Utah SB 305 Dramatically Broadens Definition of “Functional Turf”
During the 2025 legislative calendar a bill to address “Water Wise Landscaping “ (SB 305) was introduced by Senator Keven Stratton on February 19th and referred to Utah State Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.
The bill would have made amendments to existing law that does not permit turf to account for more than 20% of the groundcover on a state government facility property. According to Senator Stratton, the intent of the legislation was to broaden the definition of canopy, broaden the definition of turf, promote water wise landscaping and acknowledge that more green is beneficial to communities and state-owned properties.
In Utah, “functional turf” has been broadly framed as turf that is “dedicated to active use”; which scholars in academia would consider “recreational turf” that fails to fully acknowledge some of the other beneficial uses of “turf.” All stakeholders involved typically agree that turf is good for communities where they live, work, exercise and play like sports fields, parks, golf courses, cemeteries etc.
Unfortunately over the past several years policies have been proposed or enacted that demonize turf and minimize many of their functional benefits. SB 305 tackled this issue by redefining functional turf as turf that is dedicated to active use but also functional if it:
(C) stabilizes soil, prevents erosion from wind or water, sequesters carbon, mitigates heat island effects, provides vegetative buffer strips from watersheds, captures and filters urban pollutants, or promotes community planning and safety;
Senator Stratton acknowledged that expanding the definition to more accurately reflect all the functions of turf would likely need some guardrails to promote water wise landscaping practices. For turf to be installed for one of the functions listed above the turf must also meet the following requirements:
(D) is a native plant, has been hybridized for arid conditions, or has been designated as low water use by the Utah State University Extension; and
(E) is watered to the plant’s needs and does not require overhead spray irrigation.
Supporters of water wise landscaping support the notion “right plant, right place” which will benefit the property, the community and the environment, and different types of turf certainly fit that narrative.
Unfortunately, the bill was unable to pass out of Committee due to some amendments that were offered that would have materially changed the intent of the legislation. Fortunately, stakeholders agreed to continue conversations in anticipation of tackling water wise landscaping in 2026.
