Sen. Dan McCay

Maddy summarySJR 3 amends Utah's Rules of Judicial Administration to clarify how the state Bar can collect fees from licensed lawyers. It requires that all licensing fees directly cover the Bar's costs for admitting lawyers, disciplining members, and creating practice rules, and prohibits using these fees to fund services for lawyers or the public. The bill also allows the Bar to collect voluntary fees for specific services, provided they're reasonable and reflect actual costs. This directly affects all licensed lawyers, paralegals, and the Utah State Bar, as it governs their fee structure and oversight under the Supreme Court.

Maddy summaryHB 481 would require that all proposed constitutional amendments and other ballot questions be published as a formal public notice for 60 calendar days before the next general election. This applies to state officials (like the lieutenant governor and county clerks) who prepare ballot materials, ensuring voters see full details before voting. The bill takes effect only if a related constitutional amendment (H.J.R. 10) passes, with implementation scheduled for January 1, 2027. It modifies existing publication rules without changing the content of ballot measures.

Maddy summarySB 295 modifies Utah's Property Tax Act to simplify budget adjustments for local taxing entities (like cities and counties). It allows these entities to increase property tax budgets up to their previous year's base level for five years without requiring public hearings or truth-in-taxation notices, if they first reduced their budget below prior revenue. The bill also redirects funds previously set aside for county distributions through the Property Tax Valuation Fund to the Multicounty Appraisal Trust. These changes take effect January 1, 2025, with no new state funding allocated.

Maddy summaryHB 329 amends Utah's homelessness services framework to improve support for homeless individuals. It creates a new Shelter Counties Advisory Board to advise the Utah Homeless Board, requires the board to collect and report data on services, and mandates safety standards for homeless shelters (with penalties for non-compliance). The bill also allows homeless shelter funding to cover transportation costs connecting individuals to support networks outside Utah and modifies how funding is approved for certain shelter programs. These changes directly affect homeless service providers, shelters, and the Utah Homeless Board. The bill makes no new money appropriations.

Maddy summaryHB 77 restricts most flag displays on government property in Utah, allowing only specific exempted flags like the U.S. flag, Utah state flag, military flags, school flags, or historically significant flags. It prohibits government entities and employees from displaying unauthorized flags on public grounds or altering exempted flags, with enforcement handled by the state auditor who can impose $500 daily fines for violations. The bill also permits parents to sue school districts for flag display violations in public education settings and requires the attorney general to defend school staff enforcing the law. This directly affects all Utah government entities, including public schools, local governments, and state agencies, by clarifying permitted displays and creating new enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summarySB 197 modifies Utah's property tax system to adjust eligibility and benefits for homeowners and renters. It requires homeowners to have received the credit in the prior two years (starting 2026) and removes annual inflation adjustments for that credit, while increasing income limits and maximum amounts for renter tax relief. The bill also changes property tax deferral program rules, prohibits combining certain tax relief forms, and adds a coordination clause to align with another pending property tax bill. These changes directly affect property taxpayers seeking credits or deferrals, with no new state funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 110 repeals the "WPU value rate" (a component of property tax rates that funded public education) from Utah's combined tax rate structure. This change affects how school district funding is calculated but does not reduce overall education funding, as it explicitly preserves existing appropriations to the Teacher and Student Success Program. The bill makes technical updates to coordinate with related tax rate legislation (S.B. 37) and amends specific Utah code sections governing tax rates and education funding calculations. It does not appropriate new money or alter current education budget allocations.

Maddy summaryHB 474 requires the Office of Professional Licensure Review to create a public feedback system for individuals seeking to modify or repeal occupational regulations, such as those for healthcare or trade licenses. It mandates that this feedback be included in the office’s annual report to the Business and Labor Interim Committee. The bill also imposes a cost limit on implementing new agency rules and makes technical updates to existing licensing oversight statutes. These changes directly affect state agencies regulating professions and the public seeking to influence licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 216 creates an "Income Tax Surplus Restricted Account" to handle unexpected increases in Utah's state income tax revenue caused by federal tax law changes. It requires the State Tax Commission, Legislative Fiscal Analyst, and Governor's Office to annually determine by consensus if federal changes likely cause a ≥0.5% revenue increase, then report to the Revenue Committee. If confirmed, the Division of Finance must deposit the estimated surplus into the account, which can only be used for specific purposes authorized by the Legislature. The bill does not change tax rates but establishes a process to manage and restrict surplus revenue from federal tax policy shifts.

Maddy summaryHB 226 requires Utah county sheriffs and the Department of Corrections to verify the immigration status of individuals being released after serving sentences for certain class A misdemeanors or felonies if they are unlawfully present in the U.S. It mandates coordination with federal immigration authorities before release and adds a rebuttable presumption that non-lawfully present individuals are flight risks for pretrial release decisions. The bill also amends sentencing for specific class A misdemeanors and makes technical changes to related statutes. This directly affects non-lawfully present individuals convicted of qualifying offenses who are nearing release from jail or prison. The bill does not appropriate new funds or change sentencing for most offenses.