A provision in Utah's HB0008 limits what you'll pay in convenience fees when filing with the state—but only if you know it's coming.
Most Utah child care owners don't realize that when they pay a licensing fee, renew a permit, or file paperwork with the Department of Commerce online, they're often charged a "convenience fee" on top of the actual filing cost. That fee has no legal cap—until now.
Buried in HB0008 (State Agency Fees and Internal Service Fund Authorization and Appropriations) is a provision that will change how much you pay for electronic filings with Utah's Department of Commerce. Starting July 1, 2026, the state has capped the convenience fee you'll be charged when paying these mandatory compliance costs online.
Under Section 3 of HB0008 (found on page 221 of the bill), the Department of Commerce can no longer charge unlimited convenience fees for electronic payments. Here's the structure:
For transactions under $100: The convenience fee is capped at $3.
For transactions $100 and above: The convenience fee is capped at 3% of the transaction amount.
This applies to any business filing with Commerce—which includes child care facilities registering, renewing licenses, updating business information, or submitting required documentation online.
Child care licensing and business compliance involves regular filings with the state. If you've ever paid an online filing fee and noticed a separate "processing" or "convenience" charge added on, you've felt this cost. Without a cap, that fee could be 5%, 10%, or higher depending on the payment processor the state uses.
The cap means predictability. You'll know exactly what you're paying, and for smaller filings—say, a $50 license renewal fee—you won't see an outsized convenience charge tacked on.
For child care operators managing tight margins and multiple state filings per year, this is a direct reduction in compliance costs, even if the savings per transaction seem modest.
The cap becomes effective July 1, 2026, which marks the start of Utah's fiscal year 2027. If you're filing with Commerce before that date, the old fee structure may still apply—so this is worth noting in your calendar if you have renewals or filings planned for mid-2026.
You don't need to take action immediately, but it's worth:
If you're part of a child care association or network, this is also worth flagging to your peers—many owners aren't aware this change is coming.
For a free, detailed breakdown of how this provision affects your specific licensing and filing costs, contact your state child care trade association or the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Licensing.