Rep. Karen Peterson

Maddy summaryHB 45 updates Utah's State Fire Code to incorporate the 2024 editions of the International Fire Code and related National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. It makes technical corrections to existing code sections, adds new definitions (like "ambulatory surgical center" and "assisted living facility" types), and clarifies administrative procedures for fire code officials. The bill directly affects building owners, contractors, and fire code officials who must follow these updated references. No new funding is required, as it primarily aligns Utah's code with current national standards without creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 500 amends Utah's criminal trespass law to clarify how property owners must provide notice that entry is prohibited. It specifies four acceptable methods: personal communication, visible fencing/enclosures, posted signs, or livestock barriers. The bill updates penalties, making most trespasses a class B misdemeanor but elevating some to class A misdemeanor if occurring in dwellings or sensitive areas like sex-designated changing rooms. Property owners can also seek civil damages of up to triple the harm or $500, plus attorney fees.

Maddy summaryHB 568 limits local governments in Utah from imposing impact fees exceeding $50,000 for any single type of public facility (like parks or roads) on development projects. It directly affects developers paying these fees and local governments setting them, ensuring fees cannot exceed this cap for a specific facility type. The bill amends Utah law to prohibit fees above $50,000 per facility type while maintaining existing exemptions, such as no fees for school districts on parks or for certain state-owned developments. This change aims to cap development costs for specific infrastructure needs without creating new fees.

Maddy summarySB 258 makes Utah's Infant at Work Program permanent, expanding it beyond the Department of Health and Human Services to allow other state executive agencies to join. The bill directly affects state employees with infants aged 6 weeks to 6 months who have worked at least 1,250 hours over 12 consecutive months. Key provisions require agencies to get approval from the Division of Human Resource Management, adopt written policies for workplace safety, and evaluate each employee’s eligibility based on their work environment and operational needs. The program allows eligible employees to bring their infants to work while maintaining sole responsibility for the infant’s care and safety during work hours.

Maddy summaryHB 489, the Water Infrastructure Amendments, requires local governments in the Great Salt Lake basin to prioritize low impact development (like permeable surfaces and rain gardens) over retention basins for storm water management, unless no feasible alternative exists. It mandates that detention basins in the basin be designed to release water as quickly as possible without compromising flood control or drainage capacity. The bill also establishes a process for independent review of storm water design disputes, with costs shared equally between applicants and local governments. These changes directly affect municipalities, counties, and developers operating within the Great Salt Lake basin under Utah’s storm water permitting system.

Maddy summaryHB 584 creates "Program III" for Utah state employees, allowing them to convert unused sick leave hours accrued on or after January 4, 2014, into a payout equal to 50% of their unused leave value (based on retirement pay rate). It also permits employees with unused sick leave under older "Program I" or "Program II" to make a one-time, irrevocable election to switch to Program III for the 50% payout. This directly affects current and future state employees who have accrued eligible sick leave since 2014. The bill modifies existing retirement benefit codes to implement these changes without new state funding.

Maddy summaryHB 242 amends Utah's rules for removing signatures from initiative and referendum petitions. It requires anyone gathering signature removal requests to be at least 18 years old, and mandates paid gatherers to display a badge with their ID, the petition name, and verify the signer's identity. The bill also requires paid gatherers to include a notice stating that removing a signature may prevent the petition from appearing on the ballot, prohibits paying by the signature (only hourly rates allowed), and bans using petitioners' email addresses for non-petition purposes. These changes aim to increase transparency and prevent misuse during the signature removal process.

Maddy summaryHB 365 requires local taxing entities (like cities, counties, and school districts) to notify residents *before* starting their budget process if they plan to increase property taxes beyond the previous year's certified rate. The notice must include the approximate revenue increase amount and the purpose of the increase. If the entity fails to provide this notice, the State Tax Commission cannot approve their proposed tax increase, and the tax rate is limited to the amount stated in the notice. This bill modifies Utah's existing tax notification rules to enhance transparency before budget decisions that affect property owners' bills.

Maddy summarySB 176 requires Utah state agencies to purchase electric-powered landscape maintenance equipment when replacing old gasoline-powered equipment for routine outdoor care (like mowing or trimming) on state government grounds. It applies specifically to properties in counties classified as first or second class with less than 50,000 square feet of maintained grounds. Exceptions allow exemptions if electric equipment is impractical due to terrain features or during emergencies. The law takes effect on May 6, 2026, and does not appropriate new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 398 updates regulations for towing dispatch vendors in Utah, directly affecting these vendors, tow truck motor carriers, and local agencies managing towing services. The bill requires dispatch technology to reduce delays, improve transparency in tow rotations, and enhance responder safety, while prohibiting vendors from also providing towing or impound services. It also establishes rules for removing carriers from dispatch lists and prevents individuals with financial interests in removed carriers from joining new lists under different entities. These changes amend existing Utah Code sections governing towing dispatch programs and local authority preemption.