HB 138 clarifies that a person can be charged with child abuse homicide if a child dies by suicide directly caused by the abuse or torture. The bill amends Utah Code Section 76-5-208 to explicitly include suicide as a possible outcome under the child abuse homicide statute when abuse is the direct or immediate cause. It also corrects a technical error in the penalty structure for these offenses and adds a coordination clause for potential overlap with another bill (S.B. 32). This change affects how prosecutors charge individuals whose abuse leads to a child's suicide, making it a criminal offense under the specified felony classifications.
HB 338 requires all Utah first responder agencies to provide mental health services to current first responders, their spouses and children, surviving spouses of line-of-duty deaths, and retired or separated first responders (and their spouses) for three years after separation. It creates a Mental Health Resources Reserve Account funded by agency contributions to provide grants for mental health plans, prioritizing small agencies, and mandates the Department of Public Safety to submit annual compliance reports to specific committees and a public safety portal. The bill also updates grant application requirements to ensure providers have first responder-specific experience and outlines detailed plan criteria for agencies seeking funding. No new state funds are appropriated; existing resources will support these expanded services.
SB 159 requires public schools in Utah to screen all kindergarten through second-grade students for dyslexia. Large school districts (over 3,000 students) must administer screenings annually, while regional education agencies handle screenings for small districts and charter schools upon request. Parents can also request screenings for their children in grades K-2, including students in home schools or scholarship programs. The bill mandates state funding distribution for implementation but does not appropriate funds in this bill. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 294 requires private employers with 50 or more employees to verify new hires' federal work authorization using a designated system (like E-Verify) starting July 1, 2027. It directly affects larger private employers by mandating this verification process for all new hires, with an exception for H-2A and H-2B visa holders. The bill also specifies criminal penalties for using fraudulent or stolen identification to obtain employment, referencing Utah’s fraud and identity theft laws. This amendment updates an existing law (Utah Code 13-47-201) to lower the employee threshold from 150 to 50 and adjusts the effective date. The bill does not appropriate new funds or create new administrative requirements beyond the verification mandate.
SB 171 allows non-domiciled individuals lawfully present in the U.S. and authorized to work to obtain a Utah commercial driver license with a "K" restriction. This license permits driving commercial vehicles only within Utah, not across state lines, and requires a signed statement acknowledging these limitations. The license expires when the individual's federal work authorization ends, and it does not qualify for interstate driving under federal rules. The bill updates Utah law to create this specific restriction while requiring applicants to meet all standard commercial driving standards.
HB 226 allows Utah county sheriffs to create "sheriff's work programs" where eligible prisoners complete supervised public works projects (like park cleanups or community repairs) instead of serving jail time. It directly affects non-violent offenders sentenced to 30 days or less who voluntarily agree to participate, excluding those with prior convictions for certain offenses or under court orders. Key provisions require sheriffs to establish program rules covering eligibility, work assignments, safety, fees, and disciplinary measures, while granting participants one day of jail credit for every eight hours worked. The bill clarifies that participants remain under the sheriff’s official custody during the program and updates existing laws to align with these changes. No new funding is appropriated, and the bill takes effect in May 2026.
HB 304 requires businesses and government offices that accept digital or card payments at physical locations to also accept cash payments. It mandates that businesses with multiple checkout areas must maintain at least one cash-accepting terminal per location. The bill preserves the right for businesses to require exact change but does not apply to online transactions. If enacted, this would create Utah’s "Supplier Cash Act" under new sections of state law, adding specific requirements to the existing consumer protection framework.
SB 169 ensures all Utah students who meet graduation requirements can participate in commencement ceremonies, including those in online programs (unless safety concerns prevent it). It requires school districts to allow this participation and gives the State Board of Education oversight to monitor local graduation policies. The bill does not change graduation requirements or standards but clarifies that students in online programs must have equal ceremony access. This policy affects all high school students earning diplomas, particularly those in remote learning environments.
HB 191 amends Utah's airport definitions to explicitly include "flight parks" - areas used for hang gliding or similar nonmotorized aircraft that are FAA-recognized and publicly owned. This change ensures flight parks receive the same land use protections as traditional airports, including a 1,000-foot "influence area" buffer (compared to 500 feet for vertiports) and requirements for local governments to adopt airport overlay zones. The bill mandates that cities/counties within these areas must enforce noise notifications, conform development to FAA airspace rules, and may require avigation easements for new construction. It applies directly to flight parks (like public hang gliding sites) and local zoning authorities, with a delayed deadline (2026) for flight parks versus regular airports (2024). No funding is appropriated, and the bill focuses solely on clarifying regulatory treatment.
HB 169 repeals Utah’s statutory requirement for boat insurance, directly affecting boaters who previously had to carry coverage. The bill removes this mandate from multiple code sections and makes technical adjustments to related statutes. No funding is appropriated, and the changes take effect upon the governor’s approval. This policy shift simplifies regulatory requirements for boaters without introducing new obligations.
SB 84 creates the Department of Commerce Technology, Education, and Training Fund to support specific technology and training activities within Utah's Department of Commerce. The fund will be financed by existing fees collected by the Division of Corporations (for business filings) and the Division of Professional Licensing (for public licensee lists), with all interest earned also deposited into the fund. This money will directly pay for employee training, technology maintenance for business registrations, public education materials about licensing and filings, and subscription services for business data. The bill does not appropriate new state funds but redirects existing fee revenue toward these defined purposes.
HB 256 changes Utah school board elections from nonpartisan to partisan, meaning candidates will run under political party labels like other elected offices. It modifies election procedures to use the same partisan primary process as county offices, updates rules for filling vacancies, and adjusts campaign finance reporting requirements for school board candidates and members. This directly affects school board candidates, officeholders, and voters in Utah school districts by introducing party competition into local education governance. The bill makes no changes to school funding or curriculum, focusing solely on election structure and campaign rules. (No money is appropriated for this change.)
