Rep. Sandra Hollins

Maddy summaryHB 309 aligns Utah's observance of Juneteenth National Freedom Day with the federal government's date (June 19), ending Utah's previous practice of adjusting the holiday to a Monday. This change directly affects Utah residents by ensuring Juneteenth is recognized on June 19 each year, regardless of the day of the week. The bill also updates parent-time schedules under Utah law to include Juneteenth as a designated holiday for custody arrangements. No new funding is required, and the bill modifies existing Utah Code sections to reflect this federal alignment.

Maddy summarySB 279 creates a 50% nonrefundable tax credit for property owners within one mile of designated "homeless services campuses" (facilities offering emergency shelter, mental health services, and support in one location, excluding correctional centers or microshelters). It directly affects qualifying property owners who receive annual tax notices for their land near these campuses. The credit equals half the property taxes paid in the year the tax notice is issued, applied to the owner’s state tax return. This policy aims to offset costs for neighbors of these facilities through a direct tax reduction.

Maddy summarySB 239 establishes rules for Utah's "homeless services campus," a single facility providing emergency shelter, mental health treatment, and support services to people experiencing homelessness. It requires the state coordinator and Homeless Services Board to create a comprehensive plan covering safety, transportation, services offered, and staff requirements within a set timeframe after selecting a campus location. The bill also creates an ombudsman role to investigate campus violations, recommend remediation, and potentially halt operations, while mandating reporting and coordination with public safety entities. These changes directly affect the Office of Homeless Services, the Utah Homeless Services Board, campus operators, and the people using these facilities.

Maddy summarySB 246 amends Utah's Homeless Services Board membership requirements to ensure local community representation when a new homeless services campus location is announced. Specifically, it requires the board to appoint a member who either lives within five miles of the campus (chosen by a community organization) or represents the west side of Salt Lake City (appointed by the Westside Coalition) within 30 days of the campus location being announced. This change directly affects the board's composition and communities near proposed campus sites. The bill makes technical adjustments to the board's structure but does not appropriate funding or alter service delivery. It focuses on procedural updates to governance rather than substantive policy changes.

Maddy summaryHouse Resolution 2 promotes the establishment of the Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail in Utah to honor the historical contributions of Black soldiers (known as Buffalo Soldiers) who served in the state during the late 1800s. The resolution identifies specific locations for the trail, including Fort Douglas, Strawberry Valley, and Moab, and encourages collaboration with organizations like the Sema Hadithi Foundation and Utah's State Historic Preservation Office to develop educational exhibits and events. It does not appropriate funds but calls for support from state agencies, businesses, and donors to preserve this history and educate the public about the Buffalo Soldiers' role in building Utah's infrastructure and protecting communities.

Maddy summaryHB 370 designates June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day, a legal holiday in Utah. If June 19 falls on a Saturday, the holiday is observed on the preceding Friday; if it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. The bill also modifies Utah's parent-time schedules for minor children to include Juneteenth as a designated holiday. This affects state employees, courts handling custody cases, and families with court-ordered parent-time arrangements. The changes update existing holiday recognition rules and parent-time provisions without appropriating new funds.