Sen. Cal Musselman

Maddy summarySB 90 mandates fixed jail terms for repeat drug and theft offenses in Utah, applying to individuals with prior convictions for similar crimes or for reentry of a removed alien (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1326). The bill requires 360 days for felonies/class A misdemeanors, 180 days for class B, and 90 days for class C offenses. It also blocks federal immigration authorities from deporting individuals until they complete their full mandatory jail sentence, with limited exceptions. This law affects those convicted under specific Utah drug and theft statutes with qualifying prior offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 422 prohibits Utah municipalities from imposing additional regulations on open houses - events where homeowners or real estate professionals showcase properties - beyond those applicable to standard residential use. The bill defines "open house" as a home-showcasing event (including with real estate agents) and states that any local ordinance treating open houses differently than residential properties is void. This directly affects homeowners and real estate agents hosting open houses by preventing municipalities from requiring special permits, restricting hours, or adding unique fees. The law amends Utah Code Section 10-3-702 to ensure open houses are regulated identically to regular home occupancy, with no new funding required.

Maddy summaryHB 69 protects voter privacy by classifying as private the specific information about whether a voter returned a ballot with postage attached. It prohibits government officers from accessing or using government records for personal purposes (requiring them to access records like the public), and makes violations a crime. The bill directly affects voters whose ballot return method is protected and government officers handling voter records. These changes amend Utah’s government records laws to strengthen privacy safeguards around election data.

Maddy summaryHB 38 modifies Utah's criminal code to adjust sentencing for certain offenses. It lowers the threshold for "in concert" enhancements from three to two people in gang-related crimes, expands sentencing for theft and prostitution by including prior convictions from any jurisdiction (state, federal, or military), and clarifies that retail theft value is based on the item's retail price. The bill also adds new penalties for coercing minors into gangs and increases fines for patronizing prostitutes. These changes directly affect defendants facing sentencing enhancements and law enforcement handling gang-related or property crimes.

Maddy summarySB 220 updates Utah’s rules for managing stormwater runoff from construction sites. It directly affects construction companies, developers, and the Division of Water Quality by establishing new standards for runoff controls, inspections, and penalties. Key provisions require the Division to regulate runoff practices, impose fines for violations, and mandate electronic site inspections for projects disturbing one acre or more. The bill also clarifies exceptions for state transportation projects and ensures regulations align with federal Clean Water Act requirements without adding new funding.

Maddy summaryHB 58 amends Utah's building inspector regulations to increase transparency and accountability. It requires the Uniform Building Code Commission to collect and publish annual data on building inspectors, including their qualifications and performance. The bill also adds new rules prohibiting unprofessional conduct by inspectors acting as qualified building officials and mandates that local governments hire or contract with qualified building officials. These changes directly affect building inspectors, local regulators, and third-party inspection firms involved in construction code enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 175 amends Utah's construction code to expand requirements for residential buildings. It specifically updates Section R101.2 to include three- and four-family dwellings (up to two levels) in the scope of the code, previously covering only one- and two-family homes. This change directly affects builders, developers, and homeowners constructing or renovating multi-family housing. The bill also adds clarifications about window egress for existing bedrooms, modifies deck and retaining wall rules, and defines "accessory dwelling units" for single-family properties. These changes aim to modernize code applicability without adding new costs or mandates.

Maddy summarySB 50 removes a $5,000 annual pay cap for members of boards governing limited-purpose local entities (like water or fire districts) in Utah. It requires these boards to hold a public hearing before approving any compensation increase for board members. The bill also makes minor technical updates to existing laws governing such compensation. This change affects local boards directly by allowing them to set pay without the previous limit, while ensuring public input is obtained for pay adjustments. The bill takes effect May 7, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 53 amends Utah's Election Code to streamline municipal incorporation processes and update signature-related procedures. It removes in-state residency requirements for people collecting signatures for political parties or candidate nominations, standardizes how voters can request signature removal from petitions, and reduces the deadline for new municipalities to finalize government structures from 60 to 30 days. The bill also clarifies that county clerks determine signature removal requests and updates election result transmission rules for boards of canvassers, eliminating the need for phone/fax/mail transmissions for certain data. These changes directly affect voters, petition circulators, county clerks, and local government organizers in Utah.

Maddy summarySB 196 allows physical therapists to serve as primary care providers for neuromusculoskeletal conditions under Utah health insurance policies. It expands the definition of "primary health care" to include physical therapists and requires insurance plans to permit patients to select a physical therapist as their primary care provider for these conditions, without higher costs. The bill makes technical updates to Utah law to align insurance coverage rules with this change, ensuring physical therapists practice within their existing scope under Title 58. This directly affects physical therapists, insurance companies, and patients seeking primary care for musculoskeletal issues.