Maddy summarySB 19 requires cities (first/second class or third class with 40,000+ residents) and certain counties to ensure access to digital evidence examination by July 1, 2026. Jurisdictions must either establish their own digital forensics lab, form a partnership for shared access (excluding the Regional Computer Forensics Lab), have their law enforcement agency staff the regional lab for 2,000+ hours yearly, or pay annual fees to the Department of Public Safety. Fees range from $5,000 for smaller cities to $50,000 for large counties, based on population and classification, with proceeds funding the regional lab’s staffing and costs. The bill mandates annual fee collection, reporting of non-payers to a legislative committee, and defines key terms like "digital forensics laboratory" and "participating agency."
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill extends the automatic expiration date for Utah's Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2036. It directly affects the legal framework governing non-court dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration, which are currently part of Utah Code §78B-22-805. The bill amends the code to update the repeal date for the ADR Act section without changing how ADR processes operate. This is a procedural adjustment to maintain existing ADR procedures for another decade, with no new funding or substantive policy changes.
Maddy summarySB 307 modifies the fee charged to garnishees (like banks or employers) for processing writs of garnishment in Utah. It adjusts the fee structure under Utah Code Sections 63A-3-507 and 78A-2-216, directly affecting businesses and entities that handle wage or asset garnishments for debt collection. The bill makes this change without appropriating new funds or altering core procedures for issuing garnishment orders. This is a technical adjustment to existing fee rates, not a substantive policy change to debt collection rules.
Maddy summaryHB 336 clarifies that "recovery operations" (specialized towing for disabled, overturned, or environmentally hazardous vehicles) are distinct from standard towing. It requires car insurance companies to pay recovery operators directly for services - before paying the vehicle owner - within 30 days of receiving a valid invoice. The bill also mandates insurers to verify that tow truck companies performing recovery operations are qualified and establishes a dispute resolution process through the Motor Carrier Advisory Board. This directly affects insurers, specialized towing services, and vehicle owners involved in complex recovery situations.
Maddy summarySB 257 updates Utah's domestic relations laws to clarify parent-child relationships and improve child support and custody processes. It aligns definitions with the Uniform Parentage Act, creates a new table for minimal child care awards (effective 2027), and automatically adjusts child support when parental rights are terminated. The bill modifies parent-time schedules (removing Columbus Day/Veterans Day, adding Juneteenth coordination), prohibits requiring address disclosure for domestic violence survivors, and clarifies court procedures for genetic testing and custody modifications. These changes directly affect parents, children, and family courts handling custody, support, and parent-time cases.
Maddy summaryHB 498 amends Utah's App Store Accountability Act to strengthen protections for minors. It requires app stores to implement clearer age ratings, provide detailed content descriptions to parents, and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing in-app purchases for users under 18. The bill adds new rules for pre-installed applications (excluding core device functions) and defines "minor accounts" requiring parent affiliation. These changes directly affect app store providers, developers, and parents managing children's mobile device usage, with enforcement handled by Utah's Division of Consumer Protection.
Maddy summaryHB 324 removes a $400,000 annual cap on funds the Utah Marriage Commission receives from county marriage license fees. It affects county clerks who collect marriage license fees, as they must now send all funds above $400,000 from these fees directly to the state General Fund instead of capping them for the Commission. The bill does not change existing $10 contributions for Children's Legal Defense or domestic violence shelters, which remain unchanged. This is a technical adjustment to fee distribution rules without creating new fees or altering other provisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a budgeting mechanism that adjusts Medicaid reimbursement rates for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services based on Utah's General Fund revenue growth. It ensures ABA providers receive rate increases tied to the state's budget growth factor (e.g., 100% if growth is below 100%, or 102% if growth is 102% or higher). The policy directly affects Medicaid providers delivering ABA services to beneficiaries and ensures these rates stay aligned with reimbursement for similar services under Medicaid managed care plans. The bill does not appropriate new funding but modifies how existing funds are allocated to maintain these rate adjustments.
Maddy summarySB 158 expands Medicaid reimbursement eligibility to include licensed residential support programs accredited by the American Camp Association, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries receiving recreational therapy services in these facilities. The bill adds this program type to the existing list of covered settings (like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities) where qualified enrollees - those enrolled in Medicaid and referred by a mental health therapist - can access reimbursed services. It authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to seek necessary federal waivers to implement this change, with no new state funding required. The policy takes effect May 6, 2026, and focuses solely on expanding coverage eligibility without altering service criteria or beneficiary requirements.
Maddy summaryHB 176 modifies Utah's trust business regulations by clarifying definitions and scope. It exempts trust directors from being classified as "trust businesses" and prohibits them from engaging in trust business activities. The bill also exempts attorneys and certified public accountants providing incidental fiduciary services as part of their regular practice. These changes reorganize related legal sections without creating new fees or requirements, focusing on technical clarification for professionals and institutions handling trust services.