HB 197 amends Utah's law on enticing a minor and updates the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry rules. It adds factors for courts to consider when determining registration length for offenders under 21, clarifies which agency handles removal petitions from the registry, and requires out-of-state offenders to first remove themselves from the original jurisdiction's registry before seeking removal in Utah. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of enticing minors or other registrable offenses, particularly those under 21 or moving between states. These changes streamline registry management without altering criminal penalties or adding new costs.
HB 297 amends Utah's expungement laws to clarify and update procedures for clearing criminal records. It defines key terms (like "automatic expungement"), modifies which offenses are ineligible for automatic expungement (excluding some drug offenses), and requires that a "certificate of eligibility" be valid at the time of filing a petition. The bill also updates rules for notifying the state criminal records agency, adjusts venue for expungement petitions, and aligns with related laws about offender registries. These changes directly affect individuals with eligible criminal records seeking to expunge convictions or arrests, particularly those involving sex offenses, child abuse, or protective orders.
HB 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committee to provide annual financial reports to the oversight committee on budgeting and state impacts, and removes outdated legal references through technical corrections.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.
HB 190, titled "Motorcycle Amendments," directly affects motorcycle operators in Utah by implementing new safety rules and enforcement measures. The bill bans lane splitting and wheelies on highways, requires license plates to be securely mounted horizontally at least 12 inches from the ground and clearly visible, and prohibits attaching plates under wheel wells. It establishes penalties including 90-day license suspensions for first violations (or 180 days for second violations) of plate rules, and allows police to impound motorcycles for these or other specified violations. The law takes effect immediately and does not require new funding.
HB 436 requires law enforcement agencies to collect specific data about DUI crashes and arrests, including injuries, test results, and property damage. This data must be sent to the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division, which then provides it to the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. The Commission must include this information in an annual public report on DUI incidents, alongside court data. All collected data will be stored in Utah’s public safety data portal, with no new funding required.
HB 216 creates an "Income Tax Surplus Restricted Account" to handle unexpected increases in Utah's state income tax revenue caused by federal tax law changes. It requires the State Tax Commission, Legislative Fiscal Analyst, and Governor's Office to annually determine by consensus if federal changes likely cause a ≥0.5% revenue increase, then report to the Revenue Committee. If confirmed, the Division of Finance must deposit the estimated surplus into the account, which can only be used for specific purposes authorized by the Legislature. The bill does not change tax rates but establishes a process to manage and restrict surplus revenue from federal tax policy shifts.
HB 201 requires Utah utilities to include full costs of backup resources (like storage or grid adjustments) in their energy plans and report different energy types (baseload, variable, storage) with specific metrics like expected delivery. It prohibits mandatory demand management programs that reduce electricity use and bans counting such reductions as equivalent to power generation capacity. The bill affects utilities filing integrated resource plans with Utah's Public Service Commission, mandating clearer reporting on variable resources (e.g., solar/wind) and excluding voluntary conservation programs from capacity calculations. Key changes include new cost attribution rules and restrictions on how demand reductions can be factored into planning.
HB 373 establishes a legal presumption that daycare providers using service marketplace platforms (like apps connecting caregivers with families) are independent contractors, not employees, unless clear evidence shows otherwise. It directly affects daycare providers who use these platforms to find clients, clarifying their employment status under Utah law. The bill adds new Section 34-53-202 to the Utah Code, mirroring existing rules for building service contractors but specifically applying to daycare services. This change takes effect on May 7, 2025, and does not involve funding or broader policy shifts.
HB 217 establishes an Office of the Homeowners' Association Ombudsman within Utah's Department of Commerce to provide free, non-binding advice on statutory violations involving HOAs. It directly affects HOAs and their members by prohibiting certain fees (like transfer fees, late fees, and charges for electronic document transmission), requiring written notice for denied plans, and limiting document production costs. Key provisions include voiding unenforceable fees, mandating annual HOA registration, and restricting HOAs from banning fire-resistant materials in wildfire-prone areas. The ombudsman’s advisory opinions are limited to statutory compliance and cannot interpret HOA governing documents. The bill takes effect after the Governor signed it on March 26, 2025.
HB 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.
HB 160 modifies licensing requirements for several professions in Utah, directly affecting architects, environmental health scientists, land surveyors, substance use disorder counselors, and geologists. The bill requires licensing boards to maintain at least two pathways to licensure (e.g., for architects) and updates qualification standards, such as clarifying degree requirements and exam processes. It makes technical adjustments to existing law without adding new fees or funding. The changes aim to streamline licensing while ensuring multiple routes to professional certification for these regulated fields.
HB 324 amends Utah's special group license plate program to allow individuals to purchase two plates for an additional fee and introduces a new white classic plate design. It permits corporate-sponsored plates, major league sports team plates, and changes how revenue from historical support plates is allocated - splitting funds between sponsoring agencies and the Transportation Investment Fund. The bill also exempts vintage vehicles from voluntary contributions for historical plates and allows college athletic program fees from license plate sales to fund student-athlete name/image/likeness compensation. These changes affect license plate buyers, sponsoring organizations, and state agencies managing plate revenue, with $3.5 million appropriated for implementation.
