Sen. David Hinkins

Maddy summaryHB 388 amends Utah’s historic preservation law (Section 9-8a-203) to strengthen public education and training about cultural site protection. The bill requires the State Historic Preservation Office to launch a statewide media campaign educating the public on cultural site significance, legal protections under Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 9, and how to report violations. It also mandates free seminars and training for state agencies, local governments, and individuals on preserving cultural sites. These changes directly affect Utah residents, land managers, and cultural site users by clarifying legal responsibilities and promoting proactive site protection, with no new state funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 212, titled "Advanced Transmission Technologies," requires large-scale electric utilities in Utah to analyze the cost-effectiveness and benefits of advanced transmission technologies - such as dynamic line capacity adjustments, congestion-reducing power controls, and energy storage - when proposing new transmission projects. Utilities must include this analysis in filings like integrated resource plans, detailing how such technologies could increase capacity, efficiency, reliability, or wildfire risk reduction. If the Utah Public Service Commission deems the technologies cost-effective based on the utility’s analysis, the commission must approve the utility’s recovery of the approved costs. The bill does not appropriate funds but establishes new procedural requirements for utilities and regulators.

Maddy summaryHB 366 requires mobile phone carriers to provide law enforcement with a user's location data as quickly as possible in three specific situations: during emergency calls for help, when there's imminent risk of death or serious injury, or for missing persons cases where police have prioritized a warrant due to danger. The bill defines "location data" broadly to include call logs, GPS, apps, and messages, and mandates carriers to establish clear procedures for identifying request types. It applies directly to phone companies and law enforcement agencies in Utah, ensuring faster access to location information during critical incidents while protecting carriers from liability when acting in good faith. The law amends Utah Code Section 53-10-104.5 and takes effect May 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 510 requires Utah's Department of Agriculture and Food to study challenges in increasing local food availability within the state. The study will examine supply chains, crop production, agricultural workforce needs, and funding gaps for local food producers, including input from diverse farmers. The department must report findings and recommendations to the Natural Resources Committee by June 2026, with the study ending July 1, 2026 (sunset provision). The bill does not appropriate new funds or create direct regulatory changes.

Maddy summaryHB 462 creates the Rural School Sports Facilities Grant Program, which provides $4.39 million in state funding for fiscal year 2026 to help rural public schools construct or renovate sports facilities. Local education agencies (like school districts) can apply for these grants, and the Utah State Board of Education will manage the program and report on it when requested. The bill directly affects rural schools by addressing infrastructure needs for athletics, without changing existing education funding formulas or eligibility criteria. This is a targeted funding initiative focused on improving physical education and sports opportunities in underserved rural communities.

Maddy summaryHB 184 amends Utah's School LAND Trust Program to improve transparency and streamline operations for public schools. The bill requires clearer action plans for using trust funds, mandates training on open meetings for program participants, and expands training requirements to additional school entities. It refines how schools are reviewed for compliance and adds new duties for the state superintendent regarding program oversight. These changes directly affect all Utah public schools receiving LAND Trust funding, including their school community councils and charter trust land councils.

Maddy summarySB 57 updates Utah's Newborn Safe Haven program by expanding the age limit for safe relinquishment from 30 to 90 days, allowing parents to surrender newborns up to 90 days old without legal consequences. It directly affects parents seeking to safely surrender infants through designated hospitals and the state's child welfare system. The bill appropriates $104,000 for fiscal year 2026 - $84,000 for ongoing program operations and $20,000 for training and outreach materials - to support the expanded program. The changes take effect May 7, 2025, and align with Utah Code Section 80-4-501.

Maddy summaryHB 79 creates a sales and use tax exemption for adaptive driving equipment purchased for installation in motor vehicles. This directly affects individuals with mobility needs who buy equipment like wheelchair lifts, hand controls, swivel seats, or steering aids for their vehicles. The bill amends Utah tax code to exempt these specific items from state sales and use taxes, reducing costs for buyers. The exemption applies to equipment regardless of who provides it and takes effect immediately upon the bill's signing.

Maddy summaryHB 71 extends the expiration date for Utah's Committee of Consumer Services from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2035. The bill modifies Utah Code Section 63I-1-254 to delay the committee's automatic termination by 10 years. This is a procedural change that does not create new policies, appropriate funds, or affect specific consumer groups or businesses. The committee continues to operate under its existing authority until the new sunset date. The bill takes effect May 7, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 438 modifies Utah's bond requirement for environmental lawsuits by expanding the definition of "environmental action" to include challenges to permits issued by the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining (previously excluded). It requires plaintiffs seeking preliminary injunctions or administrative stays in these cases to post a bond covering potential damages to defendants if they lose the case. The bond must be sufficient to compensate opposing parties for harm caused by the temporary relief, paid to those defendants if the plaintiff doesn't ultimately win. This affects anyone filing lawsuits against oil, gas, or mining permits through the courts.