Maddy summaryHB 153 requires Utah municipalities to follow specific procedures before taking significant employment actions against law enforcement officers, such as suspensions exceeding two days, demotions, or terminations. The bill mandates that agencies must notify officers of disciplinary allegations, provide at least two business days for a written response, and allow officers to present their case before a decision is made. This applies only to officers classified under Utah law (defined in Section 53-13-103) and does not change existing protections for non-law enforcement civil service employees. The bill amends two existing Utah Code sections to formalize these procedural safeguards, with no additional funding or substantive policy changes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 137 creates a grant program to help law enforcement agencies solve violent crimes. It establishes the "Violent Crime Clearance Rate Fund," which can receive state appropriations, private donations, and interest earnings. The fund is nonlapsing (unused money carries over), and the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice will administer it to award $250,000 in grants for FY2027 to agencies specifically for solving violent crimes. Agencies receiving grants must use the funds solely for this purpose, with no other restrictions or provisions.
Maddy summarySB 21 amends Utah's geothermal resource laws to clarify management and development rules. It updates key definitions (e.g., geothermal resources now exclude fluids and require 100°C+ temperatures) and clarifies that ownership of these resources derives from surface land ownership, not water rights. The bill also adjusts regulations for the Division of Water Rights, allowing up to five years of confidentiality for well records and updating water rights requirements for geothermal fluid use. These changes directly affect geothermal developers, operators, and the Division of Water Rights in Utah.
Maddy summaryHB 89 prohibits law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts in Utah from requiring victims of sexual offenses to take polygraph exams during criminal investigations or prosecutions. The bill explicitly states that victims cannot be forced to undergo such exams, and their refusal cannot block an investigation or case from moving forward. It defines "polygraph examination" as any lie detector test measuring physiological responses to assess truthfulness. This law directly affects sexual offense victims in Utah by protecting them from potentially retraumatizing interrogation tactics during criminal proceedings. The policy change takes effect on May 6, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 110 modifies Utah's Board of Pardons and Parole procedures to clarify how the board handles parole and pardon decisions. It requires the board to notify law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and victims about hearings; prohibits considering prison capacity or bed availability when deciding parole; and mandates offenders complete required treatment programs before parole. The bill also sets specific time limits for sex offenders seeking pardons (10 years for 10-year registrations, 20 years for lifetime registrations) and bars re-paroling offenders charged with violent felonies during prior parole. Additionally, it restricts offenders from reproducing victim statements while requiring them to view such statements in designated locations.
Maddy summarySB 45 repeals Utah's 2019 Kratom Consumer Protection Act and classifies alkaloids found in kratom as Schedule I controlled substances under state law. This change directly affects kratom users and businesses in Utah, removing previous regulatory protections and making kratom possession or sale illegal under state law. The bill amends Utah's controlled substances code to include kratom alkaloids in Schedule I, which prohibits use due to no accepted medical purpose and high abuse potential. This policy shift reverses prior regulations that allowed regulated sale and use of kratom products.
Maddy summarySB 287 imposes an annual tax on companies that deliver targeted advertising in Utah and meet specific revenue thresholds: $1 million or more in Utah-targeted ad revenue and $100 million or more in total targeted ad revenue (50% of their overall revenue). The tax rate is calculated based on the company’s Utah-targeted ad revenue, using a formula that compares Utah ad impressions to total impressions. Companies must file annual returns with Utah’s State Tax Commission, and collected revenue will fund a dedicated restricted account for tax administration. The tax begins January 1, 2027, and applies only to qualifying large advertising entities meeting these financial criteria.
Maddy summaryHB 509 directs Utah's Department of Natural Resources to study wetlands in counties of the first or second class, focusing on how wetland status may change due to federal law shifts and impacts on outdoor recreation (like duck hunting and water quality). The department must report progress by November 2026 and a final report by October 2027, including recommendations for legislative or administrative changes. The bill also restores a requirement to publish wetlands land use permits online and adds a study on whether Utah should create or partner to run a program where developers pay for wetland restoration instead of doing it themselves. This study will inform future decisions but does not change current wetland regulations or funding.
Maddy summaryHB 385 creates a new licensing system for businesses primarily selling nicotine products (like e-cigarettes and vaping products), defined as those where such sales make up over 35% of total revenue. These "retail tobacco specialty businesses" must obtain a $10,000 annual license from the Utah Department of Agriculture, provide a detailed product list including ingredients, and disclose ownership information. The bill prohibits licensing for businesses with owners convicted of certain crimes, bans advertising nicotine products in specific locations, and criminalizes negligent sales of these products to minors. This directly affects vape shops and similar retailers meeting the sales threshold, imposing new registration, reporting, and licensing requirements.
Maddy summaryHB 301 "Drug Recodification" is a procedural bill that reorganizes Utah's existing drug laws by moving certain criminal drug offenses from Title 58 (Occupations and Professions) into Title 76 (Utah Criminal Code). It updates cross-references across multiple statutes and adds coordination clauses to align with related legislation, such as S.B. 117 on licensing. The bill makes technical changes to improve the structure of drug-related provisions without creating new penalties or appropriating funds. This reorganization affects how Utah's legal code references drug offenses but does not change the underlying criminal penalties or directly impact individuals.