Sen. Cal Musselman

Maddy summaryHB 82 modifies Utah's requirements for filing judgment liens against real property when the judgment debtor is an individual. It specifically adds that creditors must include the last four digits of the debtor's Social Security number, their birth month/year, and driver's license number (if known) on the lien filing documents. This affects creditors seeking to secure payment through property liens, requiring more detailed debtor identification. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and involve technical updates to existing lien filing procedures without new funding.

Maddy summarySB 73 requires online platforms providing content deemed harmful to minors to implement age verification systems. It imposes an excise tax on these platforms, with revenues funding mental health programs and enforcement through the Division of Consumer Protection. The bill creates two dedicated accounts for these funds and grants the Division authority to investigate violations, impose fines, and establish verification standards. Platforms failing to comply face civil penalties, while approved verification methods receive a safe harbor from liability.

Maddy summaryHB 293 prohibits Utah public schools from joining athletic associations that fail to include specific student athlete protections. The bill requires associations to mandate holiday breaks, summer rest periods, and limit practice time to 15 hours per week. It also sets documentation standards for verifying student eligibility, with accommodations for non-citizen students (using alternative IDs or affidavits) and homeless youth (using school records or affidavits). This directly affects public schools and the athletic associations they partner with, ensuring associations comply with these policies before schools can participate.

Maddy summarySB 324 establishes Utah's Outcome-based Investment Grant Pilot Framework, creating a system where state grant funding is tied to measurable project outcomes. It requires grant applicants to submit detailed pre-analysis plans outlining specific metrics and evaluation methods before receiving funds, mandates independent evaluations of funded projects, and sets up oversight by the Legislative Auditor General. The bill appropriates $9 million for fiscal year 2027 (split between the Income Tax Fund and other sources) and includes a sunset date of July 1, 2031, for the pilot program. This framework directly affects state agencies administering grants and organizations seeking funding for projects with defined, trackable results.

Maddy summaryHB 377 amends Utah's real estate licensing rules to clarify and streamline regulations for brokers and property managers. It creates a "dual broker" license, allowing a principal broker to operate a separate property management company without needing a second property management license. The bill also sets new requirements: property managers employed by entities needing broker affiliation must affiliate with a principal broker, while others do not, and updates rules for handling client funds and brokerage record-keeping. These changes affect real estate brokers, property managers, and the Division of Real Estate, which gains authority to create related licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 268 modifies Utah's towing laws to protect vehicle owners and lienholders when proper notice isn't given after a vehicle is towed. It makes a tow operator's claim for fees unenforceable if required notice wasn't sent, allowing owners or lienholders to reclaim vehicles without paying towing or storage costs. The bill creates a legal presumption that notice was improperly provided, which can be rebutted by showing certified mail or timestamped evidence of proper notice. These changes apply specifically to private-property towing, ensuring owners can challenge improper notices without upfront legal costs.

Maddy summarySB 139 amends Utah's Notaries Public Reform Act to update requirements for notaries, primarily affecting those receiving commissions after May 6, 2026. Key changes include requiring new notaries to maintain a physical or electronic journal of notarial acts, modifying journal content rules, and clarifying that journals are not public records under Utah's government records law. The bill also creates new criminal penalties for unauthorized use or forgery of notary records and specifies actions notaries must take if crimes occur or journals are lost. Attorneys, law firms, and title agencies are exempt from certain journal requirements. These changes aim to modernize notarization procedures while enhancing record security and accountability.

Maddy summarySB 74 modifies Utah's seat belt laws and insurance claim procedures. It requires insurance companies to send written settlement demands with a 30-day acceptance window, including specific details like injury descriptions and medical proof. Crucially, it amends the law to allow courts to consider failure to wear a seat belt as evidence of contributory negligence in car accident lawsuits. This directly affects individuals filing injury claims and insurance companies handling motor vehicle accident settlements.

Maddy summaryHB 117 requires Utah residents to receive organ donation registration information during three key state interactions: when using the Division of Wildlife Resources website, during initial healthcare facility visits, and in individual income tax forms or instructions. It also mandates the Department of Health to form a coalition creating a statewide communication plan for life-saving programs through state channels. The bill adds specific requirements for healthcare facilities to ask patients about donation status and provides links to the online donor registry on tax materials and state websites. These changes aim to increase registration rates by making information accessible at common state service touchpoints, with no new funding required.

Maddy summarySB 245 amends definitions related to impact fees, specifically clarifying what constitutes a "service area" for fee calculation. It prohibits entities from including an entire local political jurisdiction served by a private entity within a service area after May 6, 2026, preventing broad fee imposition. The bill also defines "specified public agency" to explicitly include the state. This directly affects local governments and developers who impose impact fees on new construction, restricting how they can define geographic zones for those fees. The changes focus on refining fee structure rules without creating new financial obligations.