Sen. Heidi Balderree

Maddy summaryHB 19 amends Utah's child labor laws to increase penalties for violations and strengthen enforcement. It classifies repeated violations as escalating offenses (from class B misdemeanor to third-degree felony) and requires the Labor Commission to report suspected criminal acts to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) when reasonable suspicion exists. The bill also permits the SBI to investigate or forward cases to law enforcement, and allows the commission to share relevant information with authorities. These changes directly affect employers who violate child labor rules and provide clearer pathways for prosecuting offenses involving minors. The bill takes effect May 7, 2025, with no funding impact.

Maddy summaryHB 2 adjusts Utah's public education funding for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, directly affecting school districts, charter schools, and state education agencies. It increases educator salaries, adds a bonus for education support professionals, and eliminates funding for programs including Technology-Life-Careers, student leadership organizations, and the Carson Smith Scholarship. The bill reallocates $139.35 million for 2025 and $134.22 million for 2026, adjusting formulas for Career and Technical Education and special education programs while repealing outdated funding mechanisms. These changes reflect legislative priorities for teacher compensation and program restructuring within the state's education budget.

Maddy summaryHB 96 amends Utah's criminal code (Section 76-6-511) to adjust penalties for defrauding creditors, directly affecting individuals who intentionally hide, transfer, or destroy property to avoid paying debts. The bill increases penalties based on the amount owed: a class A misdemeanor for fraud under $10,000 and a third-degree felony for $10,000 or more. It does not create new offenses but clarifies existing criminal liability for actions like concealing assets during creditor proceedings or providing false information about a debtor’s estate. The changes apply to cases involving property subject to security interests or creditor administration.

Maddy summaryHB 129, the Adoption Records Access Amendments, allows individuals adopted as minors to access their adoption records once they turn 18. It also gives birth parents the right to petition a court to keep their identifying information sealed in these records. The bill amends Utah Code sections 26B-8-125, 78A-6-103, and 78B-6-141 to update record access rules and includes coordination with another bill (S.B. 119). No new state funding is required for these changes, and the law took effect after the governor signed it on March 24, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 19 modifies Utah's retirement system rules to better support military personnel. It requires employer retirement contributions to vest (become fully owned) immediately when a member or their spouse is a military service member receiving permanent change of station orders outside Utah. The bill also allows specific Utah National Guard personnel, including the adjutant general, to elect immediate vesting of employer contributions. These changes apply to defined contribution retirement plans and involve technical updates to existing Utah Code sections, with no new funding required. The bill directly affects active-duty military members, National Guard personnel, and their spouses relocating due to military orders.

Maddy summarySB 270 creates a nonrefundable income tax credit for Utah residents under 19 who earn self-employment income (defined as income from operating a trade, business, or partnership, subject to federal self-employment tax). The credit equals a percentage of the individual's Utah-sourced self-employment income, capped at $3,000 for 2025 (with annual inflation adjustments starting in 2026). It applies retroactively to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and cannot generate a cash refund - only reducing tax liability owed. Nonresidents and part-year residents must claim a proportionate share of the credit based on their Utah income.

Maddy summaryHB 457 requires Utah election officials to post the name, voter ID, precinct, and signature date of any registered voter who manually signs a petition nominating a candidate for office on the lieutenant governor’s website for 90 days. If a voter’s registration includes a valid email address, officials must email them to notify them of the posting and provide a way to request removal of their signature. The bill updates nomination petition forms to include this notice and applies these rules specifically to candidates not affiliated with a political party. These changes amend Utah’s election code to standardize signature verification processes for non-partisan candidates. The bill makes no changes to funding or party-affiliated nomination procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 117 amends statutes of limitations for cases of "negligent sexual abuse" involving children. It directly affects victims of child sexual abuse and adults with a legal duty to prevent or report such abuse (like caregivers or school staff). The bill extends the time period during which victims can file civil lawsuits against those who failed in their duty to prevent or report the abuse. This change modifies the existing legal timeline for holding negligent parties accountable, focusing specifically on cases where a duty-bearer failed to act. The bill is currently in the House for consideration after Senate amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 492 requires community water systems serving 10,000 or more people to create security plans by December 2025 (and annually after), while smaller systems must do so by July 2026. It mandates reporting security breaches to the Utah Cyber Center within two hours and includes specific requirements for updating software, training staff, and conducting vulnerability assessments. The bill classifies security plans as protected records and requires annual reports to legislative committees on security practices. These changes apply directly to water utility providers, not the public, and involve no new state funding.

Maddy summaryHB 186 simplifies wage payment procedures for employees separating from employers in Utah. It removes the requirement for employees to submit a written demand for payment 15 days before suing over unpaid wages and eliminates a similar written demand rule for penalty claims. Instead, employees who dispute separation pay must now provide written notice to their employer before filing a lawsuit, giving the employer three business days to respond. The bill makes these changes to Utah Code sections 34-27-1 and 34-28-5, effective May 7, 2025, with no new funding or significant policy shifts.