key corridors but are busier than city streets — similar to what SB242 would do.

Her plan also called for improving access during public and private construction projects, as well as improvements in alerting the public when projects would impact commutes. However, Salt Lake City leaders voiced concerns with how the bill was written to implement pieces of it.

Collaboration or takeover?

Although the bill received revisions from city feedback, that didn't change concerns from residents who packed the committee meeting.

Some called it "micromanagement" or "government overreach" of city roads. Others said last year's SB195 hampered projects that would have benefited residents who live in the city, or that UDOT projects aren't doing enough to provide pedestrian or bicyclist safety.

Elizabeth Converse shared her experience after being hit by a vehicle while riding a bike along the 9-Line at West Temple, a UDOT street, last month. The crash resulted in high medical costs, a chunk of which weren't covered by the at-fault driver, she said.

The legislation stalled an effort to create a safe crossing for students with disabilities to cross between Wasatch Elementary School and its playground, said Julia Lyon, PTA president of Wasatch Elementary School in Salt Lake City.

Some applauded the revisions but said it still had issues. Parts of the proposal fall short of "industry best practice," while preexisting downtown parking garages should be taken into account when considering street parking losses, said Kyle Holland, of Salt Lake City.

More changes to come?

Members of the committee said they understand the concerns, but they also understand the concerns businesses and commuters have with changes to traffic patterns, ultimately leading to their vote to advance the bill.

Sen. Karen Kwan, D-Murray, voted against the measure, saying she was concerned by "some vagueness" in it. However, she said she could see herself favoring it with some additional adjustments.

While the bill advanced to the Senate floor for a full vote, Harper and Puy each said they plan to have open conversations before the end of the legislative session.

"I don't think a bill is ever (finalized) until it's signed by the governor," Harper said. "We'll continue the dialogue."

Lawmakers have until the end of March 6 to approve bills in this legislative session.

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Utah – Streetlights reflect off damp pavement as clouds thicken over the Wasatch Front. The air feels cool but not harsh, hinting at a fast-changing February pattern already unfolding this morning.

According to the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, light snow is possible before late morning, then transitions to rain as temperatures rise. Highs reach near 48 degrees, warm enough to limit accumulation in the valley. Snow levels stay elevated, keeping most impacts confined to benches and higher elevations.

By late morning into early afternoon, scattered rain showers move through Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and Sandy. Roads along I-15 and I-80 may turn slick during brief bursts of precipitation. Visibility could drop during heavier showers, especially near foothill communities. Drivers should plan extra time and watch shaded ramps.

Midweek brings a stronger signal. Wednesday turns wet, with rain developing by late morning and continuing into the evening. Thunder is even possible. Highs climb to 56 degrees, a sharp contrast to recent winter cold. Snow remains focused in the mountains, where precipitation stays steady.

Showers linger into Wednesday night, then taper Thursday morning. Another round of rain redevelops Thursday afternoon with highs near 50. While valley snow remains unlikely, melting snow during the day could refreeze after sunset, creating slick spots on untreated roads.

Friday offers a brief reset. Skies turn partly sunny, highs settle near 47, and travel conditions improve. Valentine’s Day weekend leans milder and quieter, with Saturday pushing into the low 50s under mostly sunny skies.

Looking ahead, NOAA’s 6–10 day outlook favors above-normal temperatures across Utah. A broader warming trend into early next week signals a late-winter thaw, even as mountain snowpack continues to rebuild.

Seeing rain or flakes where you are? Share what’s falling in your neighborhood.

Five-Day Outlook for Salt Lake City, Utah