Rep. Ken Ivory

Maddy summarySB 158 establishes a Utah state office to assist local governments in applying to the federal government for the sale or lease of federally managed public land under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act. The office must develop expertise on the application process, monitor all land applications submitted by Utah government entities, conduct a survey of applications from 2014-2024, and submit annual reports to legislative committees detailing application status, federal decisions, and land acquisition. This bill directly affects Utah cities, counties, and other local government entities seeking to acquire federal land for public use. Key provisions require the office to advise applicants, prioritize applications based on public interest, and report annually on land application activities and outcomes, all without appropriating state funds.

Maddy summarySJR 6 is a Utah legislative resolution reaffirming state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment, which reserves powers not delegated to the federal government. It specifically references the Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision (which overturned the Chevron doctrine) as a key moment for federalism. The resolution urges Utah state agencies to review federal regulations through this lens and calls on the federal government to respect state authority. It does not change laws or allocate funds but formally expresses Utah's position on federal-state power balance. The resolution directly affects Utah's state agencies and is addressed to federal lawmakers and Utah's congressional delegation.

Maddy summaryHB 441, the Franchisee Protection Act, prohibits franchisors from requiring franchisees to operate on days conflicting with their sincerely held religious beliefs, except in specific cases like pre-existing agreement terms or voluntary amendments. It directly affects franchisees operating businesses under franchise agreements (excluding auto dealers and hotels), ensuring they cannot be penalized for religious observance. Key provisions include requiring franchisors to comply with religious accommodations, providing remedies like damages and attorney fees for violations, and imposing civil penalties up to $50,000 for repeated breaches. The law takes effect on May 7, 2025, and applies to franchise agreements not covered by existing auto or hotel franchise regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 549 amends Utah's anti-discrimination laws to explicitly include antisemitism as a protected characteristic. It defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 standard and requires all businesses and public accommodations to provide equal service without discrimination based on antisemitism. The bill also adds antisemitism as a factor for enhanced criminal penalties when a crime is motivated by antisemitism, requiring courts to consider this in sentencing. These changes apply to businesses, public spaces, and criminal cases across Utah, without appropriating new funds.

Maddy summaryHB 567 requires Utah's Attorney General to uphold specific ethical standards in office. It mandates treating the Attorney General's Office as a public trust, using its resources solely for public interest, avoiding personal gain, and preventing undue influence from private interests. The bill also requires the Attorney General to conduct duties with integrity, promote public interests, provide timely responses to public records requests, and disclose any conflicts of interest per state law. This applies directly to the Attorney General and their office staff, effective May 7, 2025. The bill makes no changes to funding or program structure, solely establishing these conduct requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 117 amends statutes of limitations for cases of "negligent sexual abuse" involving children. It directly affects victims of child sexual abuse and adults with a legal duty to prevent or report such abuse (like caregivers or school staff). The bill extends the time period during which victims can file civil lawsuits against those who failed in their duty to prevent or report the abuse. This change modifies the existing legal timeline for holding negligent parties accountable, focusing specifically on cases where a duty-bearer failed to act. The bill is currently in the House for consideration after Senate amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 528 allows gold mining operators to pay certain state taxes using gold instead of cash. Specifically, it permits paying gold mining severance taxes and income taxes with gold, offering a reduced severance tax rate for taxpayers who pay in gold and a nonrefundable income tax credit for mine operators who use gold. The bill directly affects gold mining businesses by providing financial incentives for using gold as payment. It modifies existing tax code sections to implement these payment options without appropriating new state funds.

Maddy summaryHB 484 creates a new "State Purchasing Reserve Restricted Account" funded by a 1% administrative fee on state cooperative contracts awarded by the division. The revenue from this fee is deposited into the account and must be invested in precious metals by the state treasurer. Funds in the account can only be used to cover procurement costs for state agencies if specific inflation metrics are met. This directly affects state agencies that use cooperative purchasing contracts, providing a reserve to help offset procurement expenses during economic volatility.