Newsletter
March 2026 
President's Report
Get ready to tee off for a great cause at our upcoming golf tournament. As all of you know, this is an event that blends friendly competition, networking, and industry pride. This year’s tournament proudly supports the mission of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, a leading organization dedicated to advancing the science, practice, and professional growth of plumbing engineering.
We invite and welcome players of all skill levels, from seasoned golfers to first-time participants. Attendees will enjoy a full day of golf, on-course contests, prizes, and opportunities to connect with professionals across the engineering and construction industries.
By participating, you’re not just playing a round of golf, you’re helping support education, training, and innovation in plumbing engineering. The American Society of Plumbing Engineers plays a vital role in promoting sustainable design, public health, and technical excellence, making this event both fun and meaningful.
This year, we’re offering you the opportunity to become a Gift Bag Sponsor. Each golfer will receive a gift bag, which in turn becomes a great opportunity for showcasing your company’s swag and increasing brand visibility.
Mauro
VP Technical Article
Good Morning ASPE Members!
As many of you may or may not know ASPE is a member of the Utah Engineering Council (UEC). As part of UEC there are a few awards and events coming up you may be interested in participating in.
Awards:
· Engineer of the Year Award: https://forms.gle/4MQcRWGxzMk9Ac6z9
· Engineering Educator of the Year Award: https://forms.gle/T7rr1w9ZduZHHhzb9
· Fresh Faces of Engineering: https://forms.gle/BPpjKiYuaWukjiBt6
Scholarships: Please distribute the application and encourage them to apply by the Sunday, March 29, 2026, deadline--extended to allow more time for students.
· Scholarships: https://forms.gle/chgtk7wv2zqzuFER9
Events:
· Hill AFB is planning their STEM City event as part of the annual Airshow on June 27-28, 2026. If you would like a booth at the event, please contact Jeff Neeley, STEM Outreach Program Manager, at [email protected].
Thanks for supporting ASPE and our local Engineering Community!
Dallan
VP Legislative Article
Hi everyone,
I hope everyone is doing well and the work continues to be available and staying busy. But not too busy. Enjoying life is part of things too. Here are some of the new 2026 Utah laws for your review. It is nice to know what has changed incase the new laws effected us.
Also known as the Species Protection Funding Act, HB378 creates new funding mechanisms for the state's Species Protection Account in part by taxing wind and solar plants.
Wind and solar plants that generate 660 or more kilowatts of energy will also need to include systems to store energy in order to qualify for tax credits under SB192.
Business and taxes
SB333 lets cities and counties opt into a "major sporting event venue zone" to help fund venues and infrastructure for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games.
HB58 directs the Uniform Building Code Commission to collect data on building inspectors across the state and report the findings to the Legislature each year. It also creates unlawful and unprofessional conduct provisions for licensed building inspectors.
HB60 is an annual "clean-up" tax bill, according to sponsor Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, which makes several technical changes to the Utah State Tax Commission and tax exemptions or credits for commercial energy, income tax and the enterprise zone tax credit.
SB202 makes several changes to property tax collection in the state. It requires counties to provide the State Tax Commission with preliminary assessments before that information is given to county auditors and requires the commission to take "corrective action" if county officers fail to perform duties for property assessment.
The law also removes the requirement that counties advertise public hearings on tax changes in newspapers, instead requiring that they simply advertise electronically for at least 14 days.
Property managers will be required to be licensed under HB337, which also gives the Real Estate Commission authority to make administrative rules governing the practice.
SB13 allows certain rental businesses to charge a fee of 1.5% for heavy equipment rentals to be used as a reimbursement for property taxes.
Licensing for certified public accountants is changing in 2026. SB15 removes the hours requirement to become licensed and allows someone with a valid license from another state if they are in good standing and can prove they have completed the equivalent training or education required in Utah.
Counties have typically been allowed to add up to a 1% tax on restaurants, but SB91 allows them to apply the same tax to certain prepared foods in convenience stores, gas stations and grocery stores.
SB219 changes the formula used to calculate sales for a financial institution in Utah.
Transportation
Owners of interstate commercial trailers that are not travel trailers can register their vehicles with a special lifetime license plate under HB166. Owners of other vehicles, such as trailers, electric vehicles, off-highway vehicles and street-legal all-terrain vehicles, can also register their vehicles for two years instead of one, thanks to HB514.
HB190 requires owners of motorcycles to attach the license plate to the vehicle itself, not to their jacket or backpack. It also clarifies the definition of "lane filtering" — which means passing between other vehicles while traffic is stopped — from "lane splitting," which is passing between other vehicles while traffic is moving.
The law prohibits motorcyclists from performing wheelies on the highway and treats lane splitting while traffic is moving as an infraction, subject to suspension of the motorcycle endorsement for 90 days.
HB261 requires private property owners who enforce towing at a parking lot to publish information about their towing agreement in public.
Health
HB493 creates an online system to allow health professionals to complete death certificates online. The same system will notify health professionals if a death requires further review by the medical examiner.
SB134, the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act, allows Utahns to create an optional advance health care plan that grants a person the power of attorney to make medical decisions on their behalf if they are unable to make those decisions for themselves. Advance directives can also authorize providers to make decisions in limited circumstances.
VP Membership Article
Spring always brings a certain kind of madness. For me, the madness of March isn’t just about basketball brackets—it’s the scramble to get everything scheduled and the deposits paid for all the summer fun ahead. Between family trips, camps, and trying to keep the calendar under control, it can feel a little hectic. But in the middle of that chaos, there’s one event every summer that I always look forward to: the Annual ASPE Golf Tournament.
This year, the tournament will be held on June 16 at South Mountain Golf Club, and it’s always one of the highlights of the season. If you haven’t been before, the course offers a unique experience—golfing from the side of a mountain with incredible views overlooking the entire Salt Lake Valley. The ASPE Golf Tournament also holds a special place for me personally. It was actually my introduction to American Society of Plumbing Engineers. It’s where I had my first hole-in-one, and more importantly, it’s where some truly meaningful friendships began. What started as a day on the course turned into connections that have lasted well beyond the fairways.
Events like this are a great reminder that ASPE isn’t just about professional development—it’s also about building relationships and enjoying time together outside the office. We’re excited to announce that registration for the tournament is now open, and we hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a beautiful day of golf, great company, and unforgettable views.
Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just looking for a fun day to connect with fellow members of the industry, we’d love to see you there, and hope you can bring a new friend!