HB 42 establishes minimum cybersecurity standards for Utah's public schools (local education agencies) and expands the Utah Cyber Center's role to provide dedicated security services to schools. It requires schools to implement specific measures like multi-factor authentication, patch management, and endpoint detection systems, while mandating incident reporting to the Cyber Center. The law also directs the State Board of Education to develop implementation guidelines and creates new reporting requirements for cybersecurity breaches in educational settings. These changes directly affect all Utah public schools and their cybersecurity practices, aiming to strengthen protection for student and school data. The bill contains no new funding and amends several existing Utah Code sections related to education and cybersecurity.
HB 88 requires Utah agencies to verify an applicant's lawful presence in the U.S. before providing state or local public benefits, using the federal SAVE program. It prohibits benefits for individuals unlawfully present in the U.S., with exceptions for emergency medical care, disaster relief, and certain health services. The bill also updates eligibility rules for Utah's Children's Health Insurance Program. This policy directly affects individuals applying for public benefits like food assistance or housing programs.
HB 74 amends Utah's rules for gathering signatures on initiative and referendum petitions. It requires that petition signers had the opportunity to read the full statement in the petition packet, and that signature gatherers believe signers read the law being petitioned. The bill also allows using spiral binders for petition packets and permits signature gatherers to remove individual sheets during collection. These changes directly affect individuals signing or collecting signatures for voter initiatives and referendums.
SB 42 extends the repeal date for Utah's State Weed Committee from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. This procedural bill does not change the committee's structure or duties - it continues to advise on noxious weed programs with members from agricultural agencies, universities, and industry groups. The bill makes only technical adjustments to align the committee's termination date with other related statutes. It has no budget impact and does not alter existing policy or responsibilities.
SB 57 increases the number of judges in Utah's district courts, juvenile courts, and the Court of Appeals. Specifically, it adds one judge to the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth District Courts (e.g., raising district judges from 14 to 15 in the Second District), increases juvenile court judges in the Fourth District from seven to eight, and adds one judge to the Court of Appeals, raising its total from seven to eight. The bill makes these structural changes to judicial staffing without altering court procedures or requiring new funding. It directly affects Utah's court systems by expanding judicial capacity to manage caseloads, with changes effective May 6, 2026.
HB 107 creates a sales tax exemption for the purchase price of a lower-priced vehicle when a person buys and sells two vehicles in separate transactions. It requires buyers to pay registration fees by the end of the month following expiration (with late penalties) and makes new registrations effective in the same month as the previous registration. The bill eliminates the "cure period" for tax violations and redirects penalties from vehicle tax violations to the state General Fund. It primarily affects Utah residents who trade vehicles, simplifying tax treatment for such transactions without adding new state spending.
HB 70 requires Utah's Department of Health and Human Services to implement a new electronic health record system for inmate care by 2026, based on a working group's recommendations. It makes funds for unexpected high-cost correctional health care non-lapsing (meaning they won't expire if unused), and mandates a treatment plan for all inmates with substance use disorders, including medication-based treatment. The bill also sets accreditation standards for correctional health facilities and allows parole boards to consider health examiner reports when deciding parole conditions. These changes directly affect inmates in Utah's correctional facilities, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Corrections.
HB 85, titled "State Sovereignty Amendments," prohibits Utah's governor and local officials from declaring a state of emergency solely based on an international organization's (such as the UN, WHO, or World Economic Forum) declaration. The bill declares that international organizations have no legal authority in Utah and bans state agencies, counties, cities, and other local governments from implementing or enforcing their directives. It defines key terms like "chief executive officer" and "international organization" to clarify which officials and actions are covered by the law. The bill amends existing Utah code sections and does not appropriate new funds.
HB 112 updates Utah's political advertising rules to address modern communication methods. It explicitly includes social media platforms as venues for political ads and clarifies that if multiple people fund a single advertisement, all contributors must disclose their payments. The bill also authorizes election officials to impose fines for violations of these advertising rules. These changes apply directly to campaigns, political committees, and organizations running political ads on platforms like Facebook or X. The law does not appropriate funds or alter election timing.
This bill narrows Utah's flag display restrictions from all government properties to apply only to school grounds. It removes rules governing flag displays in non-school government buildings (like city halls or state offices) and eliminates the state auditor's role in enforcing flag rules for those locations. Schools must still follow existing rules about which flags can be displayed, including exemptions for U.S. and Utah state flags, military flags, and school-specific flags. The law now focuses exclusively on school property, with no financial impact or new requirements for other government entities.
HB 43 creates Utah's School Safety Support Program to fund school safety measures like personnel, infrastructure, and emergency protocols. It directs state funding to school districts and charter schools based on enrollment (with a 20% equal share for all charters and 80% per student), requiring schools to submit safety plans and annual reports to receive funds. The bill protects this program from funding cuts during enrollment declines and adds it to existing education programs eligible for annual inflation adjustments. No new money is appropriated - funding comes from existing state education budgets. The program applies to all public schools meeting safety requirements under Utah's School Security Act.
HB 114 reorganizes Utah's laws on adult performances and materials by creating new standalone criminal offenses. It moves conduct like presenting pornographic performances in public places, aiding minors in such performances, and harmful performances near minors into separate charges, rather than grouping them under existing "distributing material" offenses. Penalties now vary by the actor's age (third-degree felony for adults, misdemeanors for minors), with specific fines and jail terms. The bill clarifies existing prohibitions - such as on school property or harmful material - without introducing new restrictions.
