Sen. Ron Winterton

Maddy summarySB 266 modifies Utah counties using a council-manager government structure by shifting executive authority from the county manager to the elected county council. It prohibits the council from delegating executive or elected officer duties to the manager, limits manager employment contracts to four years (banning automatic renewals or special severance), and bars unelected staff from performing elected officials' roles. The bill also requires council members to represent single districts (not at-large) and ensures the council, not the manager, holds final decision-making power on county operations. These changes directly affect counties operating under the council-manager system, altering how local government is structured and managed.

Maddy summarySB 280 limits how much plaintiffs can recover for medical costs in injury lawsuits to only what was actually paid or will be paid, not the full billed amount. It requires plaintiffs to disclose details like health insurance coverage, letter of protection agreements, and payments to factoring companies when claiming medical damages. The bill specifies that evidence used to prove medical costs must focus on actual payments, including health plan obligations, rather than standard billing rates. This directly affects injury plaintiffs, healthcare providers, and insurers by changing how medical damage claims are calculated and verified in court.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Utah's cannabis law to clarify agreements between the governor and federally recognized tribes for operating medical cannabis facilities on tribal land. It requires such agreements to be in writing, signed by both parties, and include specific terms like renegotiation if state law changes. Tribal facilities remain subject to all state cannabis regulations, fees, and penalties but are exempt from the state's cap on production licenses. The changes apply only to medical cannabis operations and do not alter tribal compliance with state law.

Maddy summarySCR 4 is a Utah concurrent resolution supporting the state's effort to formalize a cooperative agreement (MOA) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to streamline permitting for oil, gas, and mining operations on BLM lands. It urges the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining to negotiate an MOA that would allow the state to review technical aspects of permit applications - like drilling plans - while ensuring the BLM retains final decision-making authority. The resolution aims to reduce permitting delays and save BLM staff time by leveraging Utah’s local expertise in geology and resource management. This affects oil, gas, and mining operators seeking permits on federal lands, as well as Utah’s state agencies and the BLM.

Maddy summaryHB 434 clarifies that reports on child welfare fatalities submitted to the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel and Health and Human Services Interim Committee must include non-redacted content (only names and addresses may be redacted), preventing full confidentiality. It updates Utah’s statutes to ensure these oversight bodies receive complete reports detailing near-fatalities or deaths, including recommendations for policy changes or training. The bill affects child welfare agencies (like Utah’s Division of Child and Family Services) and legislative committees responsible for reviewing these reports. Key provisions require agencies to share full reports with committees by September 1 each year, with only identifying information redacted, to inform potential legislative changes.

Maddy summarySB 17 allows Utah public colleges and school districts to pass credit card processing fees directly to students or parents when they pay tuition or fees electronically. The bill permits these institutions to collect a fee equal to the cost charged by credit card companies or payment processors for handling electronic transactions. It defines this fee as a "recovery of cost" and applies to both state universities (under Section 53B-7-902) and local school districts (under Section 53G-7-228). The law takes effect on May 6, 2026, with no new funding required.

Maddy summarySB 28 modifies Utah's county classification system by requiring automatic reclassification every five years based on population and revenue thresholds. Counties must move to a higher classification if their population and revenue exceed twice the average for their current class, or to a lower classification if both fall below half the average. This affects all Utah counties by changing their legal classification (e.g., first class to second class) without legislative action, based on reports from the Utah Population Commission and State Tax Commission. The changes take effect after the lieutenant governor receives the biennial reports, starting in 2026. The bill makes no funding changes and updates existing statutes to implement this automatic adjustment process.

Maddy summarySB 23 prohibits the use of aircraft to conduct solar geoengineering - defined as releasing chemicals to artificially reduce solar radiation - within Utah. It makes violating this prohibition a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for aircraft owners or operators. The bill requires airport operators to report suspected solar geoengineering activity to the Department of Transportation, which must then forward credible reports to the Attorney General. It also establishes a public online system for submitting suspected violations. The law takes effect on May 6, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 26 amends Utah's voting equipment rules to enhance security and standardize procurement. It bans wireless communication in all voting machines (except electronic pollbooks), repeals outdated ranked-choice voting certification rules, and requires election officials to purchase only equipment selected by the lieutenant governor's new voting equipment system. The bill creates a Voting Equipment Selection Committee to help the lieutenant governor evaluate and procure secure voting systems that meet mechanical ballot requirements. These changes directly affect election officials, vendors, and voters by standardizing equipment security and procurement processes.

Maddy summaryHB 85, titled "State Sovereignty Amendments," prohibits Utah's governor and local officials from declaring a state of emergency solely based on an international organization's (such as the UN, WHO, or World Economic Forum) declaration. The bill declares that international organizations have no legal authority in Utah and bans state agencies, counties, cities, and other local governments from implementing or enforcing their directives. It defines key terms like "chief executive officer" and "international organization" to clarify which officials and actions are covered by the law. The bill amends existing Utah code sections and does not appropriate new funds.