Rep. Doug Owens

Maddy summaryHB 158 amends Utah law to broaden protections against unauthorized tracking by renaming the offense to "unlawful use of a tracking device or tracking application." It makes it illegal to place trackers on personal property (excluding vehicles) or use tracking apps to monitor someone after they revoke consent, even if initial permission was given. The bill adds statutory damages for victims who choose this option over compensatory damages in civil cases. It includes exemptions for licensed private investigators (under specific conditions), parents tracking minors, caregivers for vulnerable adults, and law enforcement acting under court orders or official duties. The law applies directly to individuals using tracking technology and aims to strengthen privacy rights against persistent monitoring.

Maddy summaryHB 509 directs Utah's Department of Natural Resources to study wetlands in counties of the first or second class, focusing on how wetland status may change due to federal law shifts and impacts on outdoor recreation (like duck hunting and water quality). The department must report progress by November 2026 and a final report by October 2027, including recommendations for legislative or administrative changes. The bill also restores a requirement to publish wetlands land use permits online and adds a study on whether Utah should create or partner to run a program where developers pay for wetland restoration instead of doing it themselves. This study will inform future decisions but does not change current wetland regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 412 requires developers of utility-scale solar and wind power plants (over 1 megawatt capacity) to consult with Utah’s Division of Wildlife Resources before seeking local government permits. The bill mandates that developers submit project details, hold meetings with wildlife officials, and incorporate the division’s recommendations for minimizing wildlife impacts. Local governments must consider these recommendations when reviewing permits, though the wildlife division cannot approve or deny projects. The law takes effect May 6, 2026, and does not appropriate funds or change local permitting authority.

Maddy summarySB 89 creates a registration system for health care services platforms in Utah, which are digital tools connecting independent health care workers (like nurses or technicians) with facilities. It directly affects these platforms, requiring them to register with the state by January 2026, verify workers’ licenses and background checks, and maintain insurance. The bill prohibits platforms from forcing non-compete agreements, charging workers fees for job placements, or restricting workers from using other platforms or accepting direct employment. Physicians, advanced practice nurses, and physician assistants are explicitly excluded from these requirements, as they are already regulated under separate licensing laws. The registration fee is capped at $500 annually, with no state funds appropriated for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 117 requires Utah residents to receive organ donation registration information during three key state interactions: when using the Division of Wildlife Resources website, during initial healthcare facility visits, and in individual income tax forms or instructions. It also mandates the Department of Health to form a coalition creating a statewide communication plan for life-saving programs through state channels. The bill adds specific requirements for healthcare facilities to ask patients about donation status and provides links to the online donor registry on tax materials and state websites. These changes aim to increase registration rates by making information accessible at common state service touchpoints, with no new funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 490 requires the Division of Water Resources to study agricultural water diversions, counting current types and volumes and tracking how much water is diverted for non-agricultural use, with results due to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee by November 30, 2026. It establishes an Agricultural Water Optimization Committee to oversee grant programs for water-saving projects (requiring 50% matching funds, or 25% for specific technologies like drip irrigation), set eligibility rules, and manage research on optimizing agricultural water use. The committee must annually report on completed projects, saved water, and program effectiveness to state legislative bodies. The bill makes technical updates to water management codes and repeals outdated reporting requirements related to agricultural water studies.

Maddy summaryHB 594 designates the week ending on the fourth Saturday of September as "State Trails Week" in Utah. This commemorative period aims to educate the public about trails' importance for recreation, public health, trail maintenance, and volunteer opportunities. The bill adds this week to Utah's existing list of annual commemorative periods under state code, making no new funding or program requirements. It directly affects all Utah residents by establishing an official observance period focused on trail awareness and community engagement.

Maddy summaryHB 595 creates a formal process for designating existing recreational trails on public land as "state trails" in Utah. It defines key terms, requires applicants to submit written applications to the Division of Outdoor Recreation, and mandates that the Division evaluate applications while seeking input from affected counties, municipalities, local legislators, and relevant state agencies. The bill establishes that local opposition or potential legal conflicts can block a trail designation, and it assigns management responsibility for state trails to the Division of Outdoor Recreation (or public land management agencies after 2026). This directly affects trail users, local governments, and land managers by standardizing how trails gain official status and are maintained.

Maddy summaryHB 483 modifies Utah's regulations around cut flower sales by preventing local governments from banning such sales if a person grows flowers on their private property. It requires municipalities and counties to allow residents to sell cut flowers from home-grown plants (if permitted to grow flowers there), while permitting localities to require business licenses for these sales - though licenses cannot be denied solely because someone grows or sells cut flowers. The bill directly affects homeowners who grow flowers for personal use and want to sell cut flowers, as well as local governments that regulate business activities. It takes effect on May 6, 2026, and does not appropriate funds or change existing flower-growing rights.

Maddy summaryHB 494 updates Utah's rules for transferring water company shares and water rights. It clarifies that shares in water companies are not automatically tied to land (not "appurtenant") and ownership records are maintained by the water company itself, not the state engineer. The bill also requires water rights transfers to follow real estate deed procedures, including recording deeds in specific counties and submitting reports to the state engineer. This directly affects water company shareholders, landowners buying property with water rights, and entities managing water rights transfers.