UT SB0197

Replaces the board of trustees of large public transit districts (serving more than 65% of state population across two or more counties) with a seven-member transit commission: two appointed by the House Speaker, two by the Senate President, and three by the Governor from nominations by county councils of governments

Shifts executive director appointment authority from the transit district board to the Governor, with Senate confirmation, and sets the executive director's salary through the state compensation framework established in Section 67-22-2

Eliminates the local advisory council requirement for large public transit districts and provides severance pay through December 31, 2026, for board of trustees members displaced by the transition effective July 1, 2026

Requires the State Tax Commission, beginning in fiscal year 2028, to annually deposit into the Transit Transportation Investment Fund an amount equal to 5% of new growth in state sales and use tax revenue (capped at the total transit amount from other deposits)

Mandates all public transit districts provide annual financial reports to the Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee, with large districts required to submit detailed strategic plans, ten-year budget projections, and biennial local tax revenue accounting to local governments