Rep. Tiara Auxier

Maddy summaryHB 449 would require Utah voters to approve most increases in state or local government taxes or debt, as well as any spending above a set limit in a fiscal year. It also eliminates automatic tax increases and mandates refunds of excess revenue collected beyond approved spending limits. These changes would apply to all state and local government entities and require voter approval of a constitutional amendment before taking effect. The bill does not appropriate new funds and is contingent on passage of the proposed constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 510 modifies Utah's process for creating new preliminary municipalities (areas seeking to become incorporated towns). It requires applicants to coordinate with counties for 18 months before filing a feasibility request, mandates independent consultants to use objective, area-specific data from the past decade, and extends the feasibility study timeline. Applicants must now include property improvement warranties, certify development plans align with feasibility studies, and meet updated bond or deposit requirements. The bill directly affects individuals or groups seeking to form new municipalities and their interactions with county governments, with no new funding or significant cost changes.

Maddy summarySB 119 requires Utah's State Board of Education to develop free, open educational resources (OER) for public schools in kindergarten through grade 8. These resources must align with Utah core standards, reflect state values, be accessible for students with disabilities, and avoid bias, including digital and print materials. The bill directs the State Board to create a centralized platform for these resources, consult with schools and parents during development, and report on progress to the legislature. It does not mandate school districts to adopt the OER, and the bill affects all Utah public schools serving K-8 students.

Maddy summaryHB 294 requires private employers with 50 or more employees to verify new hires' federal work authorization using a designated system (like E-Verify) starting July 1, 2027. It directly affects larger private employers by mandating this verification process for all new hires, with an exception for H-2A and H-2B visa holders. The bill also specifies criminal penalties for using fraudulent or stolen identification to obtain employment, referencing Utah’s fraud and identity theft laws. This amendment updates an existing law (Utah Code 13-47-201) to lower the employee threshold from 150 to 50 and adjusts the effective date. The bill does not appropriate new funds or create new administrative requirements beyond the verification mandate.

Maddy summaryHB 332 prohibits local building authorities (such as those for counties, cities, towns, or school districts) from building, funding, or advancing any project that was previously rejected by voters in the same jurisdiction. The bill directly affects local governments and building authorities by preventing them from re-submitting the same or similar projects after a public vote rejected them. Its key provision, found in Utah Code 17D-2-303, bans such authorities from proceeding with these rejected projects on behalf of the creating entity. The law takes effect on May 6, 2026, and involves no funding changes.

Maddy summaryHB 305 increases the required bond amount for used motor vehicle dealers from $75,000 to $200,000. This change directly affects licensed used car dealers in Utah who must now secure a higher financial guarantee. The bill amends Utah Code Section 41-3-205 to reflect this bond amount increase, with no new state funding required. The measure aims to strengthen financial accountability for dealers handling vehicle transactions, though it does not alter other existing bond requirements or procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 371 requires Utah's School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) to prioritize multiple purposes and sustainable use when managing trust lands held for public schools and institutions. It prohibits SITLA from issuing grazing permits for land that could be used for grazing, ensuring these lands are actively utilized rather than left vacant. The bill amends existing laws to formalize these management principles and clarify permit terms based on fair market value. These changes directly affect SITLA, land users, and beneficiaries of trust lands, with no new funding required.

Maddy summarySB 214 creates a $2.3 million grant program (funded from the General Fund) to expand home-based childcare capacity in Utah. It requires home-based childcare providers caring for qualifying children (under 13 years old or with disabilities, not related to the provider) to register with the state, updates criminal background check requirements, and ensures funds remain available ("non-lapsing"). The bill directly affects home-based childcare providers who serve these children, with key provisions including mandatory registration, revised background checks, and the new grant program to help providers increase their capacity.

Maddy summaryHB 440 requires Utah elementary schools (K-6) to implement specific lunch and recess policies. It mandates a "share table program" where students can return unopened food for redistribution to reduce waste, sets a target goal of 20 minutes of seated eating time with recess scheduled immediately before lunch, and requires annual school lunch planning meetings involving parents and school councils. The bill also directs the State Board of Education to research best practices for lunch scheduling and recess. These changes apply directly to public elementary schools and their community councils, with no new state funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 55 requires schools and government agencies contracting with education technology vendors to include specific privacy clauses in their agreements. It mandates that if a vendor illegally sells student data (violating state or federal law), the school must notify the vendor within 30 days and terminate the contract if the violation isn’t fixed within another 30 days. The bill also prohibits vendors from charging fees or seeking damages for contract termination due to privacy violations and repeals a prior provision allowing vendors to respond to student feedback requests. This directly affects schools, their ed tech vendors, and student data privacy protections under Utah law.