Rep. Ken Ivory

Maddy summaryHB 195 extends the state treasurer's requirement to study precious metals' role in economic security for 2026-2027, mandating annual reports to the Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee. It requires the state treasurer to issue requests for proposals seeking a vendor to create a gold/silver-backed electronic payment system, where physical precious metals held in Utah vaults would back transactions. The system would allow state contractors to receive payments electronically and redeem physical metals, though participation is voluntary for both contractors and state entities. The bill modifies existing investment rules for public funds and sets no new spending, focusing on procedural steps for potential future implementation.

Maddy summarySB 44 replaces Utah's existing statewide resource management plan (effective May 6, 2026) with a new plan dated May 6, 2026, superseding the previous plan from May 7, 2025. It requires the state office to monitor compliance with the plan across federal, state, and local levels, and establishes a process for modifying the plan through the commission and Legislature. The office must annually report modifications and implementation progress to the commission, with any changes needing legislative approval before taking effect. This bill directly affects state agencies and local governments implementing resource management policies under the new plan.

Maddy summaryHB 546 clarifies Utah's jurisdiction over approximately 35 million acres (96% of federal lands in Utah) where the federal government holds only a "proprietary interest" (owning land but not governing it). The bill requires the state’s Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office to map landscape-scale lands, identify areas needing management attention in forested zones, and report annually to the Federalism Commission. It asserts that Utah never ceded legislative authority over these lands and mandates state agencies to presume jurisdiction unless the federal government proves otherwise through constitutional enumeration. The bill makes technical changes to Utah Code sections governing state sovereignty and federal land management without appropriating new funds.

Maddy summarySB 71 amends Utah's evidence retention rules, primarily affecting law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and defendants in misdemeanor cases. It requires police to submit written requests to prosecutors before disposing of misdemeanor evidence, with prosecutors having 60 days to approve or deny the request and notify defendants who can object within 30 days. For felony evidence, the bill updates retention timelines to require agencies to keep evidence for the longer of the statute of limitations or until a conviction is resolved. These changes apply directly to law enforcement handling evidence and defendants whose cases involve potential evidence disposal.

Maddy summarySB 286 modifies Utah's licensing rules for commercial interior designers by removing restrictions that previously limited their practice to specific building types (occupancy groups B and M) and an 8-foot wall height limit. The bill allows licensed designers to work on interior projects in *any* building classification, as long as the work involves only non-structural elements like finishes, fixtures, and non-load-bearing partitions. This directly affects Utah-licensed interior designers who can now practice more broadly without requiring architect oversight for certain projects. The changes clarify definitions, add penalties for misrepresenting certification status, and align rules with current building codes.

Maddy summarySB 100 requires Utah state agencies receiving federal guidance letters (federal government communications) to publish them electronically and submit detailed reports to the Federalism Commission. These reports must include impact assessments and recommendations about how the federal guidance affects state operations. The bill extends these reporting requirements to certain education entities and mandates the Federalism Commission to issue annual reports to the Legislative Management Committee. This bill aims to increase transparency around federal communications affecting state governance without altering federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 517 prohibits public schools in Utah from allowing "sensitive materials" (defined as pornographic or indecent content under strict legal standards) in classrooms, libraries, or on school property. It requires schools to immediately remove challenged materials during reviews, limits parents or students to three annual challenges per academic year, and mandates a two-step review process prioritizing objective standards first. Exceptions include medical courses, family science classes, and materials already approved under existing rules. The bill directly affects all Utah public school students, parents, and school staff involved in curriculum decisions and material reviews.

Maddy summaryHB 534 adds legal immunity for property owners, tenants, and government entities when accidental firearm discharges occur on their property under lawful conditions. It expands immunity to include businesses and legal entities (not just individuals) who allow lawful firearm possession on their property, and grants similar immunity to government properties where firearm use complies with policy. The bill explicitly excludes immunity if the property owner or government official actively encouraged or aided a discharge for an unlawful purpose. This changes liability rules for accidental shootings but does not alter firearm laws or require new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 317 requires Utah public schools to include "social health" instruction in the mandated health curriculum, focusing on relationship-building skills, refusal techniques for unwanted advances, and situational safety awareness. The bill mandates abstinence-focused education while prohibiting instruction on sexual stimulation, contraceptive methods (except basic factual information), or advocacy for premarital sex. Schools must follow state guidelines, notify parents before adopting materials, and provide this instruction at least twice between grades 7-12. It directly affects all Utah public K-12 schools and their health curriculum content.

Maddy summaryHB 405 creates a new "State Purchasing Reserve Restricted Account" by imposing a 0.5% administrative fee on state cooperative contracts. Revenue from this fee is deposited into the account and must be invested in precious metals by the state treasurer. The funds can later be used to offset procurement costs for public entities (like local governments or schools) if specific inflation metrics are met, ensuring continuity in purchasing goods and services. This bill directly affects state cooperative contracts and public entities that rely on them for procurement.