HB 192 amends Utah's Public Education Scholarship Program by explicitly prohibiting certain expenses from being covered by scholarship funds. It bars costs related to sports, recreational activities (like team fees, uniforms, or ski passes), and any programs already available through public schools. This change directly affects scholarship recipients and program managers by restricting eligible uses of funds for educational expenses. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and includes only technical updates to the program's definitions and rules.
SB 301 updates Utah's law protecting public speech from frivolous lawsuits. It narrows the law to apply only to defamation or slander cases involving constitutional rights like free speech or assembly. Key changes require courts to dismiss such cases without final judgment if they don't meet legal standards, and limit when defendants can recover legal costs or fees. This primarily affects activists, journalists, and community members speaking on public issues who face lawsuits over their expression.
HB 460 requires Utah elected officials to disclose travel expenses (including transportation and lodging outside Utah) provided by foreign governments or their agents. It directly affects state legislators and other officials defined under Utah law, mandating disclosure within 31 days if they know or should reasonably know the travel was funded by a foreign entity. The bill specifies that disclosures must include the official's name, travel dates, and the foreign entity's name, and requires the lieutenant governor to make these records publicly available within one business day. This law aims to increase transparency about potential foreign influence in official travel, effective May 7, 2025.
HB 121 amends Utah's health education requirements for public schools, directly affecting students and local education agencies (LEAs). It mandates that curriculum include instruction on sexual assault resource strategies, sexual violence prevention, and the legal consequences of sharing explicit images electronically. LEAs must review local sexual assault data to inform their health education policies and incorporate relevant findings. The bill requires age-appropriate instruction on these topics at least twice between grades 7 and 12, with no state funding provided for implementation.
HB 30 creates Utah's "Indian Family Preservation Act" to replace references to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in state law. It directly affects Native American families in Utah whose children are involved in custody or foster care cases by establishing new state standards for child placement, requiring consultation with tribes, and clarifying best interests for Indian children. Key provisions include defining tribal affiliation requirements, prioritizing placement with extended family or tribal communities, creating an Office of American Indian-Alaska Native Health and Family Services, and appointing a dedicated liaison to coordinate with tribes. The law makes specific policy changes to how state agencies handle child welfare cases involving Native children, ensuring tribal sovereignty and cultural considerations are integrated into state processes.
HB 565 establishes a two-year pilot program (2026-2027) using red light cameras at up to 10 high-risk intersections identified by Utah's Department of Transportation based on crash and fatality data. The program includes a 30-day data collection phase, a 60-day public education period with signage, and a 12-month camera implementation phase. Drivers caught running red lights during the pilot receive a warning for first violations (with photo evidence), and a civil notice with a $130 maximum fine for repeat violations - no additional fees may be charged. The bill requires the Department of Transportation and law enforcement to report on the program's effectiveness and mandates clear signage and photo evidence for all enforcement actions.
HB 145 clarifies the membership and appointment process for Utah's Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Advisory Committee. It specifies that the committee must include individuals with personal experience of brain/spinal cord injuries, parents/caregivers of affected individuals, qualified healthcare professionals (who don't benefit from the injury fund), and two legislators appointed by chamber leadership. The bill sets four-year terms with staggered appointments, requires the committee to establish priorities for distributing funds from the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Fund, and review care quality for affected individuals. It does not appropriate new funding or change the fund's existing structure. The committee's duties include evaluating care provided through charitable clinics and identifying potential new funding sources.
HB 386 amends Utah's Public Waters Access Act to clarify recreational access rights on private property near public waterways. It establishes that public recreational access (for activities like fishing and floating) can be created through 10 consecutive years of continuous, open, and unobstructed public use starting after 1982, requiring proof of "adverse" use. The bill clarifies that stream beds are presumed private property unless proven otherwise through evidence of navigability or government ownership. It also excludes impounded wetlands, private hunting areas, and manmade irrigation features from public access rights. These changes primarily affect landowners and recreational users of Utah's rivers, lakes, and streams.
SB 160 amends Utah's product liability law to change the requirements for proving defective design claims. It removes the need for plaintiffs (people suing over defective products) to demonstrate that a safer alternative design existed to win their case. The bill specifically updates Utah Code Section 78B-6-703 to state that a claimant is not required to show the availability of a safer, feasible alternative design to prevail in a defective design claim. This change directly affects consumers and businesses involved in product liability lawsuits by lowering a key evidentiary hurdle. The bill takes effect on May 7, 2025, with no fiscal impact or additional requirements.
HB 179 removes income limits that previously prevented some Utah residents from claiming a tax credit for Social Security benefits. It eliminates the modified adjusted gross income thresholds (ranging from $37,500 to $75,000 based on filing status) that previously reduced or denied the credit. This change allows more Social Security recipients to claim the full nonrefundable tax credit against their state taxes. The bill applies retroactively to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and takes effect May 7, 2025.
HB 149 prohibits institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes in Utah, directly affecting large real estate firms, corporations, or investment trusts (excluding affordable housing nonprofits, family trusts, or family-owned LLCs). The bill requires any institutional investor that violates this ban to sell the home within one year of purchase. It defines key terms like "institutional investor," "family trust," and "single-family housing" to clarify scope and exemptions. The law takes effect on May 7, 2025, with no funding impact.
HB 291 establishes a standardized procedure for conducting mayoral recall elections in Utah cities. It defines key terms, sets requirements for filing recall petitions (including signature gathering, submission, and validation rules), and outlines the process for holding the election and counting votes. The bill directly affects citizens seeking to remove a mayor and city election officials responsible for administering the recall process. It includes criminal penalties for misconduct during the petition phase and makes technical updates to election law codes. This is a procedural bill focused on creating clear, consistent rules for mayoral recalls, with no funding impact.
