Rep. Nicholeen Peck

Maddy summaryHB 521 prohibits Utah state and local government entities from using public funds to pay for or reimburse specific transgender medical treatments. It bans public funding for hormonal transgender treatments and two categories of surgical procedures (primary and secondary sex characteristic changes), as defined in Utah law. The bill amends existing code to explicitly restrict government spending on these services, without creating new programs or affecting private insurance. It directly impacts government budgets and healthcare providers receiving public funds, but does not ban the medical procedures themselves or affect private payments. The law takes effect May 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 473 requires Utah public schools to inform parents about sensitive digital instructional materials during annual student registration and maintain a dedicated website section for reporting such material. It mandates school districts to remove access to prohibited content from vendor-provided digital materials after violations, cancel contracts with non-compliant vendors, and ensure all school devices use filters to block sensitive material. These requirements apply to all public schools (including charter schools) and their digital content vendors, with specific rules for handling "sensitive material" as defined by Utah law. The bill focuses on transparency, accountability, and student safety without appropriating new funds.

Maddy summaryHB 250 prohibits public employers (like school districts and government agencies) from disciplining employees who use gender-specific language (such as names or pronouns) related to a student's or colleague's gender identity, birth name, or parental preference - provided the employee acts in good faith without knowledge of a preference. It requires employers with policies mandating gender-specific language to exempt employees who cannot comply due to religious or moral beliefs, as long as their approach is reasonable and non-disruptive. The law applies to all public employees in educational and government settings and takes effect July 1, 2025. It does not change existing gender identity protections but creates new exemptions for religious/moral objections to using specific language.

Maddy summaryHB 359 updates Utah's juvenile justice laws, primarily affecting schools, students, and school employees. It clarifies notification procedures when students commit offenses on school grounds: school employees must report incidents to principals, who then notify law enforcement or school personnel while protecting the reporter's identity. The bill also restricts expungement (clearing juvenile records) for individuals convicted of certain drug offenses within two years of applying. It repeals outdated notification statutes and defines key terms like "school employee" to streamline reporting. These changes aim to improve school safety protocols and record management without new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 518 amends Utah law to prohibit knowingly distributing pornography online within the state and creates a legal claim for Utah residents who view such material there. It defines key terms like "pornography" (based on existing law) and "minor" (under 18), and specifies that internet service providers, search engines, and cloud services are not liable for user-generated content they didn’t create. The bill allows affected individuals to combine claims into a single lawsuit and permits courts to award damages, injunctions, or attorney fees for violations. It directly impacts online distributors, Utah viewers of pornography, and internet service providers, with no funding required and effective May 7, 2025.