Rep. Lisa Shepherd

Maddy summaryHB 158, titled "State Sovereignty Amendments," prohibits Utah state and local governments from implementing or enforcing rules, mandates, or policies issued by international organizations that claim legal authority within Utah. The bill specifically declares that such organizations have no power or jurisdiction in the state and bans governors or local leaders from declaring emergencies solely due to an international organization's emergency proclamation. It affects all state agencies, counties, municipalities, and special districts by restricting their ability to comply with international directives. The law amends Utah's emergency management statutes to reinforce state authority over local emergency responses.

Maddy summaryHB 320 allows Utah municipalities to impose civil fines exceeding standard misdemeanor limits for repeated violations of specific ordinances related to occupancy, off-street parking, or rental/short-term rental properties. It permits fines up to $2,500 for three prior violations within 12 months (with at least 14 days between fines) or up to $5,000 for four or more prior violations. The bill directly affects property owners and renters who repeatedly breach these municipal codes. It does not change maximum fines for most violations but adds this exception with clear financial caps and compliance requirements. The law amends Utah Code Sections 10-3-703 and 10-11-2, focusing solely on enforcement mechanics.

Maddy summaryHB 458 amends Utah's ballot access rules for candidates seeking party nominations by changing signature verification procedures. It requires county clerks to only verify signatures from voters residing in their own county (prohibiting out-of-county verification) and mandates multi-county race candidates to submit signatures separately to each county clerk, with totals certified to the lieutenant governor. The bill also updates petition forms to restrict verification to county residents and sets new deadlines for signature processing. These changes directly affect candidates gathering manual signatures for nomination petitions, particularly for offices spanning multiple counties or for unaffiliated candidates.