Rep. Steve Eliason

Maddy summarySB 65 amends Utah law to establish regulatory requirements for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in specific human services programs. It directs the Office of Licensing within the Department of Health and Human Services to create and enforce rules governing MAT use in residential treatment programs and recovery residences. The bill primarily defines key terms and sets up a framework for oversight, without changing treatment protocols or appropriating funds. This affects facilities providing residential care or recovery services that use MAT, requiring them to comply with new licensing rules.

Maddy summarySB 57 updates Utah's Newborn Safe Haven program by expanding the age limit for safe relinquishment from 30 to 90 days, allowing parents to surrender newborns up to 90 days old without legal consequences. It directly affects parents seeking to safely surrender infants through designated hospitals and the state's child welfare system. The bill appropriates $104,000 for fiscal year 2026 - $84,000 for ongoing program operations and $20,000 for training and outreach materials - to support the expanded program. The changes take effect May 7, 2025, and align with Utah Code Section 80-4-501.

Maddy summarySB 16 modifies Utah's annual property tax valuation notices to help eligible homeowners understand tax relief options. It requires county auditors to include a clear statement on notices that homeowners aged 65+ or with disabilities (or experiencing extreme hardship) may qualify for a deferral on their primary residence taxes, along with a phone number to apply. The bill also expands access to the county discretionary deferral program for low-income individuals and makes minor technical corrections to existing tax notice requirements. These changes apply to all property owners receiving tax notices under Utah law, with no new state funding required. The notice updates take effect January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 62 modifies Utah's Property Tax Act to clarify and update rules for residential and agricultural property tax exemptions. It establishes a deadline for homeowners to apply for residential tax exemptions, updates the required declaration form for residential properties (including a sworn statement about primary residence use), and clarifies eligibility for agricultural tax assessment on properties under five acres. The bill also clarifies how taxpayers can appeal tax deferral or abatement decisions to the State Tax Commission and requires the Commission to report certain rule changes to the Legislature. These changes primarily affect residential homeowners, agricultural landowners, and taxpayers navigating tax appeals.

Maddy summaryHB 60 updates Utah's tax code with multiple technical changes affecting taxpayers and tax administration. It repeals outdated provisions, clarifies when the State Tax Commission can share income tax data with workforce services for public assistance eligibility, and sets limits on interest payments the commission makes. The bill also requires online marketplace sellers to file federal forms with the tax commission, updates rules for commercial energy tax credits, and creates a new deduction for individuals repaying taxable Social Security benefits. It repeals an expired enterprise zone tax credit and extends carry-forward periods for certain business tax credits. These changes primarily impact individual taxpayers, businesses, and state agencies managing tax compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 56 modifies Utah's civil commitment process for individuals temporarily held in mental health facilities. It requires local mental health authorities to provide discharge instructions in the patient's preferred format (paper or electronic), clarifies that certain duties can be delegated to a designee, and specifies follow-up requirements after discharge. The bill also updates notification rules for when a patient is released from temporary involuntary commitment. These changes directly affect individuals transitioning out of short-term mental health holds and the local authorities managing their care. The bill makes technical updates to Utah Code sections 26B-5-331 through 26B-6-608 without appropriating funds.

Maddy summaryHB 34 creates a formal process for designating campgrounds on Utah state land. It defines key terms (like "state campground" and "application"), requires written applications to the Division of State Parks, and mandates review by local governments and legislators before designation. The bill authorizes the parks division to establish application rules and manage designated campgrounds, while allowing counties or municipalities to block proposals via resolution. This applies directly to landowners seeking to convert property into state-managed campgrounds and local officials involved in the review process. The law takes effect May 7, 2025, with no new funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 39 improves health care for individuals in Utah's correctional facilities by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with telehealth psychiatric providers for staff support and create a working group to study electronic health records for inmate care. It mandates psychiatrists for correctional health staffing (with limited exceptions) and requires annual reports to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee. The bill also directs the Department of Corrections and local mental health authorities to assess inmates for community-based services and connect them to appropriate care after assessment. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, and mental health service providers across Utah.

Maddy summarySB 128 requires clinics performing egg retrievals for assisted reproduction to include specific disclosures in written agreements with donors, detailing any reasonably foreseeable complications. It also prohibits clauses that would release clinics from liability for complications occurring within 90 days of the procedure. The bill directly affects donors providing eggs and reproductive tissue facilities conducting the procedures. It takes effect on May 7, 2025, and does not appropriate funds.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution recognizes loneliness and social isolation as critical public health issues, citing the U.S. Surgeon General's 2023 advisory. It urges Utah residents to build social connections through simple actions like sharing meals or volunteering, and designates the last Saturday of April as "Utah Community Health Day" for community events. The resolution establishes no new laws or funding but formally commits the state to promoting social connection as a public health priority. It directly affects all Utah residents by encouraging community engagement and highlighting the health risks of isolation, which the resolution states are comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes daily. The resolution is symbolic, with no financial appropriation or binding policy changes.