Rep. Karen Peterson

Maddy summaryHB 115 exempts sales of motorcycles and passenger vehicles with a model year at least 10 years older than the current calendar year from Utah's sales and use tax. This directly affects buyers and sellers of older vehicles who would previously have paid the tax on these transactions. The bill amends Utah Code Section 59-12-104 to add this exemption while making minor technical corrections to existing tax law. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment with no new state funding required.

Maddy summarySB 1 allocates $44.5 million for Utah's public higher education institutions for fiscal year 2026 and $3.08 billion for 2027, funding operations, instruction, research, and specific programs. It directs funds from the General Fund, Income Tax Fund, and other sources to institutions like the University of Utah (including its School of Medicine, cancer research, and hospital) and Utah State University (covering veterinary medicine, dentistry, and career education). The bill specifies detailed budget breakdowns for departments such as academic support, student services, and initiatives like the Poison Control Center. This funding directly supports the day-to-day operations and strategic priorities of Utah's public universities.

Maddy summarySB 2001, titled "Election Amendments," modifies Utah's election rules for the 2026 U.S. Representative race. It allows candidates to file a "notice of intent" to gather signatures before officially declaring candidacy and permits signature collection from any state resident (not just their district) for congressional petitions. The bill sets a specific filing window (March 9-13, 2026) for U.S. Representative candidates and requires them to withdraw from other offices before filing. These changes apply only to the 2026 election cycle and affect candidates seeking the U.S. House seat in Utah. No new funding is appropriated for this bill.

Maddy summaryHB 530 reorganizes Utah's Utah Innovation Lab into a new entity called the Nucleus Institute, changing its governance and structure. The bill creates a board of directors (including higher education and industry representatives), establishes an executive director, and amends the Utah Innovation Fund to require an investment committee for managing fund investments. It specifies that the Nucleus Institute will coordinate with higher education institutions to support technology commercialization and innovation districts, while clarifying that the institute and fund are not subject to standard public meeting or records laws. The bill makes structural changes without appropriating new funds or altering the fund's purpose of providing qualified investments to businesses commercializing state-developed technology.

Maddy summaryHB 313 updates Utah's State Construction Code to align with the latest International Residential Code (IRC) and National Electrical Code (NEC) standards. It removes specific water heater regulations in certain areas and resolves conflicts with another bill (H.B. 175) through a coordination clause. This affects builders, contractors, and homeowners by updating safety and construction requirements to match current national standards. The bill makes technical adjustments to code references without adding new costs or funding. It does not create new regulations but modernizes existing ones for consistency with industry practices.

Maddy summaryHB 545 prohibits Utah school districts from entering into agreements that delegate governance authority - such as decisions about curriculum, budgets, or operations - to private entities. The bill specifically bans contracts with private associations or non-government groups that would transfer such authority, with only a narrow exception for school community councils defined under existing law. This law, effective May 7, 2025, ensures school governance remains under local school boards rather than private organizations. It applies directly to all Utah public school districts and any private entities seeking to partner on governance.

Maddy summaryHB 442 modifies Utah's construction licensing rules to create new pathways for contractors. It establishes specific requirements for general engineering contractor licenses focused on electrical utilities and sets standards for HVAC contractor licenses. The bill allows applicants with sufficient hands-on experience (instead of formal education) to qualify for certain licenses, and grants the licensing division authority to set experience standards for journeyman linemen from other states. These changes directly affect electrical utility contractors, HVAC professionals, and out-of-state workers seeking Utah licensing.

Maddy summarySB 327 redefines key terms for public sector labor organizations in Utah, clarifying that these groups must be independent of public employers and excluding organizations handling internal HR or legal functions. It explicitly states that private employees have the right to collectively bargain with their employers through labor unions or associations. The bill includes a coordination clause ensuring its definitions override a similar bill (H.B. 267) if both pass. These changes directly affect public employees, their labor organizations, and the process of collective bargaining in Utah. The bill makes no financial appropriations and takes effect upon the effective date of H.B. 267.

Maddy summaryUtah's SB 98 requires the State Board of Education to create and distribute a video to parents about technology safety issues students may face. The video specifically covers topics like sharing personal data online and creating/sharing inappropriate images, both real and artificial. School districts must make this video available to parents of students enrolled in their schools. This policy directly affects parents of Utah public school students and replaces prior requirements for in-person parent seminars on related topics like mental health and bullying.

Maddy summarySB 223 updates definitions related to bullying in Utah's public education code. It clarifies the term "bullying" by aligning it with existing Section 53G-9-601 and adds specific definitions for "staff bullying" and "student bullying." These changes directly affect public schools, administrators, and students by standardizing how bullying incidents are documented and reported. The bill makes technical corrections to multiple education code sections without adding new requirements or funding.