Rep. Doug Welton

Maddy summarySB 312 modifies Utah's educator license discipline rules to better protect students. It creates a tiered system where public schools must automatically restrict employment or volunteering for educators found ineligible due to serious misconduct involving actual harm, credible risk of harm, or sexual misconduct with minors. For less severe cases (like administrative errors or technical violations), restrictions require written findings proving specific risk to student safety, not automatic bans. This directly affects educators whose licenses are denied, suspended, or revoked, as well as school districts enforcing these restrictions. The bill ensures only conduct posing real danger triggers automatic employment bans, while technical errors or minor mistakes do not.

Maddy summaryHB 502 establishes standardized citizenship grading for Utah students, requiring schools to use consistent state-defined criteria for skills like attendance, participation, and meeting deadlines. Parents can opt their children out of citizenship grades, in which case students receive academic grades only and are ineligible for a related higher education scholarship program funded by voluntary tax contributions. The bill also creates statewide test-out options for core classes (English, math, science, social studies) allowing students to earn credit without taking the course, beginning in 2027. Attendance-based grading is permitted, but individualized attendance plans are repealed. These changes affect all Utah public school students, parents, and school districts, with key provisions taking effect in the 2027-2028 school year.

Maddy summaryHB 142 limits school fee waivers in Utah public schools to two trips per student annually. It requires students seeking a second waiver to develop an "action plan" with their principal, including school-related contributions like custodial work or service hours. The bill also mandates local education agencies to set caps on total fee waivers and verify student eligibility through income documentation like pay stubs. These changes directly affect students in Utah public schools who qualify for fee waivers for school-sponsored trips.

Maddy summaryHB 358 replaces day-based or hour-based requirements for high school graduation with a minimum credit hour system, where one credit equals at least 83 class hours. It directly affects Utah high school students (grades 9-12) and school districts by changing graduation standards from calendar days to credit accumulation. The bill also requires driver education to track actual student attendance and makes technical updates to education codes governing school calendars and online student extracurricular eligibility. These changes aim to provide scheduling flexibility for schools while maintaining consistent academic standards.

Maddy summarySB 172 would require most aircraft operating in the state to obtain a state registration, with specific exemptions: foreign-licensed aircraft under U.S. reciprocal agreements, FAA-approved test flights, and large commercial carriers (over 35,000 lbs takeoff weight). It also mandates that air taxi operators (14 C.F.R. Part 135) headquartered in the state must register regardless of where the aircraft is based. The bill additionally amends airport licensing rules, requiring non-federally funded airports to obtain a department-issued license before operation. This legislation is pending in the Senate Transportation Committee and not yet law.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes Utah school device rules to ban cellphones, smart watches, and similar "emerging technology" during all school hours (including lunch, recess, and transitions), not just during instructional time. It affects all students in Utah public schools by expanding device restrictions from classroom hours to the entire school day. Exceptions allow device use for emergencies, medical needs, IEP accommodations, or the SafeUT Crisis Line. School districts must adopt policies aligning with these rules, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHJR 8 is a joint resolution urging the Utah State Board of Education to develop systems for tracking and sharing real-time fiscal impacts of legislation on school districts (LEAs). It calls for the State Board to collaborate with school business administrators and stakeholders to create standardized methods for analyzing how bills affect local education budgets, including enrollment size, location, and infrastructure costs. The resolution requests specific tools like online tracking systems and rotating committees of school finance experts to provide timely data to lawmakers during legislative sessions. It does not appropriate funds or create new legal requirements, but instead seeks to improve communication between state and local education entities about budgetary effects.

Maddy summaryHB 17 requires public infrastructure district boards to hold regular and special meetings within the district's boundaries, aiming to increase local transparency. Exceptions allow meetings outside the district if no suitable locations exist within it (with the alternative nearby), during emergencies, or for annual planning retreats that don't involve final decisions. This amendment to Utah Code Section 17D-4-205 directly affects district boards managing infrastructure projects like roads or utilities. The bill has no funding impact and takes effect May 6, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 526 requires Utah school districts to request a welfare check for students absent 10+ consecutive days under specific conditions: if parents failed to notify the school, didn’t home-school, didn’t unenroll the student, ignored school communications, and the student isn’t enrolled elsewhere. The bill mandates referrals to local law enforcement or child services solely to verify the student’s safety, not to replace other actions. It does not require schools to take additional steps beyond the welfare check referral. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, with no new funding or procedural changes beyond the referral process.

Maddy summaryHB 518 modifies Utah's social studies curriculum requirements for K-12 public schools. It mandates that American constitutional government and citizenship be taught as separate semester courses, and requires U.S. history to be taught as two distinct semester courses. The bill also prohibits students from repeating the same semester course for graduation, requires literacy coaches to integrate social studies content into literacy instruction, and mandates regular social studies instruction in elementary grades. Implementation must occur by July 1, 2031, and the bill repeals an adult education citizenship test.