Maddy summaryHB 489, the Water Infrastructure Amendments, requires local governments in the Great Salt Lake basin to prioritize low impact development (like permeable surfaces and rain gardens) over retention basins for storm water management, unless no feasible alternative exists. It mandates that detention basins in the basin be designed to release water as quickly as possible without compromising flood control or drainage capacity. The bill also establishes a process for independent review of storm water design disputes, with costs shared equally between applicants and local governments. These changes directly affect municipalities, counties, and developers operating within the Great Salt Lake basin under Utah’s storm water permitting system.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 242 amends Utah's rules for removing signatures from initiative and referendum petitions. It requires anyone gathering signature removal requests to be at least 18 years old, and mandates paid gatherers to display a badge with their ID, the petition name, and verify the signer's identity. The bill also requires paid gatherers to include a notice stating that removing a signature may prevent the petition from appearing on the ballot, prohibits paying by the signature (only hourly rates allowed), and bans using petitioners' email addresses for non-petition purposes. These changes aim to increase transparency and prevent misuse during the signature removal process.
Maddy summarySB 75 defines eligibility for annual educator salary adjustments by requiring a license from the Division of Professional Licensing and a position as a social worker or registered nurse in an educational setting. The bill mandates that the Legislature annually appropriate funds for these adjustments, though actual funding remains subject to budget constraints. It directly affects licensed social workers and registered nurses employed in educational roles by establishing their eligibility for potential salary increases. The bill does not guarantee specific raises but creates a framework for future budget allocations to address retention and recruitment. (Note: This bill is procedural in nature, defining eligibility criteria rather than implementing new policy.)
Maddy summarySB 219 amends Utah's highway signage laws to help businesses relocate or remodel signs when roads are widened or rebuilt. It directly affects sign owners (like advertising companies) who must move signs due to highway projects. Key changes include allowing these relocated signs to exceed standard height limits for visibility and letting owners begin remodeling 30 days after notifying local government - without waiting for approval. The bill modifies existing Utah Code sections (72-7-510 and 72-7-510.5) to streamline this process, with no new funding required. This applies only to signs moved because of highway construction, not to new signs or general signage rules.
Maddy summarySB 18 makes minor technical corrections to existing Utah criminal code sections without changing substantive laws. It fixes outdated references in dangerous weapon sale rules, corrects numbering errors in sexual battery statutes, and adds a missing penalty for distributing harmful material to minors. The bill also updates offense names for public assistance fraud and patterns of unlawful activity to align with current legal references. These changes ensure the criminal code remains accurate and consistent but do not create new offenses or alter penalties. The bill requires no funding and has no direct impact on citizens or law enforcement procedures.
Maddy summaryHB 39 requires county sheriffs and Utah's Department of Corrections to implement independent oversight systems for all county jails and state correctional facilities. Specifically, it mandates that every county jail under a sheriff's jurisdiction must operate under independently administered standards and undergo regular independent inspections, with the same requirement applying to state facilities managed by the Department of Corrections. These provisions apply directly to county sheriffs, jail operators, and the Department of Corrections, adding new inspection requirements on top of existing standards. The bill makes technical updates to Utah law without appropriating new funds or creating new programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the portion of Route 126 in Weber County as the George E. Wahlen Memorial Highway. It requires the Utah Department of Transportation to include this name on future state highway maps and install appropriate signage along the route. The legislation affects only the naming and signage of this specific highway segment and does not involve any funding or changes to traffic laws. It takes effect on May 6, 2026.
Maddy summaryHB 116 increases mandatory fines for certain prostitution-related offenses in Utah. It raises the minimum fine for patronizing an adult sex worker or exploiting prostitution from $5,000 to $10,000 for repeat offenders, and clarifies that higher fines ($20,000 minimum) for offenses involving children only apply to offenders aged 18 or older. The bill also requires courts to mandate completion of an educational program about prostitution's harms for all convicted offenders. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of specific sex crime offenses under Utah law, with no new state funding required.
Maddy summaryThis bill simplifies property tax exemption applications for Utah veterans who are disabled or killed in action, and their surviving spouses or minor children. It requires counties to accept a single application for the exemption unless a veteran's disability rating changes or the claimant changes. Counties can no longer demand repeated proof of disability beyond the initial filing, and the exemption covers 100% of property value for eligible veterans (with 10%+ disability) or survivors of veterans killed in action. The changes apply retroactively with no new state funding required.
Maddy summarySB 4 is a base budget appropriation bill that allocates funding for Utah state government operations during fiscal years 2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) and 2027 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). It provides a total of $1.82 billion for operating and capital budgets in fiscal year 2027, including $220.8 million from the General Fund, and specifies funding for state agencies like the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. The bill details specific allocations for agency programs, such as tourism marketing, economic development grants, and cultural services, with most funds coming from state revenue sources. This budget bill directly affects state agencies by funding their ongoing operations and programs for the upcoming fiscal years.