SB 70 limits what consumer reporting agencies in Utah can share about certain individuals. It prohibits agencies from providing non-public personal information about "protected consumers" (defined as minors under 16, incapacitated persons, or protected persons) without specific authorization. The bill creates exceptions for valid requests and clarifies definitions, such as requiring "sufficient proof of authority" for representatives acting on behalf of protected consumers. These changes aim to restrict the sharing of sensitive personal details while maintaining access to necessary credit information.
SB 119 reorganizes Utah's domestic relations laws by moving statutes from Title 78B to Title 81 in the Utah Code. It updates terminology (like changing "support-enforcement agency" to "child support services agency"), clarifies court jurisdiction for adoptions, and coordinates references with related bills. This technical recodification affects courts, child support agencies, and adoption processes by making legal references consistent, but does not change substantive rights or procedures for families. The bill makes no new policy changes, only reorganizes existing law and fixes minor inconsistencies.
HB 258 amends Utah's Medicare supplement insurance rules to directly affect enrollees in these plans. It requires insurers to allow members to switch to a comparable or lower-tier plan annually (on their birthday plus 60 days) without medical underwriting. The bill prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on health status when enrollees choose a different plan within the same insurer's offerings. This change aims to provide more flexibility in plan selection while maintaining access to coverage regardless of health history. The law does not appropriate funds or alter existing coverage requirements beyond this annual switching provision.
HB 355 modifies Utah's laws governing sand, gravel, and rock aggregate operations (defined as "critical infrastructure materials") to protect existing operators' rights. It creates a "vested critical infrastructure materials use" for operations established before January 2019, allowing operators to expand to contiguous land they own or control by May 7, 2025. The bill enables operators to extend, enlarge, or modernize their operations on this land without losing protected status, while requiring them to file declarations recording their rights. It repeals a study requirement and makes technical updates to related statutes, affecting current operators but not creating new permitting processes.
HB 344 requires Utah school districts (local education agencies) to ensure every student has at least one fee-free option for required core courses (like English, math, science) starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates clear fee disclosure in registration materials and prohibits charging fees for non-fee courses (core subjects), instructional supplies, extracurricular activities, discretionary projects, or expenses beyond basic instruction. The bill also bans supplementing prohibited fees through general fee increases or new charges for activities like field trips or equipment. It repeals outdated textbook fee language and makes technical updates to existing education code sections. The law applies directly to students and school districts, aiming to reduce financial barriers to required coursework.
HB 76 amends Utah's public education system to streamline operations and adjust funding mechanisms. It allows local school districts to use leftover funds from teacher salary programs to increase payments under specific circumstances, adds Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind to the eligible programs, and removes redundant language about college readiness plans. The bill also changes kindergarten enrollment rules (permitting students moving from other states to enroll without age adjustments) and eliminates requirements for toilet-training assessments and digital communication platforms for early learning plans. These changes reduce administrative burdens on schools while maintaining existing funding levels, with no new money appropriated.
HB 300 updates Utah's election procedures, primarily affecting voters and election officials. It requires voters with Utah driver's licenses or ID cards to include the last four digits of that card (or SSN) on mail ballot return envelopes, with signature verification allowed until 2029. Starting in 2029, voters without Utah ID or SSN must provide alternative ID copies or vote in person (with exceptions), and mail ballot requests will remain active for eight years unless canceled. The bill also directs the lieutenant governor to develop procedures for verifying voter registration records and investigating undeliverable ballots, while adding new duties related to federal jury list coordination.
HB 228 amends Utah's public school immunization rules to simplify exemption handling. It removes expiration dates for medical or personal vaccination exemption forms, meaning these forms remain valid for the student's entire time in Utah public schools. The bill also requires schools to automatically share a student's immunization record with their new school when they transfer, rather than requiring re-submission. These changes directly affect all public school students and their families in Utah, streamlining record-keeping and reducing administrative burdens for schools.
SB 115 requires all Utah state correctional facilities and county jails to screen every new inmate for substance use disorders during intake. It mandates facilities to use screening results to guide treatment and programming decisions, and to report related data to the State Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. The bill amends existing laws (Utah Code 17-22-8 and 17-22-32) to add these screening and reporting requirements, including specific protocols for substance use disorder treatment. No new funding is provided for these changes, and the law directly affects inmates in custody and the facilities managing their care.
HB 281 requires parental consent for most health services provided to students in Utah public schools, including telehealth and counseling. It defines "restricted services" (like mental health counseling), mandates written parental consent before starting such services, and requires schools to notify parents after each session about topics discussed. The bill also updates health education curriculum to include "situational awareness" and the "success sequence," while clarifying that schools cannot promote or disparage religious views in instruction. These changes directly affect students, parents, and school health staff in Utah public schools, with no new funding required.
HB 368 amends Utah's local land use laws, primarily affecting municipalities and counties in their regulation of development and property use. Key changes include eliminating mandatory public hearings for land use variances or appeals, preventing local governments from requiring private entities (like homeowners associations) to maintain public amenities or water utilities, and creating an expedited review process for identical building floor plans. The bill also modifies procedures for annexation, boundary adjustments, warranty work inspections, and landscaping regulations across multiple statutes. These changes aim to streamline local land use processes while clarifying responsibilities between governments and property owners.
SB 120 exempts licensed veterinarians in Utah from the state's Controlled Substances Act when prescribing, administering, or dispensing gabapentin for animal patients within their professional scope. This directly affects veterinarians who treat animals with gabapentin, removing regulatory barriers they previously faced under controlled substances rules. The bill creates a new legal exemption (codified as Utah Code 58-37-6.1) specifically for veterinary use of gabapentin, without requiring additional state funding. It takes effect on May 7, 2025, and does not alter regulations for human medical use of the drug.
