Rep. Carl Albrecht

Maddy summaryHB 249 creates two new state entities: the Nuclear Energy Consortium and the Utah Energy Council, both within the Office of Energy Development. It establishes a process to designate "electrical energy development zones" for energy projects and creates the Energy Development Investment Fund to support development within these zones. The bill does not appropriate new funding but outlines how the fund can be used and coordinates with another bill about decommissioned assets. This law directly affects Utah's energy development office, future energy project developers in designated zones, and state energy planning.

Maddy summarySB 159 modifies Utah's rules for nonhazardous solid waste facilities, directly affecting operators of landfills and waste treatment sites. It requires new landfill facilities to meet specific conditions before approval, including local government consent and legislative/governor approval, while updating rules for existing facilities handling certain wastes. Key provisions target facilities processing coal ash, mining byproducts, or cement kiln dust, prohibiting new approvals without full compliance with the amended code (Utah Code 19-6-108). The bill makes technical changes to the approval process but does not appropriate funding. It was signed into law by the governor on March 24, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 253 is a technical revision bill that updates Utah's agricultural laws without introducing new policies or funding. It changes the name of the Utah Fertilizer Act to the Utah Plant Food Act, repeals the Agriculture Certificate of Environmental Stewardship Program, and updates definitions (like "qualified veterinarian") across multiple statutes. The bill primarily makes conforming changes to ensure consistency in existing agricultural regulations, such as adjusting fee timelines, livestock branding rules, and fund management procedures. These updates streamline legal language but do not alter how agriculture is regulated or affect farmers' daily operations.

Maddy summarySB 234 modifies Utah's severance tax rules for oil, gas, and mineral extraction, primarily affecting mining and exploration companies subject to severance taxes. It repeals and reenacts the mining exploration tax credit process, requiring new agreements and post-performance certificates, while allowing taxpayers to claim the high-cost infrastructure tax credit against severance tax liability (not income tax) for costs incurred in 2024, applicable to the 2025 tax year. The bill also reorganizes tax credit provisions into a new section and adds a requirement for legislative review before repealing certain credits. These changes apply retroactively to 2024 costs and affect entities engaged in eligible mineral exploration activities under Utah Code.

Maddy summarySB 149 modifies Utah's hunting and public lands regulations by creating a new Guide, Outfitter, and Spotter Fund and requiring registration for these professionals with the Division of Wildlife Resources. It defines unlawful use of guides/outfitters, outlines prohibited activities with penalties, and clarifies these rules apply only to public lands (not private property). The bill repeals outdated requirements, including a constitutional defense plan for public lands and a committee mapping historical rights-of-way, while renaming the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office advisor. These changes aim to streamline oversight of hunting guides and outfitters without adding new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 239 updates Utah's disaster funding structure by renaming the "Response, Recovery, and Post-disaster Mitigation Restricted Account" to the "Disaster Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Restricted Account." It allows funds to be used for *pre-disaster mitigation* (like building flood barriers before storms) in addition to traditional disaster response and recovery. The bill increases annual spending limits for emergency services - up to $3 million without extra approval, and up to $10 million with governor and legislative committee approvals - and requires specific reporting for larger expenditures. These changes directly affect the Division of Emergency Management (which manages the funds) and local communities receiving disaster aid.

Maddy summaryHB 202 creates a new system allowing private landowners in Utah to obtain vouchers for bull elk hunting permits on their land. Landowners owning 640-8,999 contiguous acres within specific elk units can apply for these vouchers, with 50% allocated to those with 640-4,000 acres and 50% to those with 4,000-8,999 acres. Vouchers can be sold, donated, or transferred to others who hunt exclusively on the landowner’s qualifying property during designated seasons. The bill also includes a provision to reduce vouchers for landowners if harvested elk average too young, based on wildlife management plans. This directly affects private landowners in Utah’s limited-entry elk units who manage large tracts of land.

Maddy summaryHB 47 amends Utah law to modify how livestock watering rights are managed on public lands. It removes the requirement for livestock operators to obtain "livestock water use certificates" by deleting related language from the code, directly affecting ranchers and livestock permit holders using public grazing lands. The bill updates definitions (like "beneficial user" and "public land") and clarifies procedures when federal agencies reduce grazing permits. Key changes include amending Sections 73-2-14 and 73-3-31 to eliminate processing for water use certificates and streamline administrative steps. This focuses on simplifying water rights administration for livestock operations without altering water allocation or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 174 modifies Utah's Water Rights Restricted Account, which funds the Division of Water Rights. The bill explicitly allows the division to use account funds for legal support costs related to water rights adjudications, a provision previously omitted from the code. It also maintains a $8 million annual cap on the account balance, requiring excess funds to be transferred to the Water Resources Conservation and Development Fund. No new money is appropriated; the changes clarify existing fund usage for water rights management.

Maddy summaryUtah's SCR 3 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) reaffirming the state's right to control its own energy policies under federalism principles. It asserts that energy decisions affecting Utah residents fall under state authority per the Tenth Amendment, citing the recent *Loper Bright* Supreme Court decision as support. The resolution urges the federal government to limit energy regulation to interstate commerce and national security, and to consult states before implementing energy policies. It requests formal mechanisms for state input in federal energy decisions but contains no funding or binding requirements. This resolution expresses Utah's position but does not change existing energy regulations or federal authority.