Rep. Doug Owens

Maddy summaryHB 603 clarifies how property is divided during Utah divorces by defining "marital property" to include assets acquired during marriage, mixed pre-marital assets, and property protected by a spouse during marriage. It establishes that marital property is presumed to be divided equally between spouses, unless exceptional circumstances exist - such as one spouse undermining the other's finances or wasting marital assets. The bill affects divorcing couples in Utah by setting clear rules for dividing debts, assets, and spousal support, requiring courts to specify debt responsibility and beneficiary updates in divorce decrees. It makes technical updates to Utah Code sections governing divorce proceedings but does not appropriate funds or create new programs.

Maddy summaryHB 154 directs Utah's Division of Water Resources to study water loss in public water systems from 2015 to 2024, compiling data on system size and analyzing industry practices for both public systems and end-use losses. The study requires the division to make recommendations for improving water loss estimates and reducing actual water losses. The division must report findings to the Legislative Water Development Commission by October 31, 2026. The bill also repeals related provisions by July 1, 2027, with most provisions effective May 6, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 155 requires Utah residential water suppliers to adopt a three-tiered rate structure by July 2027, designed to encourage water conservation. The tiers must include: one block for efficient indoor use, one for efficient indoor/outdoor use, and one for wasteful use, with higher rates for increased usage. Suppliers must include water conservation efforts in the highest usage tier's rate calculation and provide clear billing details to customers. The bill applies to residential customers primarily served by retail water suppliers, with specific requirements for rate transparency and conservation funding. It does not appropriate new funds but modifies existing rate-setting rules under Utah Code Section 73-10-32.5.

Maddy summaryHB 285 requires Utah cities and counties to consider how new development affects wildlife habitats, movement, and migration corridors when creating or updating their long-term land use plans. It also mandates the Utah Department of Natural Resources to provide local governments with relevant wildlife information to support these planning decisions. This applies to all municipalities and counties as they adopt or revise general plans and land use regulations. The bill makes technical updates to existing state code without adding new funding or regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 226 allows Utah county sheriffs to create "sheriff's work programs" where eligible prisoners complete supervised public works projects (like park cleanups or community repairs) instead of serving jail time. It directly affects non-violent offenders sentenced to 30 days or less who voluntarily agree to participate, excluding those with prior convictions for certain offenses or under court orders. Key provisions require sheriffs to establish program rules covering eligibility, work assignments, safety, fees, and disciplinary measures, while granting participants one day of jail credit for every eight hours worked. The bill clarifies that participants remain under the sheriff’s official custody during the program and updates existing laws to align with these changes. No new funding is appropriated, and the bill takes effect in May 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 400 requires municipalities in Utah's Great Salt Lake basin to adopt water-efficient landscaping rules for new construction by November 2027. It directly affects new development projects and local governments, banning requirements for small lawn areas (<8 feet) and mandating standards for plant selection, irrigation, and vegetative coverage. Key provisions include allowing regional water-use standards, requiring municipalities to report compliance to the Division of Water Resources, and permitting local reviews for water-wise designs. The bill makes no new funding changes and focuses on reducing outdoor water use through landscaping regulations rather than penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 322 requires parents or guardians to establish financial trusts for minors featured in social media content who meet specific earning thresholds (e.g., appearing in 30%+ of a creator’s content with $150,000+ annual income from that content). It mandates content creators to track minor-related earnings, deposit a portion into these trusts, and maintain records. The bill grants minors the right to request deletion of their content from social media and to pursue legal action if rights are violated, while establishing clear definitions for terms like "qualifying minor" and "market value compensated minor." These provisions apply specifically to minors in social media content meeting the defined criteria, not all child performers.

Maddy summaryHB 119 prevents homeowners associations (HOAs) from banning solar panel installations on most residential properties. It allows HOAs to impose limited restrictions on panel size, placement, or appearance (e.g., matching roof color) only if the changes reduce energy production by 5% or less and increase installation costs by 5% or less. For attached homes (like townhouses), all neighboring lot owners must agree to solar installations. The bill also requires solar systems to meet safety standards and not visibly disrupt neighborhood aesthetics (e.g., not extending above roof lines), while prohibiting HOAs from adding new installation bans without 67% owner approval. This directly affects homeowners in HOAs seeking to install solar energy systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state registration system for health care staffing platforms (like apps connecting workers with facilities). Starting January 1, 2026, these platforms must register with Utah's licensing division, pay annual fees up to $500, and verify workers' licenses, background checks, and insurance before shifts. It prohibits platforms from requiring non-compete agreements or charging workers for referrals. The law directly affects staffing platforms, ensuring they meet basic standards while protecting workers' ability to use multiple platforms.

Maddy summaryHB 71 extends the expiration date for Utah's Committee of Consumer Services from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2035. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 63I-1-254 to delay the committee's automatic termination by 10 years. This is a procedural change that does not create new policies, appropriate funds, or affect specific consumer groups or businesses. The committee continues to operate under its existing authority until the new sunset date. The bill takes effect May 7, 2025.