Sen. Keven Stratton

Maddy summaryHB 37 amends Utah's Used Oil Management Act to increase the recycling fee on lubricating oil sales starting July 1, 2026, and grants the Division of Waste Management rulemaking authority to set future fees beginning July 1, 2027. The bill requires the Division to notify the State Tax Commission 90 days before any fee change takes effect and clarifies that grant funds can be used to hire permitted transporters for curbside used oil collection programs. It directly affects lubricating oil vendors who must collect and remit the fees, and supports used oil collection programs through updated incentive payment rules. The changes take effect May 6, 2026, with the new fee structure beginning July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 69 amends Utah's Safe Drinking Water Act to strengthen enforcement for public water systems violating safety standards. It directly affects water systems serving communities (especially those over 10,000 people) that repeatedly fail to comply with safety rules. The bill adds key mechanisms: courts can now appoint receivers to manage corrective actions for serious health risks, and force owners to sell the system if divestiture is needed for long-term compliance. These changes apply to existing violations, not new standards, and require no new funding. The bill passed unanimously in committee and is pending Senate action, with an effective date of May 6, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 471 amends Utah's Medicaid and SNAP programs to implement work requirements for certain adults (ages 19-64, not pregnant or disabled), stricter verification for income, residency, and citizenship, and new citizenship eligibility rules. It requires documented proof (not self-attestation) for enrollment and annual redeterminations, and mandates hospitals to collect immigration status during applications. The bill directly affects Medicaid applicants and recipients who do not qualify for existing exemptions, beginning October 1, 2026, for citizenship rules and January 1, 2027, for work requirements. It also requires annual reports on compliance rates and exemptions to state legislators.

Maddy summaryHB 314 amends Utah's firearm purchase laws to streamline background check processes for licensed dealers. It removes a requirement that dealers use a specific form provided by the Bureau of Criminal Identification and extends the time the bureau can maintain background check records from 20 to 30 days when no prohibition is found. These changes are technical updates with no new fees or costs, affecting firearm dealers and the bureau's record-keeping procedures under Utah Code Section 53-5a-602.

Maddy summaryHB 325 modifies Utah's government records law to make certain financial records public while keeping tax exemption details private. It requires all government entities to classify records showing fund receipts or expenditures - such as budgets, grant documents, vendor payments, and financial reports - as public information. Conversely, it classifies any record revealing whether a taxpayer receives property tax exemptions, deferrals, or abatements as private. These changes apply to all Utah government agencies without new funding requirements.

Maddy summarySB 46 requires Utah state government facilities built or reconstructed after May 2026 to limit non-functional turf (like decorative grass) to 20% of grounds or local ordinance limits. It mandates a 25% reduction in outdoor water use by 2026 compared to 2020 levels, prohibits overhead irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and requires agencies to report water usage annually. The bill defines "functional turf" as grass used for active purposes (e.g., sports fields) and "water wise landscaping" as using drought-resistant plants, efficient irrigation, and canopy coverage. These changes apply directly to state agencies managing government facilities, with the Division of Water Resources overseeing compliance.

Maddy summarySB 304 creates a process to address false information in protective order petitions. It allows a respondent (the person opposing the order) to file a motion within 60 days if they believe the petitioner knowingly falsified material information to obtain a protective order. If proven, courts can sanction the false filer and must restore parent-time that was denied due to the false claim. This directly affects individuals involved in family court cases where protective orders impact custody or visitation. The bill amends Utah's protective order statutes to prevent misuse of the system.

Maddy summaryHB 60 amends Utah's water rights laws to clarify procedures for the state engineer handling water appropriation applications. It modifies protest deadlines, specifies what "public welfare" means in approval decisions, and defines who can challenge decisions in court. The bill directly affects water applicants, landowners with existing rights, and the state engineer, who must now consider fewer factors when reviewing applications. It makes technical updates to existing code without changing water allocation or requiring new funding.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution urges Utah public schools to prioritize student health by encouraging at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for all K-12 students through existing programs like PE, recess, or classroom movement. It specifically recommends elementary schools (including charters) hold annual field trips to working farms or whole-food restaurants to teach nutrition and food systems. The resolution emphasizes local flexibility, allowing schools to implement these suggestions based on community needs without mandating specific methods. It does not allocate funds or create new legal requirements, instead serving as a policy recommendation aligned with national health guidelines.

Maddy summarySB 298, the "Programmable Money Amendments," modifies Utah's Uniform Commercial Code to regulate digital payment methods (like digital tokens or programmable currency). It directly affects businesses that issue or accept programmable money by requiring them to offer free non-digital payment options and banning discrimination based on political views, religion, medical history, or lawful firearm ownership. The bill prohibits denying transactions due to environmental/social/governance compliance or diversity programming, mandates written explanations for denied transactions within 30 days, and allows affected parties to seek punitive damages or revoke an issuer’s license. It explicitly clarifies that the law does not restrict cryptocurrency purchases or sales by any party.