Maddy summaryHB 130 prohibits employers in Utah from requiring employees or job applicants to pay for medical examinations (including drug tests) as a condition of hiring or employment. It directly affects workers and prospective employees who might otherwise be charged fees for required health screenings. The bill mandates that employers cover all costs of these exams, bans reimbursement schemes where employees pay upfront and get refunded later, and establishes enforcement through the Labor Division, allowing workers to file claims within one year for violations. If an employer violates the law, they must reimburse affected individuals and may face daily penalties of up to 5% of the fees paid, with penalties retained 50% for enforcement costs and 50% returned to the worker.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill allows Utah's Local Public Safety and Firefighter Surviving Spouse Trust Fund to reimburse employers for health coverage costs they paid between May 1, 2024, and May 7, 2025, for surviving spouses and dependent children of public safety or firefighter employees who died on duty. It specifically covers premiums and health savings account contributions already paid by employers during that period. The reimbursement uses existing money in the trust fund, requiring no new state funding. This change applies retroactively to costs incurred before the bill's effective date of May 6, 2026.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Land Trusts Protection and Advocacy Office by updating the list of state agencies and institutions that must be represented on its board. It clarifies which entities, such as universities, hospitals, and public facilities, are included and specifies who represents each one. The update also reaffirms the rights of trust beneficiaries under existing state law. This change ensures the office continues to include relevant state stakeholders in its governance structure.
Maddy summarySB 51 creates a statewide system for Utah schools to share information about student threats. Local schools (LEAs) must report specific threat-related data to the State Board of Education, which can then share this information with other schools to improve safety coordination. The bill includes privacy protections for students, immunity for schools reporting in good faith, and clear rules for data collection and deletion. It takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not appropriate new funding.
Maddy summaryHB 472 is a technical amendment to Utah’s licensing and background check code. It clarifies the definition of "individual associated with a licensee" and renumbers two existing sections (26B-2-103 and 26B-2-104) to 26B-2-901 and 26B-2-902 for better code organization. The bill makes no new policy changes or funding allocations - it solely updates section numbering and definitions to maintain consistency in the Utah Code. It directly affects the Division of Licensing’s administrative processes but does not alter licensing requirements or impact the public.
Maddy summaryHB 431 creates a dedicated Wildlife Crossing Account funded through voluntary $1 contributions when Utah residents apply for vehicle registration or purchase hunting, fishing, or other licenses. The bill directs the Department of Transportation, with input from wildlife officials, to prioritize projects that improve wildlife safety (like animal crossings over roads) and protect livestock. It does not appropriate new state funds but instead uses existing voluntary contributions and allocates a portion of sales tax revenue to the account. The account will support projects designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and enhance habitat connectivity across Utah.
Maddy summaryHB 466 modifies Utah's Rural Jobs Act to authorize new nonrefundable income and insurance tax credits for investments in eligible small businesses located in rural counties. It directly affects insurers and their affiliates that make qualifying investments through rural investment companies, allowing them to claim tax credits against state taxes or retaliatory assessments. The bill enacts new provisions (effective January 1, 2027) that specify credit amounts and carry-forward rules, while repealing one outdated section and making technical updates to related statutes.
Maddy summaryHB 494 updates Utah's rules for transferring water company shares and water rights. It clarifies that shares in water companies are not automatically tied to land (not "appurtenant") and ownership records are maintained by the water company itself, not the state engineer. The bill also requires water rights transfers to follow real estate deed procedures, including recording deeds in specific counties and submitting reports to the state engineer. This directly affects water company shareholders, landowners buying property with water rights, and entities managing water rights transfers.
Maddy summaryHB 292 clarifies that water right subordination agreements - written arrangements where a water rights holder agrees to let another right take priority - do not create long-term property interests subject to Utah's rule against perpetuities. This affects water rights holders, state engineers, and anyone involved in water rights transactions, as it removes uncertainty about these agreements triggering the rule. The bill defines key terms like "water right" and "person with control of a water right," and explicitly states these changes apply retroactively to past agreements. It makes no new financial commitments and is a technical legal clarification, not a policy shift.
Maddy summaryHB 225 requires sellers of unincorporated real property in Utah to provide a written disclosure statement to buyers before a property sale. This statement explains that the property's boundaries might be affected by legal claims like adverse possession (taking over land through long-term use), boundary by acquiescence (long-standing agreement), or established right-of-way access. Both the seller and buyer must sign this disclosure at the time of conveyance. The bill affects all property transactions in unincorporated areas (outside city limits) and takes effect May 6, 2026. It does not change existing property laws but mandates this specific disclosure to inform buyers about potential boundary risks.