Rep. Jason Kyle

Maddy summaryHB 297 requires Utah public universities to obtain legislative approval before entering into agreements with private capital firms related to intercollegiate athletics. The bill restricts contracts involving ownership interests, control rights over athletic programs, or revenue-sharing arrangements tied to athletics. Exceptions include standard sponsorships without revenue sharing, charitable gifts, and traditional debt financing. Universities must also provide athletic program financial records to the state auditor upon request. This bill directly affects Utah’s public colleges and universities operating athletic programs.

Maddy summaryHB 256 changes Utah school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan, meaning candidates will run under political party labels like other elected offices. It modifies election procedures to use the same partisan primary process as county offices, updates rules for filling vacancies, and adjusts campaign finance reporting requirements for school board candidates and members. This directly affects school board candidates, officeholders, and voters in Utah school districts by introducing party competition into local education governance. The bill makes no changes to school funding or curriculum, focusing solely on election structure and campaign rules. (No money is appropriated for this change.)

Maddy summaryHB 375 modifies Utah's Outdoor Adventure Infrastructure Restricted Account to allow up to 2% of funds to cover administrative costs, which were previously restricted. The bill does not appropriate new money but clarifies that existing funds - collected from specific deposits - can now support account management. It maintains the existing distribution rules, requiring at least 15% to state parks, 22% to competitive recreation grants, 53% to larger infrastructure projects, and 10% to the Utah Fairpark district. This change directly affects state agencies managing recreation infrastructure funds, such as the Division of State Parks and Division of Outdoor Recreation. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 424 amends Utah's judicial selection process, primarily affecting governors, judicial nominating commissions, and the Senate. It removes the chief justice's authority to fill judicial vacancies if the governor fails to act, allows governors to appoint qualified candidates not nominated by the commission, and eliminates time limits for the governor to make appointments. The bill also requires governors to provide detailed nominee information to the Senate and Office of Legislative Research before judicial appointments, while updating notification rules for vacancies. These changes require a prior constitutional amendment and take effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryHB 47 requires all vehicle owners to maintain liability insurance *while operating* a vehicle on Utah highways (not just when registered). This directly affects all drivers, including nonresidents who stay in Utah over 90 days, who must meet Utah's insurance requirements during their stay. The bill amends Utah Code Section 41-12a-301 to clarify that insurance must be active whenever a vehicle is driven on public roads, with exceptions for off-highway vehicles, e-bikes, scooters, and school buses under specific conditions. It does not appropriate funds or change existing registration fees. The key change shifts the requirement from registration to active operation.

Maddy summarySB 197 modifies Utah's property tax system to adjust eligibility and benefits for homeowners and renters. It requires homeowners to have received the credit in the prior two years (starting 2026) and removes annual inflation adjustments for that credit, while increasing income limits and maximum amounts for renter tax relief. The bill also changes property tax deferral program rules, prohibits combining certain tax relief forms, and adds a coordination clause to align with another pending property tax bill. These changes directly affect property taxpayers seeking credits or deferrals, with no new state funding required.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Utah's State Tax Commission to hire outside agents to verify if vehicle and vessel owners actually live in Utah by checking their insurance addresses. It affects vehicle and vessel owners who may be registered as residents but live elsewhere, requiring the commission to investigate residency compliance. If violations are found, owners get 60 days to correct them before penalties apply. The bill updates existing registration processes without adding new taxes or fees.

Maddy summarySB 91 expands Utah's existing 1% county tax on restaurant sales to include certain prepared food transactions at convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. Specifically, it applies the tax to "customized" prepared food sold for immediate consumption at these locations, which previously were exempt. The bill clarifies definitions for affected businesses (like "grocery store" and "convenience store") but makes no changes to tax rates or revenue distribution. This directly affects retail businesses selling prepared food for on-site or immediate takeaway consumption outside traditional restaurants.

Maddy summarySB 217 requires electronics manufacturers to create public education programs about recycling consumer devices and directs Utah's Department of Environmental Quality to develop similar public education resources on electronic and solid waste. The bill defines "community collection event" and mandates the department to publish recycling program information online. It removes an exception allowing multiple fees for the same solid waste but includes no new funding. These provisions directly affect manufacturers of consumer electronics and the state agency responsible for waste management, focusing on improving public awareness of recycling options.

Maddy summaryHB 551 prohibits public officials from using public funds to pay for billboards or mass communications containing their image, likeness, or prominently displayed name less than 60 days before an election, caucus, or convention where they are a candidate. It directly affects elected and appointed officials (like mayors, county commissioners, or state legislators) who seek re-election. The law defines "public funds" broadly to include taxpayer money from government entities and clarifies that such communications must not influence voters for or against a candidate. Exceptions exist for certain mass communications, but the core rule prevents using taxpayer resources for campaign-style advertising near election time. The bill amends Utah Code Sections 20A-11-1202 and adds Section 20A-11-1203.5, effective after Governor's signature on March 24, 2025.