Sen. Heidi Balderree

Maddy summaryHB 350 amends Utah school food regulations by updating the list of prohibited additives in foods sold, donated, offered, or served during school hours. It bans items containing potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, and specific FD&C dyes (like Blue No. 1 and Yellow No. 5), directly affecting public schools. Key exceptions include parents providing these foods to students, teachers offering them with parental permission, and donated foods going to school pantries. The bill also removes a prior exception for small schools (under 5,500 students) and allows these foods to be sold at school events or in vending machines. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, with no new funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 302 limits local government flag displays in Utah by requiring cities, counties, and other local entities to adopt only one official flag for government property. It allows additional ceremonial flags but mandates review by the Rules Review Committee for compliance. The bill specifies that only "exempt" flags (like the U.S. flag, state flag, or military flags) may be displayed in courthouses, airports, or transit facilities, while other locations may use official or ceremonial flags. Violations incur $500 daily fines, enforceable by the state auditor, with school districts exempt from certain restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates the first Friday in September as "Utah Civic Engagement and Service Day" to promote community involvement. It encourages Utah citizens, schools, local governments, and nonprofits to organize activities like community service projects, civil dialogue forums, voter registration drives, and neighborhood improvements on that day. The resolution specifically supports free speech, peaceful assembly, and respectful civic discourse as foundational to democratic participation. It does not create new laws or appropriate funding, but rather urges voluntary community action aligned with Utah's constitutional values. The focus is on fostering civic responsibility through recognized annual activities, not on mandating specific government actions.

Maddy summaryHB 411 requires Utah's attorney general to petition the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by December 31, 2026, to establish a three-digit dialing code for the National Human Trafficking Hotline. This would simplify access for Utah residents seeking help with human trafficking or reporting suspected cases, as the hotline currently uses a 10-digit number. If approved, the attorney general would coordinate with phone providers and run public education campaigns about the new dialing code. The bill explicitly states Utah cannot control phone numbering resources or mandate call routing, operating strictly within federal authority. This change aims to improve accessibility to a federally operated hotline without altering its existing structure.

Maddy summaryHB 203 amends Utah's non-compete agreement laws to provide stronger protections for workers. It prohibits employers from enforcing non-compete agreements against nonexempt employees (those not earning at least $913/week), students in internships, workers under 18, and employees earning under $155,000 annually. The bill requires employers to provide written non-compete notices at least 14 days before an employee starts work or the agreement takes effect, and makes agreements void if these requirements aren't met. It also bans enforcement against independent contractors and grants workers the right to sue if employers attempt to enforce unlawful agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 210 modifies Utah's Individual Income Tax Act to reduce tax burdens for certain filers. It removes marriage penalties by setting half the income phaseout limits for single, head of household, and married filing separately filers compared to joint filers, and creates a new nonrefundable tax credit for married filers. The bill directly affects Utah taxpayers with these filing statuses, particularly married couples who file separately. It applies retroactively to prior tax years, requires no new state funding, and amends multiple tax code sections to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryHB 241 updates Utah's charter school laws by replacing the "Charter School Revolving Account" with the "Charter School Revolving Fund," administered by the Utah Charter Finance Authority starting July 1, 2026. It gives charter schools equal access to purchase decommissioned school property (with resale restrictions), clarifies they are public schools, and requires governing board members to take an oath of office. The bill also adjusts loan limits ($1 million for facility expansions, 25% for acquisition/construction) and repayment terms, while making technical changes to related statutes. No new state funds are appropriated for these changes.

Maddy summaryHB 27 requires election officials to post the name, precinct, and signature date of voters who sign candidate nomination petitions on the lieutenant governor's website for 90 days after an election. It also mandates emailing voters to inform them their information is posted and to provide a process for requesting signature removal. The bill shortens the deadline for candidates to submit signatures to election officials from 14 to 21 days before a party convention. These changes directly affect voters who sign petitions and election officials managing candidate nominations, with no new funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 19 requires community water systems serving 3,300 or more people to create and update emergency response plans by December 2026 (with annual updates), while smaller systems must do so by July 2027. It mandates that any security breach threatening water quality or supply must be reported to the Utah Cyber Center within two hours. The bill also requires the Division of Drinking Water to annually report on security practices to legislative committees and classifies emergency response plans as protected records. These provisions aim to strengthen cybersecurity and emergency preparedness at drinking water facilities across Utah.

Maddy summaryHB 1 amends Utah's public education budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, primarily adjusting funding formulas and allocations. It sets the weighted pupil unit (WPU) value at $4,870 for 2026-2027, revises eligibility for career and technical education funding, and modifies emergency funding for English learners. The bill appropriates over $8.7 billion for school operations and capital budgets in 2027, including $4.8 billion from the Uniform School Fund, and adjusts tax rate calculations to support school funding. These changes directly affect Utah school districts, charter schools, and state education agencies through updated budget allocations and funding mechanisms.