Rep. Ryan Wilcox

Maddy summarySB 24 creates a new criminal offense for "child torture" with specific penalties and adds it to existing statutes governing child abuse. The bill updates legal definitions to include child torture in mandatory imprisonment requirements, background checks for individuals working with children (like foster parents), and the Sex, Kidnap, and Child Abuse Offender Registry. It also modifies related statutes, such as those covering aggravated child abuse and violent felony classifications, to ensure consistency. This law directly affects individuals convicted of child torture and systems that screen or register offenders.

Maddy summarySB 110 modifies Utah's rules for issuing arrest warrants instead of summonses. It creates a presumption against using warrants if a defendant was released from jail because prosecutors missed a 60-day deadline to file charges, and later filed charges more than 60 days after release. Prosecutors can override this presumption only if the defendant failed to appear, service of a summons failed after good efforts, or if a warrant is needed to prevent injury or protect public safety. The bill also specifies that law enforcement agencies named in warrants must handle defendant transportation and report warrant status changes within 48 hours. This affects Utah prosecutors, law enforcement, and defendants in criminal cases.

Maddy summaryHB 40, the School Safety Amendments bill, updates Utah's school safety regulations to enhance preparedness and operations. It revises requirements for school safety personnel, including screening, training, and assessment schedules, while adjusting communication device rules for new school construction to be verified after completion. The bill also establishes a school safety foundation and compliance supports, with $25 million allocated for implementation in fiscal year 2026. These changes directly affect public and private schools, safety staff, and local education authorities across Utah.

Maddy summarySB 133 creates new requirements for businesses purchasing catalytic converters and establishes a specific criminal offense for catalytic converter theft. It mandates that sellers provide detailed identification (including fingerprints, photo ID, and signature), and businesses must document each transaction with photos, seller details, and converter descriptions before uploading data to a central database. The bill directly affects metal dealers, pawnshops, and secondhand merchandise businesses that buy catalytic converters. It replaces general theft penalties for these items with a dedicated offense, classifying theft based on value and prior offenses, while removing redundant provisions from existing laws. The law also updates definitions for metal regulation and adds catalytic converter theft to patterns of unlawful activity.

Maddy summaryHB 38 modifies Utah's criminal code to adjust sentencing for certain offenses. It lowers the threshold for "in concert" enhancements from three to two people in gang-related crimes, expands sentencing for theft and prostitution by including prior convictions from any jurisdiction (state, federal, or military), and clarifies that retail theft value is based on the item's retail price. The bill also adds new penalties for coercing minors into gangs and increases fines for patronizing prostitutes. These changes directly affect defendants facing sentencing enhancements and law enforcement handling gang-related or property crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 501 requires Utah's Division of Human Resource Management to collaborate with the Division of Law Enforcement and Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands to create specialized pay plans for DNR peace officers and wildland firefighters. The bill mandates that salary surveys for these roles must include all comparable positions across state law enforcement agencies. It also specifies that pay plans must define minimum qualifications, training requirements, performance standards, and promotion criteria for these roles. The bill makes technical updates to existing pay plan laws but does not appropriate new funding.

Maddy summarySB 165 amends Utah law to clarify and regulate how cities can provide broadband internet services to residents and businesses. It directly affects Utah municipalities operating their own broadband networks by defining key terms, setting operational requirements, and establishing reporting rules for bonding and public disclosure. The bill modifies existing code sections to address selling surplus broadband capacity beyond city boundaries and ensures transparency in municipal broadband operations. It does not appropriate new funds and focuses on procedural clarity rather than creating new services or financial obligations.

Maddy summarySB 269 modifies Utah's telecommunications regulations to increase pricing flexibility for both current major telephone companies and new competitors. It allows these companies to set prices for public services using price lists or contracts, with current major providers required to have over 30,000 phone lines and follow commission rules to qualify. The bill also ends certain "carrier of last resort" obligations (requiring service in remote areas) after July 1, 2025, and updates eligibility for a fund supporting telecommunications services. Additionally, it mandates that providers continue offering basic residential service in existing locations under specific conditions.

Maddy summarySJR 10 amends Utah's Rules of Criminal Procedure (Rule 11) to update how courts handle pleas in criminal cases. It requires judges to confirm defendants understand their rights, the facts of the case, and potential sentences before accepting a guilty or no-contest plea. The amendment also mandates that courts inform defendants in domestic violence cases about firearm restrictions under federal and state law. These changes apply to all criminal courts in Utah and clarify procedures for plea agreements, withdrawal timelines, and judicial oversight of plea processes.

Maddy summaryHB 417 allows Utah public safety retirees (such as police and firefighters) working for local education agencies providing law enforcement services to return to their jobs without losing retirement benefits. It sets specific conditions: retirees cannot earn over $15,000 annually or half their final salary (adjusted for inflation), and cannot receive employer-paid benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions. The bill also creates exceptions for retirees injured on the job who didn’t qualify for long-term disability, and caps supplemental payments for emergency services workers and board members. This directly affects Utah Retirement Systems members in public safety roles who seek part-time reemployment under defined limits.