Rep. Jen Dailey-Provost

Maddy summaryHB 510 requires Utah's Department of Agriculture and Food to study challenges in increasing local food availability within the state. The study will examine supply chains, crop production, agricultural workforce needs, and funding gaps for local food producers, including input from diverse farmers. The department must report findings and recommendations to the Natural Resources Committee by June 2026, with the study ending July 1, 2026 (sunset provision). The bill does not appropriate new funds or create direct regulatory changes.

Maddy summarySB 46 extends the expiration dates for Utah's Youth Electronic Cigarette, Marijuana, and Other Drug Prevention Program and its associated Prevention Committee. The bill requires the committee to meet at least quarterly, establishes priority rules for distributing funds from the Electronic Cigarette Substance and Nicotine Product Proceeds Restricted Account, and clarifies that funding shortages may lead to reduced stipends for school-based positive behavior specialists. It directly affects the state's prevention program, local health departments, schools, and the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Committee. The bill makes no new appropriations but ensures existing program structures continue operating beyond their original sunset dates.

Maddy summaryHB 54 amends Utah's hemp and medical cannabis regulations, directly affecting cannabinoid product manufacturers, processors, retailers, and medical cannabis pharmacies. It defines "artificially derived cannabinoids" (excluding naturally extracted compounds), prohibits certain synthetic cannabinoids in products, and gives the Department of Agriculture authority to limit specific cannabinoids. The bill creates a new medical cannabis pharmacy license with ownership restrictions, removes the requirement for products to be in medicinal dosage form, and mandates video surveillance for industrial hemp retailers. These changes update licensing rules, product safety standards, and operational requirements across the cannabis and hemp industry.

Maddy summaryHB 134 clarifies that food cart vendors may move their carts using an electric assisted bicycle, removing previous ambiguity in Utah law. This change directly affects food cart operators by expanding their mobility options without requiring motorized vehicles. The bill amends Utah Code Section 11-56-102 to explicitly include carts pulled by electric assisted bicycles in the definition of "food cart." The amendment takes effect on May 7, 2025, and does not appropriate new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 223 requires state agencies administering grants to disclose their administration costs to grant recipients upon request. It mandates written details including work hours, hourly labor costs, other expenses (like consultant fees), and the total amount retained for administration. This applies to all state grant programs and directly affects grant recipients (such as nonprofits or local governments) seeking transparency about how agency costs are calculated. The bill takes effect on May 7, 2025, and involves no new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 310 creates a program to provide "wraparound services" (additional health services not covered by their other insurance) to disabled Utah residents who recently had Medicaid but now have other health coverage. It requires Utah's Department of Health to seek a federal Medicaid waiver by July 2025, allowing eligible individuals to access these services while paying income-based cost-sharing. The cost-sharing uses a sliding scale: 10% minimum for higher earners (over 400% of federal poverty level), with a monthly cap of $1,500, and premiums paid for other coverage count toward these costs. The bill takes effect May 2025, pending federal waiver approval.

Maddy summaryHB 192 amends Utah's Public Education Scholarship Program by explicitly prohibiting certain expenses from being covered by scholarship funds. It bars costs related to sports, recreational activities (like team fees, uniforms, or ski passes), and any programs already available through public schools. This change directly affects scholarship recipients and program managers by restricting eligible uses of funds for educational expenses. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025, and includes only technical updates to the program's definitions and rules.

Maddy summaryHB 515 creates Utah's School Meal Debt Relief Grant Program, appropriating $2 million for fiscal year 2026 to help public schools relieve outstanding meal debt for students. Local school districts (LEAs) can apply for grants to cover unpaid meal costs for enrolled students, with priority given to schools with the greatest need and potential community benefit. The program prohibits using funds to pay for students already eligible for free meals through federal or state programs. The State Board of Education will administer the program and report annually to the Education Interim Committee on grant distribution and impact.

Maddy summaryHB 426 amends Utah's higher education tuition law to include individuals with employment-based immigrant visas as eligible for in-state resident student tuition rates. This change directly affects immigrant visa holders working in Utah who previously did not qualify for lower tuition rates under existing rules. The bill adds this group to the list of eligible individuals alongside military service members, veterans, and their immediate family members, requiring similar documentation like proof of Utah residency and employment. It does not change tuition amounts or add new funding, as no money is appropriated. The policy change applies to all Utah public institutions of higher education.

Maddy summaryHB 63 amends Utah laws to improve coordination between mental health services and the criminal justice system for individuals experiencing mental health crises. It requires county mental health authorities to provide consultation and education services about crisis options, and directs the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Committee to develop a pilot program proposal. The bill updates existing responsibilities for local mental health authorities (like county legislative bodies or managers) regarding crisis response planning, funding reviews, and collaboration with state agencies. No new funding is appropriated, and the changes focus on procedural coordination rather than creating new programs. This directly affects county-level mental health authorities and their interactions with courts and correctional facilities.