Rep. Ray Ward

Maddy summarySB 146 allows Utah public and private schools to stock glucagon kits for treating severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) emergencies. It permits qualified adults (like teachers or coaches who complete training) to administer the kits to students experiencing such emergencies, establishes a standing prescription for schools to obtain kits, and provides liability protection for those administering or prescribing them. The bill also requires training for school staff on proper kit storage and use. This directly affects schools, students with diabetes, and school staff in Utah.

Maddy summaryHB 129, the Adoption Records Access Amendments, allows individuals adopted as minors to access their adoption records once they turn 18. It also gives birth parents the right to petition a court to keep their identifying information sealed in these records. The bill amends Utah Code sections 26B-8-125, 78A-6-103, and 78B-6-141 to update record access rules and includes coordination with another bill (S.B. 119). No new state funding is required for these changes, and the law took effect after the governor signed it on March 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 175 amends Utah's construction code to expand requirements for residential buildings. It specifically updates Section R101.2 to include three- and four-family dwellings (up to two levels) in the scope of the code, previously covering only one- and two-family homes. This change directly affects builders, developers, and homeowners constructing or renovating multi-family housing. The bill also adds clarifications about window egress for existing bedrooms, modifies deck and retaining wall rules, and defines "accessory dwelling units" for single-family properties. These changes aim to modernize code applicability without adding new costs or mandates.

Maddy summaryHB 543 creates a new "controlled substance certification" requirement for healthcare practitioners in Utah who distribute, dispense, or administer controlled substances. Starting July 1, 2025, practitioners must obtain this certification - which requires active federal DEA registration and 3.5 hours of annual continuing education on controlled substances - to legally handle these medications, replacing the previous "controlled substance license." The bill affects licensed medical professionals (like doctors and pharmacists) whose practice involves controlled substances, while allowing those with existing licenses to continue operating until their current license expires. It updates multiple Utah Code sections to reflect this new certification system and repeals outdated licensing provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 470 repeals Utah's 2016 water heater emissions regulations (Utah Code § 19-2-107.7) from the Air Conservation Act. This bill removes existing requirements for water heater emissions standards without creating new rules or appropriating funds. The repeal takes effect on May 7, 2025, and directly affects the regulatory framework governing water heater emissions compliance. As a procedural repeal, it eliminates a specific provision without altering broader environmental policy.

Maddy summaryHB 193 reduces the number of signatures required for candidates seeking a political party's nomination for elected office. It specifically lowers the signature threshold for candidates aiming to join a "qualified political party" and allows candidates seeking nomination from a "registered political party" (not yet qualified) to use the same lower signature count as qualified parties. This change applies to all candidates for elective office who must gather signatures to appear on a party's primary ballot. The bill amends Utah Code sections governing nomination petitions but does not appropriate funds.

Maddy summarySB 214 amends Utah's insurance code to expand who can diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for insurance coverage purposes. It adds licensed clinical social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and advanced practice nurses to the list of qualified professionals allowed to make ASD diagnoses, alongside existing doctors and psychologists. The bill also includes a coordination clause requiring the related bill SB 256 to pass first before it takes effect. This change directly affects health insurance plans covering ASD diagnosis and treatment, ensuring more licensed providers can initiate coverage without requiring a physician diagnosis. The bill does not alter coverage limits for treatment, which remain governed by other sections of the code.

Maddy summaryHB 90 modifies zoning rules in Utah's urban municipalities by allowing detached single-family homes on lots of at least 6,000 square feet in residential zones. This directly affects homeowners, developers, and local governments in cities within first or second-class counties (defined as "urban municipalities" in the bill). The key change removes previous restrictions on lot size for single-family homes in these areas, making such construction a standard permitted use. The bill makes technical updates to Utah Code sections 10-9a-505 and adds a new section (10-9a-505.1) to formalize this rule, with no additional costs or procedural changes. It takes effect on May 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 406 requires Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to annually report to the Executive Appropriations Committee starting in 2025 on funding for wages and benefits of specific public health and social service providers. It directly affects local health departments, mental health authorities, substance abuse authorities, area agencies, and contractors serving state divisions like Child and Family Services and Juvenile Justice. The bill mandates the report include inflation-adjusted wage/benefit funding needs (based on the Chained Consumer Price Index), historical funding comparisons, and an evaluation of whether current funding is sufficient to retain staff. The reporting requirement expires on January 1, 2031, unless renewed by the legislature. No new funding is appropriated; this is solely a reporting obligation.

Maddy summaryHB 88 modifies Utah's housing policy by changing reporting requirements for moderate-income housing and expanding housing options. It reduces the frequency of progress reports from annual to triennial for qualifying cities, while allowing accessory dwelling units (like in-law suites) and modular housing units in residential zones of urban municipalities. The bill directly affects cities classified as "specified municipalities" (e.g., larger cities or those with 5,000+ residents), requiring them to report on housing strategies but not imposing new funding. Key provisions include permitting accessory dwellings on single-family lots and prohibiting municipalities from banning modular housing in residential areas, with no new state funding allocated.