Maddy summaryHB 465 requires law enforcement agencies in cities that are county seats of first-class counties to enter into formal agreements with Utah's Department of Public Safety by July 2025. These agreements must include reimbursement terms for department resources, define joint operations roles, establish data-sharing rules, and set public safety improvement metrics. The bill also mandates annual reports to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee on agreement implementation and outcomes. Additionally, it temporarily authorizes the Division of Facilities Construction to use eminent domain for homelessness facilities on unincorporated city-owned land (expiring July 2027). All provisions in this bill expire on July 1, 2027, except the annual reporting requirement.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 207 updates Utah's sexual offense laws to strengthen penalties and clarify definitions. It requires mandatory prison time for repeat sex offenders, expands the definition of "child sexual abuse material" to include minors observing or being filmed in sexual situations, and adds a new offense for accessing such material with intent to view. The bill also creates a safe harbor protecting employees (like school staff or child welfare workers) who must view child sexual abuse material for their job. These changes directly affect repeat sex offenders, law enforcement applying the new definitions, and workers handling such material in their employment.
Maddy summaryHB 378 creates new funding streams for Utah's Species Protection Account by requiring counties to remit money from specific sources, including property taxes on new high-voltage transmission lines ($6,400 per mile), taxes from wind/solar facilities, and revenue from radioactive waste disposal. These funds, deposited into the Species Protection Account, support wildlife conservation efforts like habitat protection, species assessments, and Great Salt Lake wetlands projects. The bill modifies existing tax codes to establish these payment requirements and reporting obligations for counties and businesses, but does not appropriate new state funds. It directly affects counties (via remittance duties), transmission line operators, and renewable energy facilities.
Maddy summaryHB 159 enacts the Uniform Recognition of Canadian Domestic Violence Protection Orders Act, requiring Utah courts to recognize and enforce valid domestic violence protection orders issued by Canadian authorities. This directly affects individuals in Utah involved in cross-border domestic violence cases, such as victims seeking protection under a Canadian order or abusers subject to one. The bill establishes clear legal standards for recognizing these Canadian orders without requiring Utah courts to reevaluate their validity. This change simplifies enforcement for victims and ensures consistent protection across jurisdictions, without altering existing Utah domestic violence laws.
Maddy summaryHB 321 modifies Utah's Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Act to reflect Utah's selection as host for the 2034 Games. It replaces the "bid committee" with an "organizing committee" responsible for managing the event, clarifies the Legislature's oversight role through the Games Coordination Committee, and updates definitions to specifically reference the 2034 Games. The bill requires the host committee to provide annual financial reports to the oversight committee on budgeting and state impacts, and removes outdated legal references through technical corrections. No new funding or policy changes beyond these administrative updates are introduced.
Maddy summaryHB 430 establishes "food delivery dead zones" around military land, requiring food delivery companies to mark these areas and prohibiting deliveries there. It allows delivery drivers and military staff to report violations to the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, which can impose $1,000 fines on noncompliant companies. The bill also prohibits restricted foreign entities from purchasing land in Utah, requiring individuals buying land to disclose military ties to foreign entities via county recorders, with failure to disclose constituting a third-degree felony. County recorders must provide disclosure forms and forward them to the Department of Public Safety for enforcement.
Maddy summaryHB 350 amends Utah's high-cost infrastructure tax credit program to include district energy systems, which are centralized networks providing heating and cooling to multiple buildings (like apartment complexes or business districts) from a single source. The bill sets minimum investment thresholds that these systems must meet to qualify for the tax credit and updates definitions to explicitly cover cooling plants under existing heat corporation rules. This change directly affects developers and operators of district energy projects by making them eligible for the tax credit, potentially reducing their project costs. The bill makes these adjustments without appropriating new state funds.
Maddy summarySB 219 modifies Utah's tax rules for financial institutions by changing how their business income is apportioned for taxation. It specifically excludes sales from investment activities (like interest, dividends, and trading gains) and trading activities from Utah's tax base, meaning these out-of-state transactions won't increase a financial institution's Utah tax liability. This directly affects banks, credit unions, and other financial entities operating in Utah, as it reduces the portion of their income subject to state taxation. The bill amends Utah Code Section 59-7-317 and takes effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 223 updates definitions related to bullying in Utah's public education code. It clarifies the term "bullying" by aligning it with existing Section 53G-9-601 and adds specific definitions for "staff bullying" and "student bullying." These changes directly affect public schools, administrators, and students by standardizing how bullying incidents are documented and reported. The bill makes technical corrections to multiple education code sections without adding new requirements or funding.
Maddy summarySB 117 establishes a standardized process for resolving family law disputes - such as divorce, custody, and child support - through arbitration instead of court trials. It directly affects individuals involved in family law cases who choose arbitration, by defining key terms, setting requirements for arbitration agreements, and outlining procedures for selecting arbitrators and handling hearings. The bill creates a clear framework for how arbitrators must operate (including disclosure rules and qualifications), how courts handle arbitration awards, and when temporary orders or protection orders may apply during the process. It does not change substantive family law but provides consistent rules for using arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution method.