Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost

Maddy summaryHB 515 creates the Graduate Student Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest loans covering the gap between federal financial aid limits and actual program costs for eligible graduate students. It directly affects students enrolled in specific non-professional graduate programs (like nursing, social work, education, or counseling) at Utah degree-granting institutions. The Utah Board of Higher Education will administer the fund, make rules for loan applications and repayment, and use repaid funds to sustain the program - requiring no new state appropriations. The fund becomes operational on July 1, 2026, with annual reports to the governor and legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 579 modifies how interest earnings from Utah's Medicaid ACA Fund are allocated. It directs up to $7 million annually in interest to the Division of Services for People with Disabilities Restricted Account, specifically to fund services for individuals on that agency's waitlist. The remaining interest goes to the Medicaid Growth Reduction and Budget Stabilization Account. The bill makes technical changes to existing funding mechanisms without appropriating new money, affecting Medicaid administration and disability service access.

Maddy summaryHB 580 establishes new regulations for private civil detention facilities in Utah, directly affecting facilities operated by private entities under government contracts (e.g., for immigration processing). The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to create rules ensuring safe conditions, including clean living spaces, nutritious meals, medical care, accessible communication, and staff training. It mandates regular unannounced facility inspections, public posting of results, and allows fines up to $10,000 per violation for noncompliance. The law takes effect in May 2026 and does not appropriate new funding.

Maddy summarySB 247 would establish a minimum statewide average rack price for motor fuel (gasoline), starting January 1, 2027, initially set at $2.67 per gallon. Beginning January 1, 2028, this minimum price would be adjusted annually based on a formula to account for inflation or other factors. The bill directly affects drivers and businesses that purchase motor fuel by setting a guaranteed floor price for gasoline. This legislation failed in the Senate on March 4, 2026, and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 317 updates Utah's legal terminology by replacing "opiate" with "opioid" in definitions across multiple statutes. It specifically changes terms like "opiate antagonist" to "opioid antagonist" and "opiate-related drug overdose event" to "opioid-related drug overdose event," while also updating related references to "opiate" in controlled substances descriptions. The bill coordinates these changes with other opioid-related legislation (H.B. 301, S.B. 87, and S.B. 98) to ensure consistent terminology without altering existing policies or adding new requirements. No funding is appropriated, and the changes only affect how Utah law references opioid-related terms in existing statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 562 creates an independent state agency, the Access to Insurance Plan Association, to provide property insurance when private insurers won't cover homes or businesses. It requires all property insurers licensed in Utah to join the association as a condition of doing business, ensuring coverage is available for residential and commercial properties. The bill mandates that applicants prove at least three admitted insurers declined coverage before accessing the plan, which operates as a "fair plan" with rates and policies set by the association under insurance commissioner oversight. The governor appoints a board to manage the association, including consumer and industry representatives, with the commissioner reviewing the plan's operations and financial health.

Maddy summaryHB 282 amends Utah's tax code to redirect sales and use tax revenue previously earmarked for the Transportation Investment Fund of 2005 back into the state's General Fund. The bill changes Section 59-12-103 to ensure that specific tax revenues - originally designated for transportation projects - remain available for general state spending instead. This policy shift affects how the state allocates existing sales tax revenue, without creating new taxes or appropriations. The change applies to the tax base described in the amended statute, moving funds from a dedicated transportation fund to the broader General Fund.

Maddy summaryHB 229 modifies rules for two state restricted accounts: the Tobacco Settlement Restricted Account and the Electronic Cigarette Substance and Nicotine Product Proceeds Restricted Account. It updates how funds are allocated when legislative appropriations exceed available revenue (requiring sequential, partial funding until exhausted) and adds a sunset review requirement for electronic cigarette account provisions before their automatic repeal. The bill makes technical corrections to ensure consistency but does not appropriate new money. These changes primarily affect state agencies that manage tobacco-related funding, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Tax Commission.

Maddy summaryHB 387 modifies Utah's regulations for kratom products. It requires kratom processors and retailers to register with the Department of Agriculture and Food, bans products containing synthetic alkaloids or exceeding 2% 7-hydroxymitragynine, and mandates labeling with specific alkaloid content. The bill also raises the minimum purchase age to 21 and imposes fines up to $5,000 for violations like selling unregistered or mislabeled products. If all kratom alkaloids are classified as controlled substances under state law, the entire bill would become inactive.

Maddy summaryHB 266 requires Utah's Homeless Services Board and the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to jointly develop best practices for assisting homeless veterans. It directly affects veterans experiencing homelessness in Utah by mandating coordinated efforts between these state agencies. The bill's key mechanism is creating standardized approaches to housing support, including promoting client dignity, self-reliance, and data sharing for better service coordination. The bill makes no new funding commitments and focuses on procedural improvements to existing veteran housing programs.