Lawmakers address taxes on streaming, 'adult websites' as legislative session nears close

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah legislative session is in the final stretch as lawmakers race to pass hundreds of bills and approve a $31 billion state budget before time runs out Friday at midnight.

Close to 250 bills have been approved by lawmakers as of Wednesday morning, though that number could more than double over the next three days.

The Utah House of Representatives gave final approval to a pair of bills to close tax loopholes on video streaming services and adding a tax on "adult websites," with the proceeds going to a fund meant to address teens' mental health.

This story will be updated throughout the day to bring you the latest from Utah's Capitol Hill.

Wednesday, 11:47 am

Taxes on streaming, "adult websites"

Lawmakers gave final approval on Wednesday to bills that would close tax loopholes on video streaming services and add a new tax on purchases on adult websites.SB73 adds a 2% excise tax on online content deemed "harmful to minors," including online pornography and other adult content. The money raised will go to a new fund to address mental health for minors.

Utah already has laws requiring age verification for adult websites, and Rep. Steve Eliason, the bill's floor sponsor, credited that law and other changes with improved mental health for young Utahns reported in a large statewide survey last year.Eliason, a Republican from Sandy, noted that 51% of boys and 32% of girls encounter online pornography before the age of 13."Why this bill matters is because Utah is kind of the national standard for protecting our youth," he said, "and we know that these companies without guardrails will be focused on maximizing the bottom line instead of maximizing the well-being of our youth."The bill passed 66-1, with only Rep. Leah Hansen, R-Saratoga Springs, voting in opposition.Eliason is also the floor sponsor of SB162, which aims to close a loophole that has allowed some video streaming services to avoid charging sales tax. The bill was proposed by the Utah Tax Commission, which found a "small number" of platforms were not collecting the tax, according to Eliason."SB162 eliminates this confusion by clarifying that digital video, audiobooks, gaming are subject to sales and use tax regardless of whether they're streamed or downloaded," he said.He said Utah has always meant to tax those products, so the bill doesn't add a new tax."This clarifies that and treats it the way that we have done it over since the good old days when we would go to Blockbuster," Eliason added.That bill passed 69-1, with Hansen once again casting the lone "nay" vote. Both bills now head to the governor's desk.

Lawmakers address taxes on streaming, 'adult websites' as legislative session nears close

By Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL | Posted - March 4, 2026 at 11:47 a.m.

The Utah legislative session is in the final stretch as lawmakers race to pass hundreds of bills and approve a $31 billion state budget before time runs out Friday at midnight. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

Taxes on streaming, "adult websites"

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Lawmakers address taxes on streaming, 'adult websites' as legislative session nears close

By Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL | Posted - March 4, 2026 at 11:47 a.m.

The Utah legislative session is in the final stretch as lawmakers race to pass hundreds of bills and approve a $31 billion state budget before time runs out Friday at midnight. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

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