Sen. Lincoln Fillmore

Maddy summarySB 178 prohibits students in Utah public schools from using cellphones, smart watches, or "emerging technology" during classroom hours. It directly affects all K-12 students in Utah public schools, with exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, IEP accommodations, or using the SafeUT Crisis Line. Local schools may create their own exemption policies, and the State Board of Education can develop model policies to guide implementation. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not appropriate funding.

Maddy summarySB 99 amends Utah's Excellence in Education and Leadership Supplement program to establish a five-year pilot providing salary supplements to top-performing teachers. School districts must develop approved evaluation processes identifying teachers in the top 25% of performance (categorized into tiered levels: top 5%, next 6-10%, and next 11-25%) for nomination. The State Board of Education must create a secure web portal for applications and ensure data privacy compliance, with $600,000 allocated for fiscal year 2026. The program, effective July 2024, requires districts to implement by 2025 and reevaluate teacher designations every three years.

Maddy summarySB 91 expands Utah's existing 1% county tax on restaurant sales to include certain prepared food transactions at convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. Specifically, it applies the tax to "customized" prepared food sold for immediate consumption at these locations, which previously were exempt. The bill clarifies definitions for affected businesses (like "grocery store" and "convenience store") but makes no changes to tax rates or revenue distribution. This directly affects retail businesses selling prepared food for on-site or immediate takeaway consumption outside traditional restaurants.

Maddy summaryHB 219 modifies Utah's Charter School Credit Enhancement Program, directly affecting charter schools seeking financing through this state program. It establishes credit rating-based fees: schools with investment-grade ratings pay no annual fee, while those rated BB+ pay 0.15% and BB-rated schools pay 0.25% of outstanding debt. The bill adds specific financial metrics (like debt service coverage ratios) for qualification, expands operating history evaluations, and requires annual program certification. It appropriates $4 million for fiscal year 2026 to address reserve fund shortfalls, with participating schools repaying state funds within five years.

Maddy summaryHB 360 amends Utah's affordable housing program to extend its deadline and clarify key rules. It allows cities of the first or second class to access state funds for rehabilitating affordable homes within their boundaries, extends the program's sunset date by one year, and permits using school surplus lands for affordable housing projects. The bill also specifies that Utah Housing Corporation trustees cannot have more than two from the same county and updates definitions for "attainable home" and "qualified project." These changes directly affect local governments, developers, and the Utah Housing Corporation without appropriating new state funds.

Maddy summaryHB 37 lowers the minimum population requirement for new towns from 100 to 75 people, making it easier to establish small communities. It allows cities and counties to permit higher housing density in exchange for affordable housing requirements and authorizes incentives for owner-occupied, affordable housing in designated areas. The bill also requires the Governor’s Office to develop a state housing plan by December 2025 and update reporting rules for moderate-income housing projects. These changes directly affect local governments, developers, and residents seeking more housing options in Utah.

Maddy summaryHB 368 amends Utah's local land use laws, primarily affecting municipalities and counties in their regulation of development and property use. Key changes include eliminating mandatory public hearings for land use variances or appeals, preventing local governments from requiring private entities (like homeowners associations) to maintain public amenities or water utilities, and creating an expedited review process for identical building floor plans. The bill also modifies procedures for annexation, boundary adjustments, warranty work inspections, and landscaping regulations across multiple statutes. These changes aim to streamline local land use processes while clarifying responsibilities between governments and property owners.

Maddy summarySB 272 amends Utah law to simplify operational requirements for micro-education entities and home-based microschools. The bill expands the types of facilities these programs can use by broadening acceptable occupancy requirements and removes specific square footage rules. It also excludes these entities from being classified as "schools" under certain administrative regulations, reducing regulatory burdens. This directly affects micro-education providers and local governments that previously applied school-related rules to these small educational programs.

Maddy summarySB 181 limits local government regulations on single- and two-family home construction to increase housing affordability. It prohibits municipalities and counties from requiring specific building design elements (like exterior colors or roof styles) or imposing parking space size limits (e.g., max 10 feet wide for enclosed spaces) for most homes. The bill specifically exempts owner-occupied affordable housing - defined as housing priced at 80% of the county median home price - from mandatory garage requirements. These changes apply to "specified" municipalities and counties under Utah law, aiming to reduce development costs without altering existing historic district or flood program rules.

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.