- HB596, aimed at amending Utah's homelessness policies, failed in the House.
- The bill proposed raising the code blue threshold from 18 to 25 degrees.
- Unsheltered Utah continues advocating for sustainable resources to aid homeless individuals.
SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would have brought changes to winter warming centers for people experiencing homelessness didn't progress past the House of Representatives in the final days of Utah's 2026 legislative session.
Among other provisions, HB596 would have restructured funding that supports homeless service resources, adjusted how and when existing homeless resource centers can operate and raised Utah's current code blue threshold.
Unsheltered Utah, in conjunction with the 2nd and 2nd Coalition and multiple Salt Lake area churches, hosts Code Blue movie nights on the coldest nights of the winter.
"We were really looking forward to that code blue temperature threshold to change. Right now it's 18 degrees (when a shelter would open), which is very cold. This bill would have changed it to 25 degrees, which is still quite cold," said Merinda Cutler, executive director at Unsheltered Utah.
Utah's code blue alerts go into effect when temperatures in counties across the state are expected to drop 18 degrees or more, including a wind chill for 2 hours or more during a 24-hour period.
Unsheltered Utah was one organization advocating for the bill.
The bill passed through the House committee meeting, but failed in the House of Representatives.
Some lawmakers feared the bill would potentially raise taxes and preempt control from local municipalities.
'I think we should let the municipalities figure out their homeless problems on their own and offer support in a way that isn't going to dictate anything to them," said Rep. Nicholeen Peck, R-Tooele.
However, the bill's sponsor, Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, said it would "do nothing to raise taxes," nor would it preempt local land control.
An 'interesting spot'
Last month, Cutler told KSL that the organization had only been able to open for 10 of the 30 code blue movie nights they'd planned due to Utah's mild winter.
A string of bitterly cold nights triggered code blue alerts in February, which allowed Unsheltered Utah to open movie nights at St. Mark's Cathedral and First United Methodist Churches a few more times to help keep homeless individuals out of the cold.
"We want people's lives to be saved and we want to be able to provide that. I mean, I have not talked to a single person who has said, 'Yeah, I think that people should be out on the street at 25 degrees,'" Cutler said. "But I think the problem is we want to have better infrastructure in place in general, so people aren't on the street ever."
In places like Utah and Cache counties, warming centers are open during the winter each night regardless of the temperature — but even then, those resources are set to end in a matter of weeks.
"We're in an interesting spot and it'll be interesting to see if this weather pattern continues. I mean, we all know this has been a very warm winter, yeah, and quite possibly could be a very warm summer," Cutler said.
While HB596 did not advance, lawmakers did pass a measure that simplifies reporting requirements, creates a loan program for businesses harmed by nearby shelters, lets shelters expand to 135% of capacity if needed and requires nonshelter cities to contribute more to help mitigate costs associated with homeless shelters.
Meanwhile, Cutler said Unsheltered Utah and 2nd and 2nd Coalition will continue advocating for amended code blue provisions, but ultimately, the goal is sustainable resources to lead people out of homelessness.
"We don't just want to provide beds, we want to get people reintegrated into society, to where they have a safe place to be and have the support they need to feel like they're part of the community in a meaningful way," she said.
A helping hand
On Friday, a host of organizations will come together for a resource fair with the intent of linking those who are unhoused or housing insecure with services like pet care, showers, dental work, housing resources, legal services and much more.
Thirty vendors are expected to be on hand from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral Church. The event is a collaboration between Unsheltered Utah, the 2nd and 2nd Coalition, Food Justice Coalition, Catholic Community Services of Utah, SLC HEART Team, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and many others.
"This is just another place to connect with people in our community and connect them to resources so that they can get what they need to survive and thrive," Cutler said.
Roughly 500 people are expected to attend and take advantage of resources on hand, according to Cutler.
Volunteers are still needed for Friday's resource fair; those interested in helping out can visit unshelteredutah.org for more information.
