Sen. David Hinkins

Maddy summaryHB 462 creates a $325,000 grant program to provide internet access on school buses for extended trips (over 60 minutes one-way) in rural Utah school districts. It targets districts with schools in specific rural counties or fewer than 3,000 students, requiring at least two buses per district to be equipped with internet systems. Districts must maintain the service for three years, follow the same internet safety rules as school buildings, and can combine grant funds with their own to cover additional buses or service time. The program takes effect July 1, 2026, and is funded through the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 214 makes it harder to sue firearm sellers, manufacturers, and trade associations by requiring courts to dismiss certain lawsuits that don’t meet specific standards. It prevents local governments from imposing additional liability on these businesses and allows winning defendants to recover legal costs. The bill excludes claims about negligent entrustment, product defects when firearms are used properly, or violations of gun laws from being sued over. It directly affects firearm sellers, manufacturers, and trade associations by limiting their civil liability in most cases. The bill contains no new funding requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 101 amends Utah's firearm background check laws by creating two specific exemptions. It exempts individuals from background checks when purchasing a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm if they have an approved application from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) within the past 30 days. It also clarifies that Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) do not need to conduct background checks when transferring firearms to another FFL. These changes directly affect firearm dealers, NFA applicants, and FFLs during specific transactions, while leaving general background check requirements for most firearm sales unchanged. The bill makes no changes to funding or other policy areas.

Maddy summaryHB 473 moves Utah's Colorado River Authority from the governor's office to the Department of Natural Resources, streamlining oversight of Colorado River water management. The bill modifies how authority members are appointed, expands the authority's powers and duties, removes restrictions on the river commissioner's compensation, and repeals a restricted account. It also allocates $1.6 million in state funds for the authority's 2027 operations and capital needs. This bill directly affects the Colorado River Authority's structure, staffing, and management of water resources in Utah.

Maddy summaryHB 125 updates Utah's rules for preventing invasive mussels (like zebra or quagga mussels) from spreading via watercraft. It directly affects boat owners, renters, boat livery operators, and government agencies managing waterways. Key changes include clarifying definitions of "invasive mussel," exempting boat renters from fees and decals (with livery operators handling decontamination), updating fee collection processes, and modifying education requirements. These provisions aim to improve enforcement and reduce invasive species spread through clearer vessel operation rules.

Maddy summaryHB 251 clarifies procedures for submitting and verifying historical water claims on homestead parcels in Utah. It creates a rebuttable presumption that water use on homesteads is valid unless challenged, streamlining the process for landowners with longstanding, unrecorded water rights. The bill defines key terms, requires specific documentation for claims (like engineering surveys), and sets clear steps for the state engineer to review claims and handle disputes. This directly affects Utah homeowners and farmers who have used water on homestead property without formal permits but lack recorded water rights.

Maddy summaryHB 401 directs Utah's Office of Energy Development to study whether geothermal energy facilities can be developed at or near existing or retired coal power plants. The study must assess underground heat levels, infrastructure suitability, potential electricity output, costs, and economic impacts for each site, with results published online by December 31, 2027. The office must report annually to the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee before November meetings. This procedural bill affects the Office of Energy Development and coal plant sites, but does not fund construction or alter energy regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 419 expands the definition of "environmental action" to include judicial reviews of permits issued by Utah's Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining (previously excluded), affecting environmental groups or individuals suing over such permits. It requires plaintiffs seeking preliminary injunctions or administrative stays in these cases to post a surety bond to cover potential damages to defendants if they lose. The bond must be sufficient to compensate opponents of the injunction for harms caused, payable to those defendants if the plaintiff doesn't win on the merits. This changes the financial risk for plaintiffs in oil/gas mining permit disputes while maintaining existing bond requirements for other environmental cases. The bill takes effect May 6, 2026, with no new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 16 establishes new rules for utility-scale solar power plants in Utah, affecting developers planning projects permitted after May 6, 2026. It ties state financial incentives to land characteristics: projects on protected farmland (prime, irrigated, or high-capacity cropland) lose full incentives, while those on less productive land may qualify for partial support. The bill also requires wildlife impact consultations, mandates decommissioning plans with financial assurance (like bonds or letters of credit), and sets site restoration standards. Existing projects with pre-2026 agreements or permits are exempt from these new rules.

Maddy summaryHB 313 updates Utah's licensing rules for landscape work. It requires the Division of Professional Licensing to define "landscape work" and specify which licensees can perform it. Landscaping licensees must complete 6 hours of continuing education every two years, including an additional 3 hours focused on water conservation (like drought-tolerant plants and efficient irrigation) and fire risk management (such as fire-resistant landscape designs). The bill affects current and future landscape contractors who need to renew their licenses under these new education requirements, effective May 6, 2026.