Rep. Andrew Stoddard

Maddy summaryHB 583 creates a process for voters to fix signatures on initiative or referendum petitions that a county clerk declares invalid due to mismatched signatures in the voter database. It requires county clerks to notify affected voters within two business days and gives them 31 days to submit a signed affidavit verifying their signature. The affidavit must include personal details and an attestation of signature validity, and the clerk cannot count the signature without the timely affidavit. This bill directly affects voters who sign petitions and county clerks administering signature verification, with no financial impact. It applies only to manual petition processes under Utah law.

Maddy summaryHB 548 clarifies when Utah municipalities and special districts must hold primary elections for local offices. It requires a primary election if candidates exceed twice but not more than three times the number of seats available, and mandates one if candidates exceed three times the number of seats. The bill also specifies conditions under which special districts may hold primaries and makes minor technical updates to election procedures. These changes apply directly to cities, towns, and special districts managing local elections, without adding new funding or altering voter eligibility.

Maddy summaryHB 252 creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for Utah businesses that pay tariffs on imported goods but do not pass those costs to customers. It applies to businesses importing items held for sale or used in operations, such as manufacturers or retailers. To claim the credit, businesses must first obtain written certification from the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity verifying their eligibility and the credit amount, which equals the total qualifying tariff payments multiplied by a set percentage. The credit is limited to the business's tax liability for the year and cannot be carried forward, with certification requirements effective retroactively from January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 160 modifies Utah's statewide initiative process by increasing the required signature threshold from 4% to 8% of active voters for both legislative submission and direct voter submission. It equalizes these requirements and mandates that initiatives not approved by the legislature automatically appear on the ballot at the next general election. The bill affects citizens seeking to propose new laws via initiative petitions, requiring more signatures and ensuring legislative inaction leads to voter approval. Key provisions include standardized signature percentages statewide and by district, and automatic ballot placement without additional signature collection. These changes take effect on May 6, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 180 clarifies that individuals with concealed carry permits in Utah cannot open carry dangerous weapons (including firearms) on daycare or school grounds, except when lawfully responding to an active threat. This directly affects permit holders who would otherwise be permitted to carry firearms in public spaces under existing law. The bill amends Utah Code sections to explicitly prohibit open carry of dangerous weapons on school/daycare premises, aligning with existing restrictions on concealed carry in these locations. It makes technical changes to clarify existing prohibitions without adding new penalties or funding. The bill does not change general firearm laws but specifically addresses carry rules at educational facilities.

Maddy summarySB 163 allows city attorneys in Utah to employ permanent deputy attorneys to handle public prosecution or civil counsel duties, and to temporarily deputize licensed attorneys (in good standing with the Utah State Bar) for specific legal tasks. It directly affects cities with city attorneys who need to manage prosecutions of local ordinance violations, misdemeanors, or civil cases. The bill amends Utah Code Section 10-3-928 to clarify these staffing options without changing legal standards or requiring new funding.

Maddy summarySB 133 clarifies Utah's requirements for juvenile offenders on the sex, kidnap, and child abuse registry. It specifies that individuals under 18 who committed certain offenses (like sexual abuse or trafficking) without force or coercion and were under 21 at the time of the crime will only need to register for 10 years instead of for life. This amendment to Utah Code Section 53-29-203 directly affects young people convicted of specific crimes who would otherwise face lifetime registration. The change applies only to cases meeting all the specified criteria, not to all juvenile offenders.

Maddy summaryHB 443 modifies Utah's process for filling vacancies in the state legislature. It requires all legislative vacancies to remain unfilled until a special election is held, with the governor mandated to call the election within seven days of a vacancy occurring or an "irrevocable letter of future resignation" being submitted. The bill specifies that special elections must be held on predetermined dates aligned with existing municipal or regular primary/general election schedules, unless the governor requests a different date with legislative funding approval. This directly affects state representatives and senators whose seats become vacant before the end of their term, ensuring vacancies are resolved through elections rather than interim appointments.

Maddy summaryHB 92 modifies Utah’s process for allocating presidential electors. It changes how the state distributes its electoral votes: one vote per congressional district goes to the candidate winning that district, and two statewide votes go to the candidate winning the statewide popular vote. The bill also requires political parties or candidates to notify the lieutenant governor if a presidential elector vacancy occurs, and standardizes deadlines for filing candidacies and selecting electors. These changes apply directly to Utah’s election procedures and the state’s delegation to the Electoral College.

Maddy summaryThis bill narrows Utah's flag display restrictions from all government properties to apply only to school grounds. It removes rules governing flag displays in non-school government buildings (like city halls or state offices) and eliminates the state auditor's role in enforcing flag rules for those locations. Schools must still follow existing rules about which flags can be displayed, including exemptions for U.S. and Utah state flags, military flags, and school-specific flags. The law now focuses exclusively on school property, with no financial impact or new requirements for other government entities.