Maddy summaryHB 408 requires social media platforms to let users transfer portions of their personal data - including connections, content, and interactions - to other platforms within five business days. It mandates real-time data sharing when users switch services, requires explicit user consent before sharing comments or interactions during transfers, and protects platforms from penalties for temporary technical issues if they make good-faith fixes. The bill clarifies that platforms must provide data in a portable, usable format but exempts them from sharing internal algorithms, derived data, or proprietary formats that lack industry standards. This directly affects Utah social media users and platforms operating in the state, focusing on user control over their digital data.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 311 amends Utah's election law to change which forms of identification are valid for voting and update procedures for verifying signatures on mailed ballots. It requires poll workers to compare signatures on mail-in ballot return envelopes with voter registration records if they suspect a signature mismatch, rather than automatically rejecting ballots based solely on missing driver's license digits. If signatures match, the ballot is counted; if not, the vote is disallowed. This directly affects Utah voters who submit ballots by mail, altering how their signatures are verified during the voting process.
Maddy summaryHB 513 modifies how Utah state agencies pay for legal services provided by the Attorney General's Office. It requires agencies to agree annually on a "retainer" amount for expected legal costs, calculated based on actual time spent by the AG's Office, rather than estimates. These funds are collected into a new Legal Services Retainer Fund, which the AG's Office uses to cover agency legal charges during the fiscal year, with agencies covering any excess from their existing budgets. The bill also creates a non-lapsing Legal Services and Litigation Program to fund state defense in civil lawsuits meeting specific criteria, using existing appropriations without new money.
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 547 defines "transnational repression" as foreign government or terrorist organization actions targeting individuals in Utah (like threats, surveillance, or immigration coercion) to control their behavior. It requires Utah's public universities to inform international students about this repression and how to report it to law enforcement. The bill also adds criminal penalties for crimes committed under foreign government direction to influence a victim's actions. This directly affects international students and victims of foreign-directed crimes, creating new reporting mechanisms and legal consequences for specific offenses.
Maddy summaryHB 145 amends Utah's definition of "valid excuse" for school absences to include participation in specific extracurricular clubs. It explicitly adds mountain biking, shooting sports, and Utah State University-administered youth development programs (focused on agriculture, STEM, leadership, etc.) to the list of activities that qualify as a valid excuse. This directly affects public school students in Utah who participate in these clubs, allowing them to miss school for club-related events without being marked truant. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and makes only technical changes to the existing code.
Maddy summarySB 152 clarifies how public school districts and higher education institutions handle student data by requiring clear explanations about what data is collected, how it will be used, and the right for families to opt out of data sharing. The bill specifically addresses transparency around data practices under existing law (Section 53E-9-402(1)), mandating that schools disclose collection methods, usage purposes, and opt-out options to parents or guardians. It directly affects school districts, colleges, and families by standardizing data privacy communication. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes to improve transparency, not on new funding or program creation. (3 sentences)
Maddy summaryHB 353 requires Utah's Board of Higher Education to improve credit transfer processes for students moving from institutions outside Utah's public higher education system. Specifically, it mandates the Board to create clearer pathways for these students, prevent unnecessary course duplication, and provide them with specific information about how their credits will transfer. The bill directly affects students transferring from out-of-state or non-system colleges to Utah public universities and colleges. These changes aim to make credit transfers smoother and more predictable, without changing tuition or adding new funding.
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 192 updates procedures for the Legislative Management Committee (LMC), clarifying its role in overseeing workplace harassment and discrimination policies. It requires annual rotation of the LMC chair and vice-chair between the Senate President and House Speaker, mandates quarterly meetings, and grants the Senate President and House Speaker joint authority to break committee ties. These changes directly affect how the LMC governs legislative operations and committee workflows. The bill focuses solely on procedural adjustments to committee management, with no substantive policy changes to laws or regulations.