Rep. Ken Ivory

Maddy summaryHB 362 allows specific mine owners and operators in Utah to pay their mining severance taxes using gold instead of cash. It also provides a nonrefundable tax credit equal to the amount of tax paid in gold for qualifying mines during designated years. The bill amends multiple Utah tax code sections to implement this payment method and credit system. This change directly affects mining businesses subject to severance taxes, with no new state funding required.

Maddy summaryThis Utah Senate resolution (SJR 12) urges the President to issue an executive order reinforcing federalism by requiring federal agencies to conduct impact assessments on state authority before new rules, mandate early consultation with states during rulemaking, and publish justifications when federal actions override state laws. It references Executive Order 12612 (1987) and a Government Accountability Office report on improving federalism compliance. The resolution has no legal effect and is a symbolic request to strengthen the balance between federal and state governments, not a new law affecting specific groups.

Maddy summaryHB 488 establishes new duties for Utah's Federalism Commission and two university entities to strengthen state-level engagement with federalism issues. It requires the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University to develop training for state/local government employees on federalism principles, organize an annual conference, and coordinate outreach efforts. The Herbert Institute serves as a liaison between the commission and government entities, while the expanded commission must report annually on progress. The bill appropriates $910,000 from the Income Tax Fund to support these activities, affecting state/local government employees, the commission, and the university centers through mandated programs and reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 306 allows Utah to invest up to 10% of specific state funds (like disaster recovery and budget reserve accounts) in gold or silver, while requiring the state treasurer to conduct annual studies on precious metals' economic impact. It mandates a competitive procurement process to develop a voluntary gold-backed digital payment system for state vendors, requiring physical gold/silver vaulted within Utah, redemption options, and annual reporting to the Revenue and Taxation Committee. The bill appropriates $146,800 for FY2026 to support these activities, including system development and oversight. Participation in the payment system is optional for vendors and state entities, and the bill explicitly states it does not require any entity to use the system.

Maddy summarySB 265 amends Utah's Constitutional Sovereignty Act to clarify how the state can challenge federal laws. It expands the definition of "government officer" to include employees of public school districts and universities, meaning these staff could be subject to state sovereignty measures. The bill replaces "concurrent resolutions" with formal legislation as the required method for the state to prohibit enforcement of federal directives, and updates procedures for notifying tribal governments about such actions. These changes streamline the process for Utah to formally assert state sovereignty against federal policies without adding new funding or creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHB 380 establishes a legal presumption that Utah retains jurisdiction over all matters not explicitly granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution. It directly affects all Utah state entities (including agencies, local governments, and departments) by shifting the burden to the federal government to prove it has constitutional authority to override state jurisdiction in conflicts. The key provision requires federal entities to demonstrate specific constitutional authorization - rather than state entities proving otherwise - to assert jurisdiction over matters like water rights, education, or natural resources. This bill amends Utah Code Section 63G-16-101 and takes effect May 7, 2025, with no state funding impact.

Maddy summaryHB 53 amends Utah's litter and unsecured load laws to strengthen cleanup requirements and penalties. It establishes a new Litter Abatement Expendable Special Revenue Fund, increases fines for littering (to $200 for first offenses, $500 for repeat offenses within three years), and requires offenders to complete eight hours of cleanup. The bill also imposes a landfill fine for unsecured loads and mandates reporting for certain entities. These changes directly affect cargo transporters, businesses generating litter, and local enforcement agencies responsible for highway cleanliness.

Maddy summaryHB 67 allows Utah's state treasurer to deduct administrative costs (such as delivery and storage) for precious metal investments directly from the earnings generated by those investments in four specific state funds: the Disaster Recovery Account, General Fund Budget Reserve, Income Tax Fund Budget Reserve, and Medicaid Growth Reduction Account. This change eliminates the need for the state to allocate separate budget funds to cover these costs, as they will now be paid from investment returns. The bill also removes a prior requirement for the state treasurer to conduct a study on precious metals, making it a technical update to investment management rules. The amendment applies to existing investment policies without appropriating new funds.

Maddy summaryHB 66 requires law enforcement officers in Utah to receive training on recognizing and responding to sexual assault committed during rituals, including its impact on victims. It creates an aggravating factor for certain crimes against minors (like abuse, kidnapping, or sexual offenses) if the crime was committed as part of a ritual, which could lead to harsher sentences. The bill affects law enforcement officers (through mandatory training) and defendants convicted of qualifying offenses against minors (who may face increased penalties). It coordinates with another bill (S.B. 24) that adds "child torture" to the list of offenses triggering this aggravating factor. The law takes effect May 7, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 51 adopts a new statewide resource management plan dated May 7, 2025, replacing the previous plan dated January 8, 2024. The bill requires state agencies to monitor compliance with the plan and establishes a process for modifying it, including annual reports to the commission and legislative approval for changes. It directly affects state agencies responsible for resource management and the commission overseeing the plan. The plan itself does not appropriate funding, and modifications cannot take effect until approved by the Legislature. The bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.